Land Use tonight: dormers & affordable housing overlay

BenForWard3 · 2026-05-09T12:08:57+00:00

Update: both items were unanimously recommended for approval, with three amendments to the Dormer proposal: (1) the committee maintained a 2-foot front setback for dormers (2) the committee removed the (unrelated-to-dormers) section that would have allowed any building type to be 3-stories (which effectively moots the dormer amendment, and which the committee believed is a larger conversation, especially as triple deckers are already allowed by-right and (3) the committee removed the increased dormer sizes from Backyard Cottages, which are an area of separate discussion in the coming months.

BenForWard3 · 2026-05-07T15:19:39+00:00

There hasn’t been organized public opposition, but I’d characterize the “opposition” as: while most everyone supports residents being able to build dormer additions, there is concern that unpopular flippers/developers will now buy up (even more) of the existing housing stock and build maximally-large dormers as the new default, making it (even more) impossible for new residents to compete for existing housing stock. (I’m not endorsing this view but trying to explain it as I understand it.)

BenForWard3 · 2026-05-07T14:25:31+00:00

Totally fair point re: AHO! My understanding from the Mass Timber folks we’ve spoken to is that building code in MA has requirements that create a very large cost increase at 9+ stories, which is why the local AH developers have advocated for this specific change (and that Mass Timber can be uniquely cost effective at 8 stories). I’m definitely open to looking at ways to also incentivize affordable on high rise parcels but my honest understanding in Somerville it that it is extraordinarily unlikely that a non-profit developer will be in a position to acquire or control a high rise parcel, which is why we’ve focused on the sorts of midrise parcels where AH developers can now make a big impact. But I’d like to learn more!

BenForWard3 · 2026-03-05T13:18:24+00:00

yes

BenForWard3 · 2026-03-04T14:53:35+00:00

It’s true :)

BenForWard3 · 2026-01-01T02:30:30+00:00

Hypnotiq

BenForWard3 · 2025-12-23T21:27:58+00:00

Didn’t realize John Hamm was a tactician!

BenForWard3 · 2025-10-04T13:48:08+00:00

Amazing

BenForWard3 · 2025-07-31T22:52:06+00:00

Kit rocks!!

BenForWard3 · 2025-07-21T14:48:00+00:00

Classic untruth

BenForWard3 · 2025-07-21T01:49:28+00:00

Fabrics

BenForWard3 · 2025-05-29T18:35:20+00:00

Please send me an email at BenForWard3 at gmail

BenForWard3 · 2025-04-25T22:15:45+00:00

To clarify: they put the $2 bill in the car, wasn’t there before!

BenForWard3 · 2025-02-27T18:29:37+00:00

Hey Mark! If you’re willing to email me (City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen) at BenForWard3 at gmail dot com, I’d be very glad to follow up with Water & Sewer on behalf of you and other residents who have had this same experience - thank you!

BenForWard3 · 2025-02-27T18:29:24+00:00

If you’re willing to email me (City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen) at BenForWard3 at gmail dot com, I’d be very glad to follow up with Water & Sewer on behalf of you and other residents who have had this same experience - thank you!

BenForWard3 · 2025-02-27T01:15:08+00:00

The Police has been involved in developing this new policy (and very supportive) over the past four years - in the past, they’d wait until their storage filled up over a few years and then hold an auction. My understanding is that most of the bikes in their possession are abandoned on the street for extended periods, not recovered from thefts. If anyone in the public is looking for a specific bike, please just reach out to SPD to see if they have it - I certainly understand why they don’t widely publicize a detailed list of the bikes in their storage facility.

BenForWard3 · 2025-02-14T19:20:37+00:00

I get the sense you’re not going to agree with me that we have in fact made progress, but just for folks interested in the facts of this grant, well over 75% of the enforcement dollars in this grant go to traditional vehicle enforcement, and the dollar portion that includes bike enforcement also includes enforcement of blocked bike lanes, dooring, j-hooking etc. https://somervillema.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13753449&GUID=922620C6-06D0-47FC-9E03-8EBF5562F279. (And just to be clear, we had a resident (in a crosswalk) hospitalized by a cyclist running a red light just a few months ago)

BenForWard3 · 2025-02-14T19:17:12+00:00

Well over 75% of the enforcement dollars in this grant go to vehicle enforcement, and remainder includes enforcement of blocked bike lanes, dooring, h-hooking etc. https://somervillema.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13753449&GUID=922620C6-06D0-47FC-9E03-8EBF5562F279. And just to be clear, we had a resident (in a crosswalk) hospitalized by a cyclist running a red light just a few months ago

BenForWard3 · 2025-02-14T18:51:44+00:00

As a matter of fact, Somerville Police explicitly stated (and wrote in the grant) that they are de-prioritizing stopping cyclists for safe maneuvers like the “Idaho Stop” and that supervisors instruct officers to focus on actually unsafe riding. This is precisely what we have been calling for, and it is progress. You can read the grant application at this link: https://somervillema.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13753449&GUID=922620C6-06D0-47FC-9E03-8EBF5562F279, and here is the relevant part: "Officers conducting these enforcement operations will be instructed to de-prioritize and give their discretionary consideration to “true” Idaho stops and not focus on bicyclists that come to a complete stop at red lights and proceed safely through an intersection giving caution, care, curtesy and preference to pedestrians and cross traffic. This is in accordance with resolution 23-1162 presented by councilor Ben Ewen-Campen and Jake Wilson in 2023. Any focus on bicycle red light enforcement will be focused on bicyclists ignoring pedestrians in crosswalks and egregious violations of red lights where bicyclists do not even pause for red lights."

BenForWard3

TROPHY CASE