Zero-Sort Photo Contest Winners Announced

Good news on two fronts: Recycling is up by 46% since the start of Zero-Sort recycling AND yesterday,Mayor Curtatone presented the winners of the “It’s the Love Tote” photo contest with certificates of “Exemplary Zero-Sortness” as well a small gifts during a ceremony at City Hall. Today, we reveal the eight winning photos.

GRAND PRIZE (above)

“Come Together, Right Now…and Don’t Sort” by Orchard St. residents Deborah Baskin and (shown left to right in the photo) Liam Campbell, Fiona Campbell, Theo Gounden-Rock, Izzy Larsen, Ben Larsen, and Zara Gounden-Rock. The photo echoes The Beatle’s Abbey Road album cover. The judges especially appreciated the creativity, group effort, and positive recycling message in this entry--and they liked that while Baskin shot the photo, the kids came up with the idea.

SECOND PRIZE and MOST MAGICAL"The Magic of Recycling: Barrels of Fun!” by Louise Marks of Grand View Ave. and her "lovely assistants," Faye Bergsman (center), Stewart Faulkner (the legs), and Ed Pinkham (behind the camera). The judges were especially entertained by the creativity and humor in this entry, and they liked that it bestowed the aura of magic upon Zero-Sort recycling.

THIRD PRIZE and

MOST UNLIKELY LOCATION

"Tote Fishing" by Nicholas Capuano, age 10, of Porter St. The judges were especially impressed by this entry’s creativity and originality, and by Capuano's apparent ability to surmount unusual obstacles (such as balancing a recycling toter in a canoe on the Mystic River). The judges were also tickled that Capuano thought to outfit his toter with its own fishing rod.

BEST SUBMISSION AGE 12 & UNDER and MOST ROMANTIC

"Love at First Sight" by Valerie Farley, age 10, of Willow Ave. The judges were especially impressed by this entry’s clever idea and wit. They were also impressed by Farley's motivation in sending so many varied entries as well (Farley sent in about ten entries). But this one was the judge’s favorite.

MOST STYLISH/BEST DRESSED TOTER

“It’s Hip to Recycle” by Erin Geno of Sycamore St. The judges were especially entertained by this entry’s sense of whimsy, its celebration of Somerville’s hip factor, and its oversized mustache. They were also pleased to see that it incorporated another important green City priority in Somerville: bicycling.

BEST TOTE-ON-THE-TOWN MOMENT

"Zero-Sort Goes Bowling" by Sarah Hutchinson and Erin Scholomiti of Holland St. The judges were especially entertained by this entry’s sense of fun, the unexpected location, and the toter’s loyalty to a local business (it's at Flatbread/Sacco Bowl Haven). They also noted the attention to detail. Look closely, there's a ball rolling down the lane toward a spare.

MOST LIKELY TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO RECYCLE

“Even Kids Can Get into Zero-Sort Recycling” by Aaron Helsinger of Lesley Ave. The judges especially enjoyed the simple, direct and fun way this entry celebrated the new program. This photo will be of great use in promoting Zero-Sort to our younger residents. 

MOST LIKELY TO INSPIRE HOLIDAY RECYCLING

"Laughing All the Way" by Lisa McFarren and Justin Grunau of Willow Ave. The judges were entertained by this entry’s sense of fun, its holiday theme, and its use of stuffed reindeer antlers. Circe (right) and Prospero (left), who are both rescue dogs, also deserve mention. This isn’t their first photo shoot. Circe was recently featured in a national Subaru ad (click link and scroll down to the third photo) that mentioned Somerville. To thank Circe and Prospero for their contribution to getting out the word about Zero Sort, the Mayor presented each with a dog treat as their prize.    

Prizes

The Grand Prize winners received a $50 Gift Certificate to the Somerville Winter Farmers Market, and all winners were presented with a small City of Somerville gift. WasteQuip, which manufactured the City’s recycling toters, also generously donated toter swag for the winners including 6-inch-tall mini-toters. All photo entries will be edited into an “It’s the Love Tote” music video for all to enjoy on the City of Somerville Youtube channel and City Cable channels 13 and 16.

But wait, there's more!

