5 Year Zoning Review

SomerVision 2030, Somerville’s first comprehensive master plan, was adopted in 2012 and established 584 objectives to guide future development. About one third of those objectives were related to overhauling the Somerville Zoning Ordinance. After almost eight years of dedicated efforts by City Staff, the Somerville City Council, and community members, an entirely new zoning ordinance was adopted on December 12, 2019.

It’s now been almost five years since the new zoning ordinance went into effect. During that time the City also adopted a 10-year update of the comprehensive plan, SomerVision 2040, that kept many of the same objectives while also establishing new or different goals. A lot has changed over the 15 years since the original SomerVision was adopted and the five years under the new zoning ordinance. It's time to review how it's gone.

• How has the new zoning ordinance lived up to our expectations?
• Is it achieving the goals it was originally designed to implement?
• How should it be updated to reflect the objectives of SomerVision2040?
• Where has it actively advanced equity and inclusion in housing, mobility, and economic opportunities, and where has it fallen short?
• Is the new zoning ordinance resilient and flexible enough to respond to rapid change?
• Does it provide the tools to be on track for the City’s sustainability goals?
• Are the administrative processes clear, predictable, and efficient for both applicants and City staff?

The Planning, Preservation, & Zoning (PPZ) Division of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development is conducting a 5-year Zoning Review to evaluate and update the zoning code to ensure alignment with evolving community goals, planning priorities, and neighborhood change.

Zoning determines what types of buildings and activities are allowed in different parts of the City and can help determine factors such as where parks can go, how tall buildings may be, or how much parking is permitted. As Somerville grows and evolves, it is important that these rules reflect current priorities like affordable housing, sustainable development, walkability, and inclusive neighborhoods.

During the review process, the PPZ will assess whether the zoning has effectively implemented the original objectives of SomerVision2030 and supports the goals outlined in SomerVision2040. This includes responding to shifts in development trends, necessary infrastructure upgrades, and evolving community needs.

Somerville is a dynamic and diverse city, which means to keep up with its evolving life, frequent evaluation is key to community success.

Topics Under Review

NOTE: Zoning laws use terms that may be unfamiliar to many readers. Please refer to our Zoning Basics FAQ to learn more about any of the bolded terms used below.