Executive Summary
On June 5, 2026, the Boston City Council Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation held a virtual hearing to consider nine dockets regarding appointments and reappointments to the Boston Landmarks Commission, the Back Bay Architectural District Commission, and the Four Point Channel Landmark District Commission. Chair Sharon Durkan presided over the session, which featured testimony from city staff and several nominees highlighting their professional backgrounds in architecture, law, and urban planning. Key nominees discussed included David Dixon, Vineet Gupta, and Kirsten Hoffman, among others. No public testimony was offered, and Chair Durkan indicated her intention to move all appointments forward for confirmation by the full City Council.
Meeting Information
- Date: June 5, 2026\n* Time: 10:01 AM\n* Governing Body: Boston City Council Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation\n* Meeting Type: Public Hearing\n* Chair: Councilor Sharon Durkan (District 8)\n* Staff Present: Joe Cornish (Director of Design Review, Boston Landmarks Commission), Elizabeth Sherba (Office of Historic Preservation), Shane Pack (Staff Liaison)\n* Nominees Present: David Sampson, Robert Weintraub, David Dixon, Kirsten Hoffman, Vineet Gupta
Dockets for Confirmation
The committee reviewed the following dockets sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu:\n\n1. Docket 0796: "Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of David Sampson as an alternate member of the Back Bay Architectural District Commission for a term expiring December 31st, 2030."\n2. Docket 0797: "Message and order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Robert Weintraub as a member of the Back Bay Architectural District Commission for a term expiring December 31st, 2029."\n3. Docket 0798: "Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of David Dixon as a member of the Boston Landmarks Commission for a term expiring June 30th, 2028."\n4. Docket 0799: "Message and order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Kirsten Hoffman as an alternate member of the Boston Landmarks Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2026."\n5. Docket 0800: "Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Kirsten Hoffman as a member of Four Point Channel Landmark District Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2026."\n6. Docket 1037: "Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Vineet Gupta as an alternate member of the Boston Landmarks Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2026."\n7. Docket 1038: "Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Susan Goganian as a member of the Boston Landmarks Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2026."\n8. Docket 1039: "Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Susan Goganian as a member of the Four Point Channel District Commission for a term expiring June 30th, 2026."\n9. Docket 1040: "Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Kathleen Connor as a member of the Back Bay Architectural District Commission for a term expiring December 31st, 2026."
Staff and Committee Remarks
- Joe Cornish (Director of Design Review): Provided a summary of the nominees' qualifications and expressed full support for all appointments. He noted that Kirsten Hoffman is a "superstar" of the commission, serving on multiple architectural commissions including Aberdeen and Mission Hill.\n* Elizabeth Sherba: Confirmed that all candidates bring expertise that will complement the various commissions and offered her wholehearted support.\n* Chair Sharon Durkan: Emphasized the importance of historic preservation to Boston's neighborhoods, noting that May was National Historic Preservation Month and that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Boston Landmarks Commission.
Nominee Testimony and Qualifications
- Robert Weintraub (Docket 0797): A business owner and real estate developer with a 45-year career specializing in historic preservation of Boston brownstones. He stated, "I feel that I'm a valuable member of the Commission given my knowledge of historic preservation."\n* David Sampson (Docket 0796): A real estate professional and developer. He was recognized for raising "close to $100,000" to facilitate the removal of scaffolding at the First Baptist Church in the Back Bay.\n* David Dixon (Docket 0798): Representing the American Planning Association. He discussed his extensive urban planning background, including post-Katrina planning for New Orleans and downtown planning for Memphis and Leesburg, Virginia.\n* Kirsten Hoffman (Dockets 0799, 0800): An archaeologist and lawyer representing the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. She highlighted the importance of maximizing historic resources for the benefit of development projects.\n* Vineet Gupta (Docket 1037): Former Director of Planning for Transportation for the City of Boston. Trained as an architect and urban designer, he emphasized his focus on context and respectful architecture within the urban fabric.
Absent Nominees and Adjournment
- Susan Goganian (Dockets 1038, 1039): Absent due to travel. Chair Durkan noted she is well-known and previously served on the Landmarks Commission.\n* Kathleen Connor (Docket 1040): Absent due to travel. Joe Cornish noted she has served as the chair of the Back Bay Architectural Commission for over 10 years.\n* Public Testimony: No members of the public signed up to testify.\n* Action: Chair Durkan indicated she would move all nine dockets forward for confirmation at the next City Council meeting. The hearing was adjourned.