As part of the Grand Prize package, Mayor Curtatone will pick up Grand prize winner's recycling on Orchard Street on Wednesday, Feb. 8, followed by a special live performance of “The Love Tote” by local musician Jimmy Del Ponte and the Love-Tote Singers.  

What's OK When it Comes to Bikes and the Rules of the Road?

Complaints that Somerville cyclists are ignoring the rules of the road were made at every ResiStat meeting this fall. Likewise, local cyclists are equally concerned about motorists who do not safely share the roads with bicycles. The good news is that the City will launch a citywide bicycle safety campaign in March to help educate everyone—motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians—on how to safely (and legally) use our roads and walkways.

Today though, a resident asked that we post the rules regarding cyclists to the City’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SomervilleCity). It’s a lot of information, so I’m posting a link to the rules posted here.

The City follows Massachusetts General Law for traffic safety and regulation for cyclists and motorists, with the municipal addition of requiring cyclists to stay in bike lanes when present.

The most important rules follow:

• Bicycles must obey the same general traffic regulations that apply to cars including obeying traffic lights, traffic signs (Stop, Yield, etc.), and traveling on the right side of the road in the allowed direction of traffic (cyclists may not ride the wrong way down a one-way street).

• Motorists are required by law to share the road with cyclists.

• Motor vehicles may not be driven in bicycle lanes (except to cross the lane safely while making a right turn).

•Motor vehicles making a right turn must yield to cyclists passing on the right and make the turn at a safe distance from the cyclist.

• When bike lanes are present, cyclists must stay in bike lanes, except when making a left turn, overtaking a slower cyclist, or avoiding a hazard.

• When making a left turn, if it is safe to do so, cyclists must move to center of the roadway and make the turn in accordance with the rules of the road. If it is not safe to do so, cyclists should dismount and cross on foot at a crosswalk.

• Cyclists may not ride on the sidewalk in or near city squares or business districts. For exact boundaries, see http://1.usa.gov/xsxiRc, Article XIII (please note, not all regulations at this link are up to date).

• Pedestrians have the right-of-way over bicycles and motor vehicles in all crosswalks and on sidewalks where bicycles are permitted, and bicycles and motor vehicles must yield to pedestrians in all traffic situations.

• Bicycles have the right-of-way (over pedestrians and motor vehicles) in designated bicycle lanes and on designated bike paths.

• Pedestrians are prohibited from walking in bicycle lanes (except to cross the lane).

• Motor vehicle doors may not be opened in a manner that obstructs other users, including cyclists. Violators are subject to a $100 fine.

• Any person 16 years of age or younger operating a bicycle or being carried as a passenger on a bicycle on a public way, bicycle path or on any other public right-of-way shall wear a helmet.

• During the period from sunset to sunrise, cyclists must display a front light emitting a white light visible from at least 500 feet, and to the rear either a lamp emitting a red light, or a red reflector visible for not less than 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.

• Also during the period from sunset to sunrise, cyclists must use reflectors on bike pedals and ankles and also on either the bicycle or their person visible to the front, sides, and rear for not less than 600 feet.

• Bicycle traffic regulations are enforced by the police. Currently, violation of bicycle traffic regulations are subject to a $20 fine. Cyclists who refuse to provide their correct name may be arrested without a warrant and are subject to a $50 fine.

To peruse the regulations yourself, click the following links:

• Many regulations are noted within Ch 85 Sec 11B, including behavior in traffic, helmet regulations, etc. Click HERE.
• The information on ticketing and fines is HERE.  
• Rules for driver behavior around cyclists are HERE (passing safely, giving space and right of way, yielding in turns, opening of car doors).

Finally, my two favorite and somewhat obscure traffic rules:

• Cyclists may not use a siren to announce their approach.
• Cyclists must come to an immediate stop when approaching a cow, horse, or other draft animal. (Not sure how this rule would apply to the cyclist in the cow suit in the photo above though.)

Photo by TPapi. 

Design Chosen for New Harris Park: Check Out the Cool Fly-Through Video

On Wednesday, more than 60 people, including many youths, gathered to review two design proposals for the new Harris Park in East Somerville. After much discussion, the design called "The Mountain" emerged as the favorite. It features a gently sloping central hill, which recalls East Somerville's historic Mt. Benedict. The new space is also loaded with features requested by residents via two public meetings, school projects, and discussions with local youths, as well with comments collected by a multi-lingual postcard campaign and on Facebook, Twitter, and the ResiStat blog.

