Upcoming Public Hearings

[lancedavisward6]

There are several public hearings coming up, on three different nights.

1. Wednesday, Nov. 15th, 7:30 P.M. City Hall -- This is for the proposed extension of the Medical Marijuana Overlay District (http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=2547&MediaPosition=&ID=16946&CssClass=), which expired in June of this year. Five applicants received a letter of non-opposition from the city. Of those, one is now open, one is under construction, two have withdrawn, and one still wants to go forward with their plan (in Union Square). In order to obtain the Special Permit required to do so, the MMOD would need to be extended. I'm told that at this time the Administration has no plans to consider additional applications (though that could be revisited in the future). The Administration does expect to include a permanent MMOD in the proposed zoning overhaul, which is not yet before the Board.

2. Monday, November 27th, 6:00 P.M. City Hall -- There are technically four separate public hearings to be held on the 27th, on two topics:

A) Creating a jobs linkage fee:
- http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=2548&MediaPosition=&ID=17127&CssClass=

and

- http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=2548&MediaPosition=&ID=17257&CssClass=

B) Raising the affordable housing linkage percentage:
- http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=2548&MediaPosition=&ID=17128&CssClass=

and

- http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=2548&MediaPosition=&ID=17256&CssClass=

3. Tuesday, November 28, 6:00 P.M. City Hall -- Finally, there will be a public hearing on the proposed District Improvement Financing (DIF) that is before the Board, which would finance major infrastructure repairs and upgrades to the City's sewer and stormwater system. The work would focus on extended areas surrounding Union Square, as that is the "down stream" part of the system that needs to be addressed first, before working back upstream. More information, including materials submitted to the Board's Committee on Finance can be found here: www.somervillema.gov/usqdif

Comments

[secretlyironic]

How high is too high for a linkage/affordable housing fee? Can anyone present studies about the optimal range for different circumstances?

[lancedavisward6]

The full Nexus Study is available here: https://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/Somerville_Nexus_Final%20Report_9_8_17%20%282%29.pdf It does present a recommended range, under certain circumstances.

[secretlyironic]

That's quite comprehensive!

Good to know they've run the numbers.

[theresa_99]

Thanks!