Joint Economic Development and University Relations and Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebrations Committees forward the amended proposed Policy Order regarding Labs and Neighborhood Planning to the full City Council

Addressing Nuisances (Noise, light, mechanicals, etc.) – Address the concerns surrounding commercial buildings and labs through design guidelines in zoning code, strengthening the building code where needed, and review other local and state regulations.

2. Reasonable restrictions on commercial building and lab size and use: Avoid any restrictive definitions of “labs” to prevent unintended consequences of hampering innovation and new trends in the very fluid lab, office, commercial, and technical workspace environment.

Where appropriate, recommend some restrictions on the size and intensity of use and/or hazard level (i.e., prohibit BLS 3 or 4) in certain neighborhoods to address concerns about health, safety and the impact of commercial and large lab buildings being built in or adjacent to smaller scale residential districts. Issue separate guidance for conversion of existing space versus ground-up new construction, especially as it relates to any potential size restrictions.

3. 1035 Cambridge Street: Allow all current uses at 1035 Cambridge Street to continue by establishing a new zoning district encompassing 1035 and surrounding parcels. However, due to the nature of current uses at 1035 and the rapidly changing landscape in Somerville around the new Union Square T station and Boynton Yards, 1035 Cambridge and the surrounding parcels should be looked at differently. The area should move forward as its own district with a possible housing overlay district for added height and density at a 100-foot depth along Cambridge Street using the Our Cambridge Street Study as a starting point.

4.

Address the need for more housing through a pro-active discussion on mixed use and mixed income development of lab, housing, and retail: CDD should use the research and planning that has resulted from Envision Cambridge, Alewife Quad Study, and Our Cambridge Street Study along with future discussions of Central Square and North Massachusetts Avenue to identify concepts and best practices in urban planning to develop strong design guidelines and zoning and other possible recommendations that harness the economic dynamism of labs and the innovation economy to support the creation of co-located retail and housing via mixed-use developments (i.e., residential above lab above ground floor retail) of all scales.

And be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager report back the City Council with recommendations no later than March 1, of 2024.