By Carlie Lombardi

Somerville city officials presented a sweeping set of zoning changes last week in a joint meeting of the Land Use Committee and Planning Board. The proposals aim to support the city’s creative community and growing climate tech sector while laying the groundwork for the redevelopment of the former Ames Business Park, now known as Somernova.

The four proposals would update use definitions, create a new zoning district, and establish a master planned overlay zone. Together, they aim to:

• Refine arts and creative enterprise (ACE) zoning by better-distinguishing art studios, arts education, coworking spaces, and artist housing. Coworking and incubators would be removed from ACE categories and reclassified under office uses.
• Redefine research and development (R&D) by separating biomedical lab uses from general R&D and eliminating the outdated “lab building” designation. This change intends to steer large-scale laboratory buildings away from mid-rise neighborhoods and concentrate them in appropriate districts.
• Create a new R&D zoning district that supports mid-scale commercial development for hardware and climate tech innovation, such as startups coming out of Greentown Labs and MIT’s Engine.
• Establish an Arts and Innovation Subarea within the Master Plan Development Overlay District, allowing for flexible redevelopment at the Somernova site. The subarea would mandate civic spaces, community centers, business incubators, and a minimum of 60,000 square feet of dedicated arts space.

“This work is not trivial,” said Tom Galligani, executive director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development. “It’s the result of years of conversation between the city, property owners, and community partners.”

The city’s planning staff emphasized that the changes were driven by concerns about rising rents, displacement of artists, and the need for affordable creative and entrepreneurial spaces. The amendments would expand support for artist housing, permit arts related home businesses citywide, and increase arts space requirements from 5% to 10% in certain zones.

The new subarea would also require a teen center, business incubator space, and improved public mobility planning. Residential uses would be limited to no more than 15% of the total development in the overlay area.

The proposed amendments were the subject of extensive public comment during the joint hearing, with residents, artists, business owners, and advocacy groups weighing in. While many of the city’s efforts to protect arts spaces and foster innovation, others urged caution around building height, traffic impacts, and ensuring that promises are backed by strong community agreements.

Public comment will remain open until March 31 at 7 p.m. Comments can be sent by email at publiccomments@somervillema.gov and planning@somervillema.gov.

No votes were taken during the hearing. City officials emphasized that these proposals are just the first step in a larger planning and public engagement process.