These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City Calendar and in the city’s Open Meetings Portal.
Removing parking for bus stops
Traffic Commission, 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The council considers parking changes in three parts of the city to make more space for bus stops: along Somerville Avenue between Warren and Hawkins streets as it approaches Union Square, on Cross Street near the East Somerville Community School and Medford Street near School Street. The council also reviews four requests to change parking space uses to accessible parking spaces. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Density bonus to help affordability
Land Use Committee, 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Councilor Matt McLaughlin asks the director of planning, preservation and zoning to discuss what power the City Council has to set standards and materials used for outdoor bike facilities. The committee also continues a yearlong discussion toward allowing increased density, especially near transit, for affordable housing or other community benefits, with director Dan Bartman mentioning in June “the ability to construct four-story apartment buildings by-right in urban residence zones, which streamlines the development process.” Watchable via videoconferencing.
Intricacies of bus routes
Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Discussion with mobility division staff about the 90 bus, which the MBTA moved to Washington Street in line with its ongoing Bus Network Redesign project then returned to Cross and Tufts streets this fall after a committee request – but leaving concerns about such things as frequency and alignment with the other transit changes. Separately, the director of transit priority at the T presents on the agency’s plans for automated bus lane enforcement by use of cameras near the front of certain buses. In-person at 101 South St., Boynton Yards, using the door on the far left of the building next to Windsor Street. The meeting is also watchable via videoconferencing.
Apartments instead of lab space
Ward 5 Neighborhood Meeting, 6 p.m. Monday. Developers share plans for a 30,000-square-foot residential building at 32-40 White St. Developers plan 29 residential units on the Somerville-Cambridge line next to the Porter Square Shopping Center and near the MBTA. In 2022, developers wanted to build lab space on these conjoined properties, but have switched focus. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Redefining central Broadway
Division of Planning, Preservation and Zoning, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The city releases a Central Broadway Corridor zoning study to address properties that straddle the Somerville-Medford border. The plan includes zoning recommendations such as aligning on building heights of up to six stories and allowed ground-floor uses. In person in the cafeteria at the Healey School, 5 Meacham St., Winter Hill.
Biweekly finance committee meeting
Finance Committee, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The finance committee meets. The agenda is not available. Watchable via videoconferencing.
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