WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=6SNxAdmevgY

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: 6SNxAdmevgY):
- 00:00:34: Meeting Called to Order, Roll Call, Memorial Day
- 00:04:34: Upcoming Events: Cruise Night, Concerts, Street Fair, Safety Committee
- 00:06:16: Mayoral Appointments and EMS Week Proclamation Presentation
- 00:10:33: National Police Week Proclamation, Public Works, Mental Health
- 00:15:19: Olive Branch Therapy Group Introduction and Proclamation
- 00:19:04: Motion to Open and Close Meeting to Public
- 00:20:06: Introduction: Park Ordinance Cleanup and Land Dedications
- 00:23:58: Ordinance for Public Hearing - Affordable Housing Overlay
- 00:26:47: Public Comments: Density concerns on Affordable Housing
- 00:30:31: Explanation of Density Concerns, Affordable Housing Plan
- 00:38:15: Motion for Adoption, Fencing and Zoning Discussion
- 00:40:58: Consent Resolutions for Various Approvals and Authorizations
- 00:42:52: Shambre Park Improvements and Bills/Vouchers Approval
- 00:44:49: Motion to Adjourn the Meeting


Part: 1

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We're good though. Hi. No, >> this meeting is called to order in accordance with the open public meetings law. In accordance with chapter 231 of the public laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided. This

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meeting of May 18th, 2026 was provided to the Courier News and Star Ledger and placed on the burrow's website and placed on the bulletin board at Bur Hall. A copy of this notice is available to the public and a copy of the statement shall be included in the minutes of this meeting. Mayor Brian Gallagher >> here.

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>> Council members Theresa Bonner >> here. >> Andrew Kiy >> here. >> Glenn Deny is excused this evening. Randy Pittz is excused this evening. Gina Stravik >> here. >> Roger Verm >> here. Please stand for the salute to the flag.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Uh departmental reports. Uh just

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for information, the Memorial Day parade is May 25th, this coming a week from today. Uh the initial assembly point is at Culver and East High streets at 8:15 a.m. We march down uh East High uh going over to West High uh down to North Dowy

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and then turn left on Maine, right on South Bridge down to the cemetery for a uh a wonderful memorial service. Uh if you can make it down to the uh to the cemetery, that would be a great thing. So um the tour of Somerville, obviously the bike races are May 25th. Um, if

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you're driving, you can't uh it's uh uh all of downtown is blocked off. Uh the early election uh uh opportunities are May 26 through May 31st and then primary election day is June 2nd with the polls

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open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Uh committee reports, Andrew, >> uh historic advisory committee is meeting this Thursday to um talk about potentially a Somerville museum apparently. So, we'll see what happens next. >> Great. Okay,

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>> the rescue squad is here. Um, we uh will give them a proclamation later for uh EMS week. Uh but thanks for all the good work that you do every day. Um the board of health will meet on uh Wednesday the 20th. Uh so, uh more to come on that. Um and then I don't know, Brian, I'll just

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put this plug in. I don't know who had this, but I know um Somerville Day at Patriot Stadium. I was asked to uh announce that we're having Summerville Day at the Patriot Stadium June 14th, 10:05 p.m. Tickets are $10.50 a bargain. So, always a good time.

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>> Yep. Great. Thank you, Teresa. >> All right. Uh so, there is a lot going on this weekend, obviously, as mentioned uh previously. Um but cruise night starts this Friday. So, it'll be the first night of cruise night. All those

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awesome classic cars downtown. Uh, also the first summer stage concert will be on Friday evening with Tyrone Stackhouse Project. Everybody loves that. Uh, Saturday summer stage concert will be Metallica Tribute Band. That's pretty

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fun. Um, and then the final Candlelight concert before the summer hiatus is this Saturday as well, uh, with Vidal's uh, Vivaldi, sorry, Four Seasons and tribute to Bad Bunny. Um, and then of course the

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uh tour of Somerville, uh, Memorial Day, all that with the parade. We're really looking forward to that. Um, and that's it. That's coming up this weekend. Uh, in the future, there's going to be International Street Fair on

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uh, June 7th, which is Sunday, and uh, Somerville Somerville Day at the Patriots Stadium. So, that's all I have. Oh, the uh public safety committee is meeting this Thursday here at the Civic Center at 6 PM. If you have a concern in your neighborhood, if you've noted

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something in town that feels unsafe to you, please come to the meeting and let us know. Thank you. >> Thank you. Roger. >> I have nothing tonight. >> All right. Uh we have one mayoral appointment and that is Melissa Louie to the green team for a one-year appointment with the term expiring

