Vol. 4, No. 3
February 9, 2004
Contents
1) ASSEMBLY SQUARE NEWS
Where are we in the process?
The Committee on Legislative Matters met on February 3, 2004, to discuss proposed new zoning
for Assembly Square. One might reasonably ask, "Which new zoning?" - the zoning for
Assembly Square is truly a 'moving target.' Former Alderman Curtatone's December 8, 2003,
zoning proposal is still before the Board. The Planning Board's January 8, 2004, amended
version of that zoning proposal has been communicated to the Board, but not formally submitted
to it for advertisement, public hearing, and action.
Nor is it likely that the Planning Board's January 8 version will be the one ultimately acted on
by the aldermen. At the February third committee meeting, Chairman Tom Taylor stated that
the mayor expects to introduce a third version of the zoning in late February or early March,
for a probable public hearing on March 18. The mayor would like the aldermen to adopt new
zoning by the end of March, but there is not yet so much as a working draft of the new zoning
available, nor any suggestion of how much it will resemble or differ from the December 8th
proposal.
So what is the Committee on Legislative Matters considering?
At the moment, the committee is gathering information. On February 3, consultant Steve Cecil
Spoke stated that he is excited about making Assembly Square a wonderful place. Eamon
McGilligan, the city's Planning Director, explained the Planning Board's recommendations at
some length. Somerville resident Jim Gallagher spoke about his work as a professional
Transportation Planner with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), and about
MAPC's role in evaluating transportation projects put before the Boston MPO (Metropolitan
Planning Organization) for funding approval, such as the Assembly Square Orange Line station.
[Explanatory aside: the Boston MPO is a federally-mandated body that is responsible for the
programming and funding of all transit and highway projects in 101 municipalities in the Greater
Boston area funded by federal dollars, or by state highway monies. The MPO has fourteen
member bodies: the MBTA, the state's transportation-related agencies, MAPC, the City of
Boston, and a regional advisory body are permanent members. Additionally, three "inner core"
and three less urban communities are elected members; the current elected municipal members
are: Everett, Salem, Newton, Bedford, Framingham, and Hopkinton. For more information, visit
the MPO's website]
Mr. Gallagher came to the December 23, 2003 public hearing to alert the Board that the Boston
MPO was adopting new criteria for transportation projects, including standards for the zoning
of land around proposed transit stops. Mr. Gallagher presented these criteria, which were
formally adopted by the MPO on January 22, 2004. He explained how the criteria could affect
Somerville's ability to get an Orange Line station at Assembly Square. [I haven't been able to
find these latest TIP criteria on the MPO's website; if you'd like to review the criteria yourself,
send me a request, and I'll e.mail them to you.]
Mr. Gallagher's comments were amplified by remarks made in a letter to the committee by
Dennis DiZoglio, the MBTA's Planning Director, who also chairs the Boston MPO. Mr.
DiZoglio stated that the "Assembly Square Orange Line Station... is currently a medium
priority. The T and the MPO are attempting to program high priorities at this time." There was
discussion of how Somerville might either access "non-MPO" funding for an Orange line stop,
or boost the project's rating to "high priority" by zoning Assembly Square in a manner that
reflects developing standards for "Transit Oriented Development" (TOD).
What next?
At its last meeting, the Committee on Legislative Matters voted to formally request that MAPC
review the proposed Assembly Square zoning under its Land Use Criteria, and report its findings
back to the Board. It also requested that MAPC direct to the Committee's attention some existing
models of zoning for Transit Oriented Development. The committee will meet again on Tuesday,
February 10 at 7:00 p.m., and hopes to hear at that time from a representative of the Office of
Commonwealth Development regarding the state's "Smart Growth" policies, and how these
could affect state funding for Assembly Square.
Steve Cecil has asked that the meeting on Feb. 24 be a "public information session," though he
has not yet said whether he wants to give information to, or solicit information from, the public.
The meetings will be held on the second floor of City Hall. Additionally, in the weeks ahead,
Steve Cecil will be meeting privately with individual aldermen to discuss the Assembly Square
zoning effort.
You might want to "pencil in" March 18 as the date for the public hearing on the next version
of Assembly Square zoning, which the administration is tentatively planning to submit in early
March. The hearing date will become firm when new zoning is submitted to the BOA and
advertised in accordance with state law. I'll keep you advised.
2) SMOKING BAN/BOARD OF HEALTH UPDATE
Many readers have contacted me about the fate of Somerville's ban on smoking in bars and
restaurants, which has recently been in the news. The ban, adopted by the Board of Health in
June 2003, sparked considerable controversy after it went into effect on October 1, 2003.
Although the smoking ban did not seem to be a big 'campaign issue' last fall, it started to loom
large after the election.
