Executive Summary
The Land Use Committee met on September 3, 2026, to deliberate on economic development tools and zoning amendments. The committee recommended approval of the Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing (UCH-TIF) Zone Plan for Assembly Square and East Somerville (ID 26-0746), intended to unlock housing development while maintaining the city's 20% inclusionary housing requirement. The committee also discussed and recommended an amendment to the zoning ordinance regarding homeless shelters (ID 26-0835). Following a presentation on peer city comparisons, the committee voted to amend the proposal to require a special permit for shelters in Neighborhood Residence districts rather than allowing them by right, ensuring a collaborative process for future sitings.
Meeting Information
- Governing Body: Land Use Committee
- Meeting Type: Regular Committee Meeting
- Date: September 03, 2026
- Attendees:
- Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen (Chair)
- Councilor Lance Davis
- Councilor Jesse Clingan
- Councilor Naima Sait
- Councilor Matt McLaughlin
- Staff Present:
- Katie Weiss, Economic Development Planner
- Ned Carney, Director of Economic Development
- Samantha Carr, Analyst
Approval of Minutes
- Item 1 (ID 26-0942): Approval of the minutes of the Land Use Committee meeting of May 21, 2026.
- Item 2 (ID 26-1147): Approval of the minutes of the Land Use Committee meeting of June 18, 2026.
- Action: Both sets of minutes were approved at the conclusion of the meeting.
- Vote Outcome: 5-0 (Roll Call: Davis-Yes, Clingan-Yes, Sait-Yes, McLaughlin-Yes, Ewen-Campen-Yes).
Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing (UCH-TIF) Zone Plan (ID 26-0746)
- Description: Requesting approval of the Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing Zone plan and form of agreement for Assembly Square and East Somerville.
- Key Discussion Points:
- Katie Weiss (Economic Development) explained that this action creates the district, which allows the city to negotiate future tax increment financing deals to unlock stalled development sites.
- Director Ned Carney noted that the state must approve the tool's use in specific zones and that this district is intended to move forward sites that have remained vacant in East Somerville and Assembly Square.
- Councilor McLaughlin (Ward 1) supported the measure, stating: "We zoned this area to get built for housing and right now with the building costs, the interest rates and the affordable rate it's just not happening... I view this as more of a compromise than anything."
- The committee emphasized that this tool does not waive the 20% inclusionary housing requirement.
- Action: Recommended for approval.
- Vote Outcome: 5-0 (Roll Call: Davis-Yes, Clingan-Yes, Sait-Yes, McLaughlin-Yes, Ewen-Campen-Yes).
Zoning Ordinance Amendment: Homeless Shelters (ID 26-0835)
- Description: Proposing an amendment to Section 2.1.1 of the zoning ordinance regarding homeless shelters.
- Staff Presentation: Samantha Carr provided a comparison of how peer communities (Medford, Cambridge, Boston, and Malden) regulate shelters. She noted that Somerville currently requires a special permit in most districts and that 74% of the city's parcels are in Neighborhood Residence (NR) districts.
- Committee Deliberation:
- Councilor Davis expressed a desire to clear up confusion in the current zoning and enable additional shelters with a clear process, including required neighborhood meetings.
- Chair Ewen-Campen raised concerns regarding the challenges of operating shelters in residential zones, citing experiences with the local warming center, and suggested a special permit process for NR districts to allow for site-specific considerations.
- The Planning Board provided a positive recommendation with the suggestion to require a special permit in residential districts.
- Official Action (Amendment): Councilor Davis moved to amend the proposal to change the designation for homeless shelters in Neighborhood Residence (NR) districts from "Permitted" (P) to "Special Permit" (SP) in Table 3.1.16 and Table 9.1.1.
- Vote on Amendment: 5-0 (Roll Call: Davis-Yes, Clingan-Yes, Sait-Yes, McLaughlin-Yes, Ewen-Campen-Yes).
- Official Action (Recommendation): The committee moved to recommend the item as amended.
- Vote Outcome: 5-0 (Roll Call: Davis-Yes, Clingan-Yes, Sait-Yes, McLaughlin-Yes, Ewen-Campen-Yes).