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123126. Uh proclamations. We have a number of proclamations. I'm going to ask Gina as a liazison to the squad. Let's take a walk down and if the squad would actually come on up and we're going to do a big presentation and we want all of you there because there's a lot of you

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here. So, obviously we have uh a number of representatives of the rescue squad here and it's just wonderful because these are the folks folks that when you're in a very uh uh big time of need, these are the folks that come out. They're there

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and they're your neighbors. And I think that's very special. You won't find that in many towns. We're still an all volunteer squad. And uh it's it's very heartwarming. There's a lot of faces here that I've seen for a long time. there's a few new faces that uh that are

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coming on board and it's great to see uh a healthy squad and uh one that is always ready and always willing to step up. So, we do this every year um and I think it's warranted uh so that the community can see who it is that uh that

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comes out whether it's 1:00 in the afternoon or 3:30 in the morning. Uh the Somerville Rescue Squad is there for that. We thank you very much. So Gina has a proclamation. >> You're gonna read the last paragraph. I'm not going to do that again.

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>> Proclamation designate designating the week of May 17th to the 23rd, 2026 as emergency medical services week, improving outcomes together. Whereas emergency medical services are an essential public service. And whereas

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the members of the emergency medical services teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And whereas access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the overall survival and recovery rate of those who

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experience sudden illness or injury. And whereas emergency medical services fill health care gaps by providing important out of hospital care. And whereas the emergency medical services system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics,

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emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, administrators, prehosp nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, trained members of the public, and other out of medical care providers. And whereas

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it appro it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical services providers by designating the emergency medical services week. Therefore, >> wait, I got to put my glasses on. Therefore, I, Brian Gallagher, mayor of

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the Burough of Somerville, in recognition of this event, do hereby proclaim the week of May 17 through 23 as Emergency Medical Services Week, improving outcomes together. Congratulations and thank you. >> In full disclosure, that was Gina's

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husband that she kissed. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, sure. I don't have to read anything. I can stand. >> I'd rather stand. >> All right. Next.

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>> Next up, uh, and squad, you you you don't have to stay. You can stay for a little bit, but you don't have to stay. Um, next up is the uh one of the other sides of our emergency services. Um, and

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this this uh May 11th through 16 is National Police Week and uh Somerville's uh officers are absolutely incredible. They're typically first on the scene, whether that's a medical emergency, a fire emergency, um somebody in distress,

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um uh or something even softer. Um they're always there 24/7 365. They are on patrol and they do an absolutely incredible job. We have a uh a police force that is well trained, well

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educated, um and they serve our community extremely well and for that we're grateful. I have two officers here, uh Officer Chudy and Officer Black. And uh I'd like to read this proclamation. Uh

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Andrew is here. He is the second on the police committee and uh it's this is for uh I'm asking you to bring this back to the entire department if you would. So whereas there are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States

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including the dedicated men and women of the Somerville Police Department who work tirelessly to protect the safety, well-being, and quality of life of our residents, businesses, and visitors. And whereas these officers stand as trusted partners in our community, building

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relationships with families, supporting our neighborhoods, and responding with professionalism and compassion whenever duty calls. And whereas since the first recorded line of duty death in 1786, more than 24,500 law enforcement officers across the United States have

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made the ultimate sacrifice, including two brave members of the Somerville Police Department, whose service and memory remain deeply honored within our burrow. And whereas the names of these fallen heroes, including those from Somerville, are permanently engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers

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Memorial in Washington DC, a lasting tribute to their courage and commitment. And whereas new names of fallen heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this spring, including officers killed in 2025 and officers killed in previous years. And whereas the service and

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sacrifice of these officers will be honored during the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, a ceremony that unites communities across the nation in remembrance. Whereas the candlelight vigil is a core observance of National Police Week,

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which will take place from May 11 through 16 and which includes May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day designated to honor fallen officers and during which United States flag should be flown at half staff. Now therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and burough council of Somerville do hereby

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proclaim May 11 through 16 as National Police Week in the Burrow of Somerville and call upon our residents to join us in expressing appreciation for the Somerville Police Department and all law enforcement officers who serve with honor, integrity, and dedication.

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Gentlemen, thank you. Okay. And we have uh two others, Kevin. Uh I don't know that there's anybody here for those. Uh one is for National Public Works Week, uh May 17 through 23, rooted in service powered by community.

