Drop in and help shape Somerville’s future through a series of Zoning Workshops this summer. Held each Thursday from June 12 through August 28 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the community meeting room at 50 Middlesex Ave., behind Style Café in the Public Storage building at Assembly Square, the workshops seek to gather ideas, inform, and answer questions on the City’s new proposed zoning ordinance.

These events are open house-style workshop meetings. Members of the Zoning Advisory Committee and planners from the city will host each open house/workshop to gather ideas, inform, and answer questions on the proposed new zoning ordinance. Join the members of the Zoning Advisory Committee and city planners for any of the workshops. Drop in for whatever time you have available—no formal presentations will be given. You can participate in a meaningful way, whether you drop in for 15 minutes or all three and a half hours.

Over the last year, city staff has been developing a new zoning ordinance that brings transparency and customer service to the city’s development review process. The workshops are intended to invite residents and stakeholders into the important process of refining the details that will improve protections for residential neighborhoods and unlock smart growth opportunities consistent with SomerVision.

Workshop topics are as follows:

June 12       SomerVision’s Goals for the New Ordinance

June 19       Sustainability

June 26       Mobility, Parking, and Access

July 10        Zoning for the Arts and Creative Economy

July 24        Somerville’s Building Types

July 31        Community Benefits

August 7     Square, Main Streets, Jobs, & the Somerville Economy

August 14   Zoning for Businesses

August 21   Signs, Lighting, & Site Development

August 28   Administration & Permitting

For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development at 617-625-6600 ext 2500, or visit www.somervillebydesign.com.