For the first time, we have more than just drawings and renderings to share. Somerville-based design firm GroundView, which developed the designs for the park, also prepared video fly-throughs. The gray-scale 3D images are very simple "outlines" (trees, for example, are respresented by rods). But viewed in combination with the images in this blog post and the full presentation, you can get a good sense of the new park. To see the presentation, click HERE. To see the fly-through, click HERE. To better understand them, keep reading...

Climbing equipment, a slide, and an ADA compliant sloping path will be integrated into the central hill or "mountain" shown to the right. Numerous trees lining the edges of the park and forming shade clusters throughout the 18,000 sq. ft. space will also serve as "lungs" for the neighborhood, absorbing exhaust from nearby I-93 and purifying the air.

Active features include: 

• Swings
• Teeter-totter
• Toddler play area with "assembly" play building, spring cars, and a box car track
• Water play feature (rain style) that can double as a movie screen frame (see the tall, yellow, rectangular pipe-like feature in the rendering at the top) 
• Safety surfaces poured-in-place
• Bocce court

• 100% accessibility

Passive features include:

• Chuckie Harris Memorial
• Community amphitheater and movie screen
• Community garden
• Ample seating: benches, cafe tables, picnic tables, chairs
• Lawn and ground cover
• Tree canopy
• Rain garden
• Perimeter fence
• Lighting
• Water fountain
• Bike racks

Construction is expected to start this summer. You can come enjoy the new space when it opens in summer 2013. Curious about the other design? It's called "The Forest" and includes 100 air-and-water-purifying trees and open areas for recreational features. View its fly-through HERE, and see slides showing the details in the presentation mentioned above HERE.

Project updates are posted on the City’s website HERE. For more information, contact Luisa Oliveira at LOliveira@somervillema.gov.

Final East Broadway Streetscape Design Complete

Every last bench, ADA compliant crosswalk, bike rack, and gleaming trash can planned for the new East Broadway streetscape can now be seen in the final plans released this week. On January 24, the completed drawings were submitted for bid. Constrution is expected to begin this spring or early summer.

The detailed, 84-page plan, which can be viewed HERE, is fairly technical. But scanning it and the renderings posted here (click the photos to view larger versions), you'll find features included in the design, such as:

• Improved road surface
• Open and shaded space (including many new trees)
• Better traffic signal phasing
• ADA compliance
• Improved and safer crosswalks
• Bike racks and lanes
• Improved amenities: ornamental lighting, new trash cans, new benches, etc.
• Wider sidewalks for outdoor dining and gathering places
• Improved parking options
• A new plaza in front of the East Branch library 

Design Consultants, Inc., of Somerville prepared the design in accordance with MassDOT standards. The $8 million project is funded primarily by a combination of federal transportation funds, Community Development Block Grant funds, and funding from MassDOT and the Massachusetts Office of Housing and Economic Development.

Adding to neighborhood improvements, the new Harris Park should begin construction at the same time.

Somerville-Arlington Awarded $2.2 Million for Homeless Assistance Grants

On Wednesday, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded Somerville and Arlington $2,237,821 in funding for homeless assistance programs. The funding for the Somerville-Arlington Continuum has steadily increased in the last several years, with $2,235,913 awarded in 2010, $2,233,788 in 2009, and $1.9 million in 2008. Overall this year, the Obama Administration has awarded nearly $1.47 billion in homeless assistance grants.

The grant money provides permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons, and also funds important case management and other services that can include job training, money management training, health care, mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment. These grants are awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients. Recipients include

• the Somerville Homeless Coalition, 
• Heading Home, 
• Just a Start Corporation, 
• CASPAR, 
• Wayside Youth and Family Support Network, 
• Somerville Community Corporation, 
• Catholic Charities and Transition House.

The $2.2 million is in addition to the $1.18 million Somerville received in 2009 through the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing (HPRP) Program, a three-year grant, of which the City is currently in the final year. The HPRP Program is intended to prevent persons from falling into homelessness or to rapidly re-house them if they do.

Photo by OHAD.

