New restrictions aimed at reducing parking problems posed by new residents occupying new developments have been proposed by the Somerville Traffic Commission.

By Jim Clark

The City of Somerville Traffic Commission approved a proposal to restrict the issuance of parking permits to future residents of new development located within walking distance to a rapid transit station of the MBTA’s Red, Orange, or Green Line services at its latest meeting on Thursday, December 12.

According to the Commission, the purpose of this policy is to preclude future residents of new development from creating additional traffic and parking problems, such as traffic congestion and on-street parking shortages, while helping to reduce air pollution and improve both pedestrian safety and emergency service response time.

Additionally, the policy is intended to help implement multiple objectives of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, SomerVision.

The new policy only applies to the future residents of new development located within walking distance to a rapid transit station as identified on the proposed map. Walking distance is considered to be a ten-minute walk and the area of a city within that distance is referred to as a “Transit Area.”

Ward 5 Councilor Mark Niedergang updated the City Council on the proposed parking restrictions at its most recent meeting.

All properties located in the Neighborhood Residence district are excluded from the proposed restriction and all properties outside of walking distance to a rapid transit station are excluded. The Neighborhood Residence district in the proposed new zoning ordinance includes almost all of the single, 2-, and 3-family properties in Somerville, which will still be able to receive resident parking permits.

Existing resident parking permits remain valid and residents of all existing residential addresses, whether they already have a resident parking permit or not, remain eligible for on-street parking permits in the future.

New development includes the construction of entirely new buildings and the gut rehabilitation of existing structures that add new dwelling units in Transit Areas.

The Inspectional Services Department (ISD) will provide a list of addresses to the Parking Department as Certificates of Occupancy are issued for new development.

Restricted units will not receive guest permits as the new policy proposes to restrict access to all permits, including guest permits.

The new policy exempts future residents that may be “choice limited,” including persons with disabilities, occupants of affordable dwelling units, and residents with extenuating circumstances.

The proposed policy does not apply to residents of existing housing in Somerville. Like all real estate decisions, households that do not yet live in Somerville will have to make a choice about whether to purchase or rent a home or apartment that is subject to this restriction based on their own personal needs.

The Parking Department will maintain a list of addresses subject to the restriction.

The new zoning ordinance requires developers to market new housing in a Transit Areas as ineligible for residential parking permits and to inform potential new residents of the restriction through mandated zoning permit conditions.

Because the proposed policy does not apply to residents of existing housing in Somerville, local businesses should expect no loss of customer base from what they have today due to the restriction and are likely to gain many additional customers that walk, bike, or take transit to their locations as a result of new development.

The new policy will become effective on January 15, 2020.

Ward 5 City Councilor and Traffic Commission Chair Mark Niedergang reported on the proposed policy at the regular meeting of the Somerville City Council on the same day as the Traffic Commission saying, “I am extremely pleased to report that the Traffic Commission voted tonight to adopt the policy that Mr. Bartman drew up, with comments from the Traffic and Parking Committee, to restrict residential parking permits for new developments and transit-oriented districts.”

“It was a unanimous vote,” Niedergang continued. “Councilor McLaughlin attended and made some excellent remarks about why this is important and about the broad public support that we have experienced for this at Zoning Board meetings, community meetings, public hearings around the zoning overhaul. So I’m really pleased about this.”

Niedergang commended Dan Barton from the Planning Department and Andy Connor from the Mayor’s Office for their work and for bringing many other departments into the process.

Regarding the policy, Niedergang emphasized, “It will only restrict newcomers to the city, people who are living in newly constructed housing units in large buildings.”

FAQs and further information on the proposed parking policy can be found on the city’s website at https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/traffic-commission.