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Um and also mental health awareness uh month which is May of 2026. >> Oh, we do have ah okay awesome. >> How are you? So maybe a little bit

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>> Yeah. Um my name is Norie Nick. I am a licensed clinical social worker and I founded the Olive Branch Therapy Group 10 years ago. Um our first location was in East Brunswick and then we moved here. We um bought a Victorian on 21 East High Street and we renovated it to

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become um a mental health practice. So that is our second location. We bought that four years ago. So we've been in the community for four years. We are a group practice and we're a niche based practice. We accept insurance and um we serve the entire family. We serve

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children, we serve um you know adults, we serve families, we serve couples and we have therapists that basically specialize in the need that you bring forward. So anywhere from anxiety, depression, trauma, um yeah, and we have

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a team. We've been here for four years, like I said. So we really love being in Somerville and um we love to, you know, serve the community. >> Awesome. >> Thanks so much. >> Thank you. have a uh proclamation and uh

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I I think it's uh it's timely in that um you know the stigma behind mental health is uh is diminishing uh which is which is a great thing uh because people are understanding and realizing you know the ability everybody has their uh their issues and the ability to address them

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um in a safe caring environment is is paramount. So gives me great pleasure. Uh so whereas mental health is essential to the overall well-being, health, and quality of life of every individual and whereas Olive Branch Therapy Group of Somerville is committed to providing

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compassionate, culturally responsive and accessible mental health services that empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve emotional wellness and healing. And whereas raising awareness and promoting understanding of mental health can help reduce stigma, encourage early

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intervention, and support recovery. And whereas Olive Branch Therapy Group recognizes the importance of reducing stigma surrounding mental health through education, advocacy, community outreach, and supportive therapeutic care for people of all backgrounds. And whereas

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communities, schools, workplaces, healthc care providers, and organizations all play an important role in fostering environments that support emotional wellness and resilience. And whereas the observance of mental health awareness month in May provides an opportunity to promote education,

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advocacy, and open conversations about mental health while recognizing organizations such as Olive Branch Therapy Group for their continued commitment to community wellness. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Brian Gallagher, mayor of the Burough of Somerville, along with the Burough

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Council, hereby proclaim the month of May as mental health awareness month and encourage all citizens, employees, students, and community members to increase awareness, support mental wellness initiatives, and work together to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Be it further resolved that the

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mayor and burough council of the burrow of Somerville commit to promoting kindness, understanding, and access to resources that support mental and emotional well-being for all. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. And then Kevin, you will get this to uh to the public works department.

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>> Yes, absolutely. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. Um Okay. Uh at this point, I will ask for a motion to open the meeting to the public. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Terresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Kiy.

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>> Yes. Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Verm. >> Yes. Okay. Public hearing is now open. Um just a a I guess a if you're here regarding one of the ordinances for public hearing uh or even the ordinances

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for introduction. I we will have a separate hearing for those. So you'll have an opportunity to speak to that. This is your opportunity to speak um about anything else. If you want to speak about that, you can speak about that as well. So doesn't matter. You can wait until the ordinance portion of the

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uh the meeting or you can speak to it now. It's that's your call. Um but public portion is now open. Hearing none, I'll ask for a motion to close. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Ki. >> Yes.

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>> Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Verm. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um ordinances for introduction. So, uh, ordinance, uh, F 2802 is amending chapter 119 of the burough code

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entitled park and playgrounds. Kevin, can you give us an overview on? >> Yes, we we went through uh, I should say the recreation department went through old ordinances where it's part of our process that we're doing this year and just cleaning it up uh, the ordinance to take out the the items that may be

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antiquated and refreshing it with the appropriate uh, material. So that's what's happening in this particular ordinance >> and a lot of it is really just clean up of language. >> That that's correct. >> Okay. Um public comment on 2802 is now

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open. >> Hearing none, I'll close public comment on 2802 and I'll ask for a motion for introduction. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Ki. >> Yes. >> Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Verm. >> Yes.

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>> Okay. 2803 is accepting the dedication of block 124 lot 19.01 on the official tax map of the Burough of Somerville from Somerset Station Urban Renewal LLC. Um Colin, can you give us an overview on this?

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>> Sure, please. I'll try not to take too long. Um, this ordinance is the dedication to the burrow of a piece of land um that was part of this overall development um

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which we entered into an agreement in 2018 with the developer and subsequently amended um in 2022. It's a small wetlands piece um which will form part of the um ongoing work

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that we're doing to restore the the landfill area. Do you want me to talk to the other one as well? The next one. >> Uh you may as well just wait there and we'll get to that one. >> All right. Uh public hearing on 2803 is now open. Hearing none. I'll close public public

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comment I should say on 2803. Um, so just so people are aware on when ordinances are introduced, we do not have to hold public comment on the introduction, but it's a policy that I have that we actually allow for that to happen. So you have there's two

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opportunities then both at the introduction and then at the formal public hearing where it is required. So just just so people understand what what goes on. Um, all right. Uh motion please. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call.