City, Firefighters Reach Agreement on 8-Year Labor Accord

At 5 p.m. today, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Somerville Firefighters Local 76 signed a memorandum of agreement on a new 8-year labor accord. Both sides made concessions. No layoffs and no closures of facilities, including the West Branch Library, will result. The official press release follows: 

City Agrees to Same Salary Percentage Increases Called for in JLMC Award Plus 3 More Years of Annual Wage Increases.  Union Agrees to Eliminate Retroactive Inclusion of Stipends in Base Salary; Both Sides Agree on Smaller Package of Stipends to Be Rolled into Base Salary Starting July 1, 2012; Mayor to Seek Approval for $3.3 Million Appropriation; No Layoffs or Closures Contemplated

     

– Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Somerville Firefighters Local 76 President Jay Colbert announced today that they have signed a memorandum of agreement on a comprehensive eight-year collective bargaining accord covering Fiscal Years 2008-2015.  Mayor Curtatone said he planned to submit a new $3.3-million appropriation to the Board of Aldermen to cover the costs of retroactive and current-year increases in firefighter pay.  The new appropriation would supersede a $4.3-million appropriation that the Mayor submitted last week under the terms of a compensation award issued on December 13, 2011 by the Massachusetts Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC).

The new agreement signed today also covers FY2008-2012 compensation for the city’s fire alarm operators, who are represented by Local 76 but who had not been included in the JLMC award.  Under the terms of the new accord, the firefighters also agreed to defer an estimated $420,000 in additional retroactive compensation to FY2013, which begins on July 1st.  Both the City and its firefighters further agreed to drop all litigation associated with the JLMC process, and the firefighters agreed to withdraw their case before the JLMC.     

“This agreement still presents major funding challenges but, compared to the terms of the JLMC award, it offers real advantages to both the City and its firefighters,” said Mayor Curtatone.  “In that sense, I think it’s appropriate to call this a win-win deal.  I am very grateful to Jay Colbert and his team for working with the City to hammer out a longer term approach to increasing firefighter compensation in a predictable and stable way that, in the end, the city can afford.”      

“This agreement maintains the integrity of the arbitration award, while addressing the concerns of the city, which was important to Somerville firefighters, because we not only work here but live here as well,” said Colbert. “We look forward to putting this process behind us and focusing on protecting the people of our great city.”

The JLMC award called for five years of annual wage increases in firefighter base salary commencing on July 1, 2007.  In addition, the JLMC directed the City to include all eight types of annual stipend (non-salary payments for such items as clothing allowances, EMT certification, perfect attendance, hazardous duty and more) to “be rolled into the based pay and considered as regular compensation for all purposes” as of July 1, 2009.

Under the new accord, the firefighters agreed to put off the inclusion of stipends in base salaries until July 1, 2012.  They also agreed to the removal of two stipends – those for perfect attendance and hazardous duty pay – from the list of stipends that will be rolled into the base starting in FY2013.  In turn, the City agreed to fund the same five annual wage increases called for in the JLMC award for the years FY2008 – FY2012 (2%, 2%, 2.5%, 2.5%, 3.0%) as well as adding three more annual increases (2.5%, 2%,2%) covering FY2013 through FY2015 (July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015).  The City also agreed to an increase in firefighter detail pay.

“It’s a classic negotiated settlement,” said Curtatone.  “Both sides gave something and both sides got something in return.  We can now embark on a long period of more predictable compensation costs for a major area of city spending.  In collective bargaining, as in everything else, we need to govern today with an eye on tomorrow.  This agreement lets us do that.”

Photo Caption: Somerville Firefighters Union Local 76 President Jay Colbert (third from left), and Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone (center) sign a memorandum of agreement for a multi-year collective bargaining accord.  Other participants in the signing ceremony, held on Thursday evening, January 19th, are Union Local 76 Secretary/Treasurer Tom Ross (left foreground) and, for the City, Chief Labor Counsel Robert V. Collins, Jr, (second from left), Finance Director Ed Bean, and Chief Fire Engineer Kevin Kelleher (back to camera).   

   

$500,000 Grant Awarded for Harris Park; Residents Invited to Design Meeting Wed. Jan. 25

Help us go from this...

to this...









