CNC Development Committee/BRA Hearing: Zoning By-law Revisions

[UPDATED Thursday, Jan. 24, 1:18 p.m.]

The CNC Development Committee will be hosting the next in a series of meetings related to a potential recommendation to the City of Boston Zoning Commission for modification to specific sections of the Charlestown Zoning By-laws.

This meeting will be the first joint CNC / Boston Redevelopment Authority meeting on this issue, and represents the next step in the process of making a determination regarding potential Zoning By-law change.

The current Charlestown Zoning Section 62-29 Off-Street Parking regulation, along with Table E, requires one (1) off-street parking space per unit for each new single family dwelling unit in a project, for projects of one to three units. The requirement for parking obligates the City of Boston to allow developers to install curb cuts and remove on-street parking spaces without community input or review.

The purpose of the meeting will be to review this condition and determine if the zoning by-law should:

1) remain as currently written

2) be modified to a conditional use requiring community input on a case by case basis, while not changing the parking ratio requirement, or

3) remove the requirement for the parking space and require a variance for the installation of first floor garages and parking space.

This meeting will be attended by representatives of the City of Boston Public Works Department and Transportation Department who will speak to the current process and requirements for driveway curb cuts as well as potential implications of the zoning changes being considered.

The meeting will occur at 7 p.m. at the Shrafft Center cafeteria, on Feb. 6.