Assembly Square Zoning Rewrite

Now that the Assembly Square Neighborhood Plan has been adopted by the Planning Board, the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) is moving forward with drafting updated zoning for the area.

The current zoning for the Assembly Square Mixed-Use District (ASMD) dates back to the original regulations established in 2004 and has only seen minor updates since then. When the City overhauled its entire zoning ordinance in 2019, the ASMD was largely left unchanged to allow for a smooth transition into the new framework. You can find the existing zoning regulations here and under the Important Links tab.

Guided by the newly adopted neighborhood plan, the revised zoning will aim to align Assembly Square’s development standards with the City's broader goals for Transform Areas, as outlined in SomerVision 2040. Our goal is to bring Assembly Square zoning in line with citywide expectations while preserving the area's unique character and needs.

Assembly Square presents distinct planning challenges due to its diverse land ownership and varying stages of development. As a result, the updated zoning may include subareas within the broader district to better address these differences. We will also assess whether changes to the base zoning are appropriate and whether new building types should be introduced.

In the coming months, OSPCD staff will engage with a range of stakeholders—including city departments, residents, property owners, and neighborhood organizations—to gather input. Public engagement opportunities will be available both in person and online. This collaborative process will draw on multiple sources of feedback to shape the final zoning text and mapping proposals submitted to the City Council for review, public discussion, and adoption.

There’s a lot happening behind the scenes—stay tuned! Check this page regularly for project updates or subscribe to receive updates here.

You can also view the summary presentations shared with the Planning Board during the neighborhood plan adoption process here and here.

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 above.

Information in other languages

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