Lt. Gov. Murray announced Tuesday that Somerville will recieve a $500,000 state grant to develop the new Harris Park. Residents can help shape the park at a community meeting on Wed., Jan. 25, 7 p.m., at the Cross Street Senior Center, 165 Broadway. Water features? Better lighting? Community garden plots? Your suggestions on how to apply the grant to park design are wanted. Why? Because it's your park.

Park will be Moved to Quieter Location

The current Harris Park sits just north of Broadway on Cross St. in East Somerville with I-93 on one side and a sea of asphalt (the Super Stop & Shop parking lot) on the other. To create a more suitable play space, the City is moving the park just up the street to 15-25 Cross St. The new lot is behind the Cross St. Senior Center and bordered by quiet residential streets.

Community Process Drawing Ideas from All Ages

A community process to redesign the park with residents began in November, with a meeting drawing roughly 50 attendees. Outreach to area teens and children has also yielded creative ideas. Some of the city's youngest residents have weighed in with their wishes for the new park space by sketching their own park designs in art class. The drawing to the right is by art teacher Charlotte Huffman’s students at the East Somerville Community School. It features a lemonade stand and a mattress to catch kids coming off the slide.

Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Alderman Willliam Roche invite you to the second public meeting for the new Harris Park. We will discuss preliminary designs with the landscape architects, GroundView, a firm located in East Somerville. And we welcome your feedback. To view the presentation from the November meeting, please click HERE. For more info, please contact Luisa Oliveira, Senior Planner-Landscape Design, Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development, 617-625-6600, LOliveira@somervillema.gov.

Public Meeting for the NewHarris Park

Wednesday, January 25 at 7 p.m.

at the Senior Center, 165 Broadway. 

Somerville Residents Asked to Help Shape New Use Guidelines for Powder House School

At a recent community meeting, Somerville planning staff shared a draft of new guidelines for defining possible future uses of the former Powder House Community School in West Somerville. Residents are being encouraged to read the guidelines (posted below) and offer any feedback or suggested edits.

The draft is the culmination of more than 70 hours of discussions at community meetings held since June 2010. It marks a new phase in the joint City-public process. Once finalized, the guidelines will form the foundation of new zoning uses for the site. The guidelines will also provide a framework to issue a formal RFP (request for proposals) to developers or other interested parties, who may then submit their proposed projects for the site. In short, the guidelines will move the process closer to finding a new use for the site of the school, which has been closed since 2003.

Please either use the comment section below to provide your feedback, or for more substantial edits, please do the following:

1. Copy the text of the draft guidelines below.
2. Paste the text into a word document.
3. Edit the document using the Track Changes function or make your edits using ALL CAPS (so that they can be easily found).
4. Email your edited document to Melisa Tintocolis, Principal Planner, Economic Development, at mtintocolis@somervillema.gov.

Powder House School Site

Design Standards & Guidelines -- DRAFT

I. Purpose

To establish guidelines for the reuse or redevelopment of the Powder House Community School (PHCS) site that ensures an appropriately scaled development that physically integrates into the existing neighborhood with adequate open space that creates recreational and environmental value to the City. These guidelines are intended to supplement the Planned Unit Development (PUD) Design Guidelines in Section 16.7 and Special Permit with Site Plan Review (SPSR) Design Guidelines found in Section 5.2 of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance.

II. Use and Dimensional Standards

Development must meet the following use and dimensional standards:

1.     Uses: The following uses shall be allowed:

a.     Office/R&D

b.     Small Retail and Service

c.     Medium Retail and Service

d.     Eating and Drinking

e.     Residential

f.      Accommodations (ie hotel)

g.     Educational/Recreational/Institutional

h.     Public park/Recreational facility

i.       Parking (along with other uses)

j.       Protected Uses

Retail uses shall be limited to a total of no greater than 18,000 square feet.

These uses are based upon Clusters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, J in Table 7.13.  Retail uses that would be limited in size are in clusters B, C and D.

2.     Building Height & Mechanical Equipment. New buildings should not exceed 45 feet in height, except that all elevator and stairwell penthouses, roof mounted mechanical equipment (including enclosure, if any) and other similar rooftop installations shall be set back behind a plane inclined at 45 degrees from the vertical, beginning at the maximum height of the building, along all street lines and rear lot line and shall be screened

Screening shall be pursuant to Section 10.5.2 of the Zoning Ordinance.. 

