Zoning changes proposed by
Somerville's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development
(OSPCD) would effectively block the state's controversial proposal to
place a Green Line rail yard in the Brickbottom area while opening a
section on the city's border with Cambridge to an alternative plan.

The
new proposal sent by Mayor Joseph Curtatone to Secretary of
Transportation James Aloisi in May, referred to as the Mirror-H scheme,
would place the maintenance facility in the Northpoint area – the
target of a major development initiative by Cambridge. The new zoning
regulations would add uses to the "Industrial B" area along the city's
border with East Cambridge – including a waste energy plants, trash
transfer facilities, city owned buildings and rail yards. Uses such as
retail and manufacturing would be blocked. In the "Industrial A"
section, rail yards would be removed as a use, which would make the
state's "Yard 8" plan not allowable.

When Ward 2 Alderman
Maryann Heuston asked at an August 20 Planning Board meeting if the
city was proposing to remove the state's proposed rail yard from the
list of allowed uses in Brickbottom, Director of Economic Development
Rob May said the changes reflected what residents have requested.

"The
state has its own prerogative," May said. "But we feel this sends a
very clear measure that this is something the citizens of Somerville
support."

In a July letter to the Board of Aldermen, Curtatone
pointed out that the state could trump any Somerville zoning laws and
that the changes were meant to "ensure that private property owners are
aware of the City's intent."

Alderman-at-Large Bill White and
two residents expressed concerns about the city opening the Northpoint
area for waste uses. "A lot of people have concerns about waste energy
plants," White said.

"Those usually are not sited without a tremendous amount of public involvement and participation and opposition."

May
said the area is the only place where "Industrial B" is mapped in the
city of Somerville, adding later that such a facility would most likely
be a "traditional solid waste combustion facility."

"We're not
proposing to add a waste energy facility, we're just proposing that it
should be within the city's ability to site," May added.

During
the public comment period at the August 20 meeting, two residents
expressed skepticism about the potential for a waste energy plant being
placed near Northpoint.

"I really think we walk a very dangerous
line by opening up a neighborhood to potential uses like this," East
Somerville resident Ellin Reisner said. "We have enough pollution and
transportation issues in Somerville."

Heuston said Cambridge
City Manager Robert Healy expressed doubts about the zoning changes in
a July 31 letter to Curtatone, noting that the plan could hurt the
Northpoint development.

"I don't think we're the topic of
discussion in the city of Cambridge city council meetings very often,"
Heuston said. "Certainly back when this Northpoint was being developed,
those six acres belonging to the city of Somerville were simply
annexed."

White said that while he agreed with the sentiment,
the proposed changes would also affect Somerville residents. "If you
really want to have some fun with the city of Cambridge, tell them
we're putting a waste energy plant right on the corner of Northpoint,"
he said, "but it may have some affect on our own neighborhoods as well."