Get you guys thing on. Okay, this is the March 3rd meeting of the review planning board. I'm going to take a roll call. Mr. Abrams >> here. >> Mr. Castanza >> here.
>> Miss Hoffman absent. Mr. Rivera >> here. >> Uh Miss Simmons Hurling >> here. >> Here. Mr. Samopoulos and Mr. Sullivan are absent. The first order is first order of
business is a public hearing. Uh [clears throat] there has been a u an ordinance zoning ordinance amendment um proposed by what did I do with that agenda
has did I give it to you okay yeah was a public hearing for zoning ordinance amendment concerning uh special permits for housing residential uh apartments within
the neighborhood business, general business, RC which is the apartment district, RC1, RC2 and RC3 districts and general business. So right now residential is allowed by right in these
districts. The proposal is to only allow them by special permit. But the city council is aware now that if they if the city did that, that would bring us totally out of compliance with the uh MBTA communities
act, which requires a certain density of housing around the train stations. and we had to submit data, housing data to show them that we met the requirement. This was back a few years ago and we we did and it's it's it's very tight.
Uh if we if we uh if we play with the numbers and put these into special permit, it would to take us totally out of compliance. So the city council is now aware of that and uh so this is
really going nowhere. So um it's up to the pling board tonight. Basically Tom the director of the department went before the council last night and explained to them everybody was basically on board. Yeah, we can't
we can't fight the state on this. So, uh, that's where we stand and, uh, if you have any questions on it, I think one there was one recommendation
made at the end of the meeting by a council that in the neighborhood business district if we allow that by special permit for housing. It's such a small district in the city, but I I don't know. I don't >> Well, neighborhood business is like, you
know, where Luigi's is. Beach one train station. >> Yeah. >> That area across from train station. >> Um >> like Previties, the old Previties and that area there. >> That whole area. Yeah. >> And then >> what about Shirley have? They have it also.
>> No, that's all general business. There's a few areas on Winthre Avenue up where old Riseman's used to be in that area. Campbell's still neighborhood business. Um, >> Jones Road is Jones Road neighborhood business with some of the stores they
used to have. >> Uh, no, that that's been taken out. It's all general residents now. There's a few in North River and there's one on Malden Street where there's a market at the corner of New Hall Street in Malden.
>> Numerically, how would that change? >> They're so slight and there would be no change at all. >> Okay. But, you know, it's almost it's to satisfy them that they were they're getting something at least. So,
>> that was that if I'm not mistaken, and I think I I think I know what you're saying. So, you have a store, you have some kind of retail and you're allowed to live up top, which is kind of like the old north end or the East Boston area where >> they owned a store and they used to live
up top. Kind of like Smillians, but >> Exactly. It's like a mixed juice mom and pop stores where you have, you know, like residential above and really you don't want to do away with that. These are these are fixtures in the neighborhoods that you know, but um
apparently there's a window where it's neighborhood business and they could tear the whole thing down and come in for a uh a special permit to build residential there. They couldn't do it as of right right now anyways because these neighborhood business districts are so small. anything they do would be in
non-compliance with zoning dimensionally wise. So, they'd have to go through the either ZBA or the city council for a special permit. >> On a larger scale, I see that Costco is doing that. Costco is building their stores, which is one big box store, and
then they're building residential on top. But I don't think the area that is earmarked neighborhood business and re is it's small lots 5,000 10,000 at the most. >> Like I said they were originally
established as the mom and pop stores and you know maybe an office of a realtor and attorney or something you know other than that >> even though Rens is is gone but they used to have the restaurants and whatever and then I think they lived up top. >> That's right.
>> Yeah. shop with a nail saw >> like the Wther Bombs. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Uh in still on another thing is is it in a neighborhood business or is inn is it in a hotel
>> or an Airbnb? >> No, it's it's it's a hotel. >> It's a hotel. >> Yeah. >> We used to have >> anything. Yeah. Extended stay is that that's like a lodging house. That's a that's a whole different animal.
Yeah. Right. >> So neighborhood business really would make a difference. >> No. >> So leave well enough alone. Everything is fine right now. I mean nobody could build anything there anyways unless they go before the city council anyways or
city zoning board of appeals. So the protection is there for the for the area residents. One one area that you're all familiar with is the which is prime for development is the little peach old
little peach on winter b across from the old high school site and across from magception church. So since that zone neighborhood business, there's been proposals now to build like a fourstory uh residential apartment building there,
which has been strongly opposed by the the neighborhood, the library neighborhood area residence. So I think that's coming up again before the the city council, but this wouldn't have any impact on that no matter which way you went. How high will be this building? How
high? >> Four stories. 50 feet. Yeah. Yeah. They might try to squeeze another half story on top. You know, four and a half stories. The idea is not to make it any higher than the existing rectory building on
Beach Street, the old rectory. >> Well, that's it basically. And if there >> are there any proponents here to speak tonight on this side of the the issue? >> No. >> Hearing and seeing none. Are there any opponents here to speak this evening? Hearing and seeing none.
>> Okay. Uh do we have a motion to close the hearing to a recommendation to the city council? >> I'll make a motion for recommendations to the city council. >> Unfavorably recommended. Okay. >> Second. >> Second.
>> Mr. Abrams. >> All in favor? I all opposed hearing none. So awarded um so that's it. I already had the approval of the previous meeting minutes. We have to approve the previous
meeting minutes. You all receive those. Uh and the secretary will sign them once the planning board approves them. Motion to approve minutes.
All in favor? I. >> No opposed. Hearing none. They're approved. And that is it for the planning board business for March 3rd, 2026. >> Okay then. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.