3.     Minimum Lot Size: The minimum lot size shall be set to include the entire 80,800 square foot site, but with the understanding that a user shall be allowed to dedicate portions of the site back to the City of Somerville for a dedicated city park.

4.     Setbacks: As a transition to abutting residential structures, a minimum of 15 feet of side yard setback is required.  Within 25 feet of a side yard, no structure may be greater than 30 feet in height, except that residential townhouses, two-family homes or single-family homes may be 35 feet in height.  The side yard setback and height requirements shall not apply to any application reusing the existing PHCS as long as the structure does not further encroach within setback areas.

5.     Development Intensity:  A development shall not exceed a FAR of 1.0 and a maximum of 35 residential units.  A development that reuses the existing school building may exceed the FAR and residential unit requirement, providing up to 40 units and add up to 10% of additional space to the existing structure.

6.     Dedicated Parkland. A portion of the parcel’s total square footage, with a minimum of 0.75 acres, shall be improved for public open space (including on-site sidewalks, public paths, park and/or playground use).  Dedicated parkland may be placed above underground parking areas, but shall not be elevated at a grade more than three feet above street level.  The public open space shall be dedicated to the City of Somerville unless there is a determination that the long-term user of the site is better capable of maintaining the open space. 

7.     Parking Requirements:  Parking requirements shall be:

a.         1 space per 800 sf office

b.         1 space per 1500 sf small retail

c.         1 space per 800 sf medium retail

d.         1 space per residential unit

e.         1 space per 400 sf educational / institutional

Applicants will be required to meet the parking and loading requirements in Section 9.17 of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance (following the parking requirements for the CCD districts developed)

III. Development Standards

1.     Lighting. Lighting shall be appropriate to the surrounding historic and pedestrian-oriented neighborhood character. The light levels of the development and open space should be designed for safety while minimizing glare and light trespass.  Applicants will be required to prove that light trespass onto adjacent residential properties is minimized or eliminated.

2.     Parking Optimization Plan. Applicants shall include a Parking Optimization Plan illustrating how management and possible pricing strategies will encourage shared use and reasonable turnover of parking spaces.

3.     Pedestrian Connections. Continuous pedestrian connections shall be supported between major points of pedestrian activity on the site, including, but not limited to, the connection through the site connecting Packard Avenue at Broadway to Holland along the side of the existing Tufts Administration Building (TAB). 

4.     Pedestrian Oriented Requirements. To promote pedestrian activity, new or renovated buildings shall be designed with windows and separate front entrance doors to lobbies, retail and business, and other sources of pedestrian activity. These entrances shall be oriented to existing or proposed public sidewalks, paths, and/or open space. 

5.     Service Areas and Loading Spaces. Ground level mechanical equipment, utility and trash enclosures, loading docks and other utilitarian and service elements shall not abut the street edge(s) of the parcel and shall be visually screened.

6.     Shadow Effects. Buildings shall be designed to minimize shadow and wind to open space and residential areas especially between 10 am and 2 pm in the

winter. Shadow effects shall be demonstrated in technical studies.

7.     Transportation Analysis. The applicant shall provide a Transportation Study and a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan tailored to the proposed site and mix of use on the site. The scope of the document should be prepared in consultation with the City of Somerville’s Director of Traffic & Parking and may include a project description and a description of the existing conditions of the transportation network in the vicinity of the site.  The following items may be required as part of a Transportation Study:

a.     Counts of existing traffic volumes.

b.     Projected traffic volumes for the proposed Development based on accepted

c.     engineering standards and adapted to local conditions.

d.     Projected size of delivery vehicles, and frequency and days/hours of delivery.

e.     Reviews of accident history trends in the vicinity of the site.

f.      Analyses of the Development impacts on the transportation network in the vicinity of the site.

g.     Examination of transportation by all feasible modes, including automobile, transit, bicycle and pedestrian.

h.     Explanation of consistency with City transportation plans.

If the impact analyses indicate that safety or capacity will be adversely affected by the proposed development, the Applicant will indicate appropriate mitigation measures, subject to the approval of the Director of Traffic and Parking, prior to the granting of a special permit.

