The multi-family zoning demand for MBTA Communities requires communities served by the MBTA to update their zoning to allow at least one district of multi-family housing. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Molly Rains

The Somerville Land Use Committee met on May 5 to continue their discussion of proposed amendments and future updates to the city’s zoning laws.

One area of discussion was the new multi-family zoning requirement for MBTA Communities, part of the Economic Development Bill signed by Governor Baker in 2021. The requirement mandates that communities served by the MBTA update their zoning to allow at least one district of multi-family housing.

This district must be within a half-mile of an MBTA station, meet a minimum unit density of 15 units per square acre, and encourage family-friendly housing by being “suitable for children” and lacking age restrictions, according to the Massachusetts Office of Housing and Economic Development.

As one of 175 MBTA Communities across Massachusetts, Somerville must consider how best to comply with the new requirement, said Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Daniel Bartman. Though the guidelines released by the state are not yet final, the current draft calls for a 50-acre area of compliant zoning within the city, or about eight percent of a square mile.

Much of Somerville falls within a half-mile radius of an MBTA stop, giving many options for neighborhoods in which this new zoning could be implemented. The committee did not identify neighborhoods of interest at this time. The Assembly area, said Bartman, could function as a sort of “relief valve,” but the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development “already does not believe that is the right answer.”

Rather, Bartman identified the possibility of distributing patches of compliant zoning across the community. “We believe that many of our squares could handle additional density within walking distance of transit,” he explained. City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin agreed, saying, “I don’t want to see it condensed… We need to spread [housing] out, in order to get the benefits of the Green Line.”

Somerville’s urban planning office must await finalized guidelines before taking further action, but the city councilors had no shortage of ideas for taking advantage of updated zoning. Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen voiced his support for increased residential over commercial development. “This is really an opportunity – I don’t see this as a burden,” said Councilor McLaughlin, who suggested taking advantage of the new requirement to build more affordable housing.

Councilor Beatriz Gómez Mouakad emphasized the importance of educating the Somerville public on zoning changes. The official guidelines for compliance have yet to be released by the state. Once the new requirement is finalized, said Bartman, city planners and councilors will seek input from residents on proposed changes.