In its January 3, 2004 article, "Incoming mayor plans shakeup in Somerville," the Boston Globe reported that two members of the Board of Health claimed that Mayor Curtatone "made
campaign promises to bar and restaurant owners that the smoking ban would be reversed." The Globe, in a Jan. 11, 2004, article
titled, "Smoking ban in jeopardy," quoted mayoral spokesman Mark Horan as saying that, "the mayor has not heard from any antismoking advocates."
On Thursday, January 22, the Somerville Journal reported that Board of Health member Arnold
Duclersaint was being replaced after four years of service. Duclersaint claimed that it was
retaliation for his earlier vote not to reconsider the smoking ban. Spokesman Horan said, "It has
nothing to do with the smoking ban." At the January 22, 2004 meeting of the Board of
Aldermen, the Mayor asked that Babette Mello be confirmed as Duclersaint's replacement on
the Board of Health.
Ms. Mello's resume states that she was trained as licensed practical nurse (LPN) at the Youville
Hospital School of Practical Nursing in 1990. Since 1994, she has worked as a secretary at
Suffolk University Law School. She told the Somerville Journal that "she is still learning about
the smoking ban and has not decided where she stands on the issue." (1/29/04)
Ms. Mello's appointment was not referred to the Committee on Confirmation of Appointments,
as is the usual practice. It was approved at the January 22 meeting, pursuant to a successful
motion to suspend the Rules for that purpose. Confirmation of Appointments Chairman Roche
stated that the appointment should be approved that night, as the Board of Health would be
meeting before the next meeting of the Aldermen.
The Somerville Board of Health will hold its next meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004, at 4:30
p.m. at the Tufts Administration Building on Holland Street. The city website posts no agenda
for the meeting. Call Health Director Jack Vondras at 617-625-6600 for more information.
3) SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEWS
A) "Community Meetings" Scheduled
The second of four "Community Meetings" about Somerville's public schools will be held on
Monday, February 9, 2004, at 6:30 p.m., in the auditorium at Somerville High School. All
community members interested in or concerned about the schools are invited to attend. Two
more meetings are scheduled in this series; I'll supply dates, times, and locations when I
learn them.
B) School Information Available
Each week, School Superintendent Albert Argenziano distributes to School Committee
members a packet of information relating to business before the committee, and to the
operation of the schools generally. I have current enrollment figures, copies of school
improvement plans; also school budget books from fiscal years 2003 and 2004. Please
contact me if you are looking for specific school-related information, I might have what you
are looking for.
C) Long Range Planning?
Many people in this city have contacted me about their concern for the fate of individual
schools or programs, as well as the generally perceived need for long-term facilities
planning. Last week there were two meetings of the Long Range Planning Committee. The
agendas of both those meetings were taken up with presentations of school improvement
plans for eleven schools.
The Finance and Facilities Committee is another place that I would expect discussions of
facilities planning to take place. Meetings of this committee were originally scheduled for
Feb. 23 and March 1 at 6:30 p.m., but since the School Committee has voted to start its
regular meetings at 7:00 p.m. instead of 8:00 p.m., those must be rescheduled. I will advise
of dates, times, and agendas, as I learn them.
In my March 2003 analysis of last year's "facilities study"
conducted by the New England
School Development Council (NESDEC), I was shocked that NESDEC had not even
considered the 10 year population projections for Somerville complied by the Metropolitan
Area Planning Council (MAPC). MAPC predicts population growth in Somerville over the
next decade. We seem not to have any present plan that considers the possibility of future
growth.
Another important consideration is the pending decision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese
of Boston to close more parochial schools. Recent years saw the closing of St. Joseph's
School (its building now leased by the Charter School) and St. Polycarp's (rented by the city
for several years, then used by St. Ann's School after a fire destroyed part of their building).
Further parochial school closures in this city could also affect public school enrollments.
4) MEETING ON 35R LEXINGTON AVENUE REDEVELOPMENT
On Wednesday, February 25, 2004, at 7:00 p.m., there will be a neighborhood meeting
concerning the proposed redevelopment of the former Koral Equipment site, at 35R
Lexington Avenue. This property may be better known as the collection of derelict buildings
and cyclone fence that encroaches on the Bike Path just east of Lexington Playground. The
owner of the property, Christos Poutihides, proposes to build four residential units on the
site.
I have not yet seen any plans, but Mr. Poutahides' attorney, Frank Scannell, was kind
enough to notify me and the Ward Alderman about the proposal and the meeting. It will be
held in the third floor community room at the VNA Assisted Living Facility on Lowell
Street. I will endeavor to get more information about the redevelopment proposal.
5) MY INAUGURAL SPEECH POSTED ON MY WEBSITE
Melissa McWhinney praised its "elegant spiral structure." The Somerville News called it
"rambling." One long-time resident said he enjoyed it because it "was a real Inaugural, and
not just a state-of-the-city speech."
Good? Bad? Indifferent? You can now read it for yourself.
copyright 2004 Denise Provost
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