8. Utilities. Utilities and wiring shall be placed below ground.

IV. Design Guidelines

These guidelines are intended to provide general standards for building massing, siting

and articulation.

1.     Street Facing Facades:  Structures should front the sidewalk along any frontage that is not occupied by the required open space.  Varied architecture should be created by using recessed or projected entryways, bays, canopies, awnings, residential balconies on second floor or above, and other architectural elements.

Where there are ground-floor commercial uses should include thirty-foot-wide commercial bays with independent entrances onto the street to create visual and pedestrian interest.

Non-residential ground floor façades should have a minimum 75% transparent material, and second floor facades should have a minimum of 40% transparent material. These openings should provide views into the building and should not be blocked by interior storage, non-artistic displays, or greater than 30% internally mounted signage.

2.     Buildings in Context. The new or renovated design should interface with the adjacent Tufts Administration Building through appropriately applied features that frame outdoor open spaces and/or screen other utilitarian and service elements.  Visible rear and side façades should maintain a similar character to the front façade of the building and the intended character of the surrounding district.

3.     Exterior Building Materials. All visible portions of new buildings should use high quality, durable, and aesthetically appropriate exterior building materials. Particular attention should be paid where properties abut residential property. Predominant exterior building materials should include an appropriate combination of brick, glass, wood, artistically used metal, stone, or stucco.   

4.     Height Transitions. A transition in height should be established where new development adjoins low-rise residential properties.

5.     Mechanicals.  All rooftop-building systems, including wireless communications facilities, should be incorporated into the building form in a manner integral to the building architecture, including screening with materials that harmonize with buildings’ exterior finishes.

6.     Neighborhood-serving Uses. It is strongly encouraged that, should any non-residential use be included in a development, the mix of uses proposed for the site have an emphasis on neighborhood-serving retail uses and community enriching services.

7.     New Buildings. Massing and height of new buildings should be articulated in a manner compatible with the physical character of the surrounding districts, particularly where a building abuts a residential property. Whenever possible, historical variety in the scale, rhythm, and relationship of buildings to pedestrian public ways should be preserved.

8.     Parking Entrances: Entrances to on-site, off-street parking should be designed to minimize conflict with pedestrians.

9.     Public Art. Installation of public art is encouraged to add visual interest and distinguishing features to landscaped or other public areas.

10.  Signage. All signs should respect buildings’ context and be oriented to pedestrians.

11.  Park:  The dedicated parkland/open space should a simple but elegant design, should be located to support public gathering (i.e. not hidden behind the development site), and be interconnected to the connection between Broadway and the TAB site.  The parkland should include elements that meet the needs of the neighborhood and the community as well as the new development. 

12.  Parking: The project should investigate the opportunity to share parking between uses to minimize the amount of paved parking areas and/or garages.  Parking should be located underground, if possible.  Parking may be located at-grade, underground or in parking decks that are shielded from adjacent residential property and the street by portions of the structure not being used for parking.  Parking in decks or at grade should be designed so as to reduce their visibility from Broadway and from adjacent residential uses. 

13.  Connections: Any proposed development shall support improved access to surrounding neighborhoods by means of sidewalk connections, crosswalks, landscaping, traffic signalization and traffic calming methods.

14.  Green Elements: Applicants shall demonstrate the project is capable of meeting LEED for buildings, LEED-ND, or a viable alternative standard for green building and neighborhood design.

IV. Development Review Process

1.     Steps for Site Disposition:  The City will seek to have the parcel made available for development through a Request For Proposals (RFP).  The RFP process will require interested parties to identify their proposed use program, general site strategy, purchase price, and capacity and track record of the development team including the design team.  Preliminary design work may be required but is permitted to change after developer selection.  The selected developer shall work with the community through a series of charrette sessions to design an effective strategy for project site design.  After completion of this process, the project shall be submitted for development review by the Planning Board.

2.     Method of Review:  The dimensional requirements, uses, standards and guidelines above shall be achieved by placing an overlay on the PHCS site through zoning.  All projects developed on the site must meet the requirements of the overlay.  A project master plan must be submitted to the Planning Board for review, followed by an additional hearing for a special permit or special permits for the project. 

This review process follows the pattern for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) under the Somerville Zoning Ordinance.  The proposal above would need to be developed into a new PUD district to incorporate the vision into zoning.