Get Involved

Meetings

City Seeks Community Input on Rezoning Plans for Union Square and Boynton Yards
June 24, 6:00 pm, Somerville High School Auditorium, 81 Highland Avenue

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward Two Alderman Maryanne Heuston, Ward Three Alderman Thomas Taylor, and Monica Lamboy, Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development announced today that residents and business owners are invited to a community meeting to discuss a rezoning proposal for Union Square and Boynton Yards. The meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, June 24th at 6:00 pm at the Somerville High School Auditorium (81 Highland Avenue), will give the public an opportunity to review and comment on the recommendations for promoting growth and vitality in the Union Square area.

"Union Square is already one of the city's most popular, vibrant business districts," said Mayor Curtatone. "The proposed rezoning will not only strengthen the neighborhood's fiscal health, but build on its unique character and improve the quality of life for both residents and business owners. Continued community input is essential to our planning process, and I am eager to discuss this process with attendees at next week's meeting."

"In addition to the Somerville Avenue reconstruction project, the Union Square rezoning will add important elements to the area," said Alderman Heuston. "With much of the new development projects focused on mixed-use opportunities, the Union Square neighborhood is an optimal candidate for such a project, and I look forward to hearing the input of area residents."

"With several smaller upgrades and renovations already in the works or recently completed, and the Somerville Avenue project to be completed next year, we are well on the way to revitalizing an already vibrant neighborhood," said Alderman Taylor. "Somerville's squares are our most important business resources, and we hope Union Square will reach its full potential with the proposed plans."

At Tuesday"s meeting, the city will present the rezoning proposal, which includes three new zones. The first, Corridor Commercial District (CCD), is designed to allow sensitive pedestrian-oriented infill development in the core of Union Square along Somerville Avenue, Washington Street, and parts of Bow Street. The second, Transit Oriented District (or TOD) will support revitalization of areas in the vicinity of the new Union Square Green Line Station with a high focus placed on design quality and mixed use. The third, the Arts Overlay District (AOD) is intended to support and encourage the expansion of arts oriented uses including Live/Work Housing, Artist Studio Space, and other uses.

"We have been working with a focus group made up of representatives from several neighborhood groups and business representatives for the past four months," said Lamboy. "I feel that the process has produced a proposal that provides the best balanced approach to building upon the neighborhood"s unique character and supporting new residential and commercial growth."

This meeting represents the beginning of an extended community involvement process. Additional smaller meetings will be scheduled throughout the summer, and the city will have information at the Union Square Farmers' Market each Saturday following the community meeting. A formal presentation to the Board of Aldermen is anticipated in the early fall. For additional information, please contact Madeleine Masters, Planning Director, via email at mmasters@somerville.ma.gov or by phone at 617-625-6600 x2500.

Documents

Our most recent flyer (PDF, 82 KB)

Our original letter to the Somerville Planning Board (PDF, 58 KB)

Our revised zoning petition, based on the city's original zoning proposal (PDF, 170 KB)
   Summary sheet comparing our version to the city's version (PDF, 37 KB)
   Cover letter (PDF, 107 KB)
   Zoning map (PDF, 394 KB)

Zoning presentation from the April 18 Community Meeting (PDF, 1.9 MB)

The city's Union Square Housing Study report (PDF, 3.6 MB)

Zoning map for the City of Somerville, dated November 2005 (PDF, 415 KB)

City Resources

The City of Somerville web site has an entire section devoted to Union Square Zoning. The information presented is a good way to learn about the progress the city has made toward redeveloping the Square.