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>> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Kiy, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Ferm, >> yes. >> All right. 2804 is accepting the dedication of certain public roadways and related right-of-way improvements constructed as part of phase one of the redevelopment project commonly known as

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Somerville Station. Colin, >> thank you. May um part of the same redevelopment and amended agreements. Um this is the developer turning over the major roadways within this development being station road and streets denadori

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drive and south davenport to the burrow. Um the administrator Mr. Sluker and I are currently working with the the four parties involved to develop a parking and and safety plan for the area and we'll bring everyone up to date when

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that is done. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Uh public comment on 2804 is now open. Hearing none, I'll close public comment and motion for introduction, please. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Roll call. >> Council members Terresa Bonner.

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>> Yes. >> Andrew Ki. >> Yes. >> Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Verm. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh ordinance for public hearing and adoption. Ordinance number 2796 is amending chapter 102 entitled land

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use and development article 11 zoning to create the affordable housing overlay uh on zone zone on block 153 lot 4.22 22 in the Burough of Somerville and provide appropriate development regulations. Therefore, um this is a uh I'll call it

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a renotice and a an additional hearing uh on this block and lot be due to a noticing error uh specific to this block and lot. Uh the uh the noticing for that block and lot did no did not go to the correct PO box. It went to a street

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address as opposed to a PO box. So in order to uh to correct that uh we have to have an additional public hearing on it. Uh nothing has changed from the uh from the original public hearing that was heard uh about a month ago. Um there

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has been no revisions to it whatsoever. There is there are no changes. Um this is uh this is bringing this piece of property in line with the rest of the burrow in terms of our affordable housing plan. Um the the property, the

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subject property, which is Mountain Avenue, um is an R1 district right now, an R1 zone. And should the council adopt this, it will still remain an R1 zone, uh which means

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single family housing. Um it will allow for uh affordable as a portion of that component uh should a number of homes be placed on that. Um the only difference between the uh the only difference would

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be it goes from a 10,000 foot lot to a 7,000 foot lot. Is that correct, Mike? >> Okay. Um otherwise nothing else changes and that's not a change from the last uh uh ordinance either. Uh that was in the previous ordinance. There are no changes

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in this ordinance whatsoever from the previous reading uh and from from the previous hearing. It is only uh an additional hearing to bring it in compliance with the notifications. That's all. Um so at this point I will ask for a motion for to open the public

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hearing. >> So moved. >> Second >> discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Terresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Kiy. >> Yes. >> Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Verm. >> Yes. >> Okay. Public hearing is now open. >> My name is Tim Cullen. I'm at 285 West

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Summit Street. I was here for the last meeting and I guess my main question tonight is what provisions are in place for this situation going forward. Uh it's kind of a new thing to have this kind of a development come up on R1

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property that's right in the middle of, you know, fairly stab established neighborhood. Okay. Um and it's it's rare that these pieces of property are this big. What provisions are in place going forward with the development of this area, the development of even

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downtown where it seemed like from the last meeting I gathered that we never considered affordable housing with those properties. The the one that was we were talking about with regard to Ganet, I think that's one of the buildings. this entire development that looks like

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something I've never seen before, you know, in in such a concentrated area going forward because to me to ask the question, how did we let that happen where we had an opportunity to have affordable housing built into the plan and it seemed like we didn't do it? So,

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what's in place to not have that happen again? because I'm faced with a piece of property right across the street from my home that falls into the same category. That piece of property runs from Summit Street over to Prospect and it's

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massive. And I fully can see the exact same thing that's happened with this Mountain Avenue property happening right in front of my own home. So, and of course, you know, I'm looking at I am personally I'm not going to say I'm not selfish, but I'm looking at property value. I'm looking at what happens to

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that kind of, you know, area. Um, is there something in place going forward to prevent this from happening where we develop such a large track of land or other tracks of land and not consider it to satisfy the state requirements? >> Thank you. I I'll address after

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everybody's done. >> Hi, good evening. Uh Eileen Foley. Uh I'm a resident at 28 Prospect Street. Uh so the main point and question I I have about this is section J. It states that the gross

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density may not exceed six uh units per acre. And this as I understand it is based on that um housing element uh plan which was very thorough. And in that plan that was based on a density calculation of

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3.3 acres. So is there anything in place that would prevent a developer from coming in and saying that you know that the six units per acre can be applied to the full acreage of the lot which is five.

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So that's my my main underscore is it says, you know, gross density six units per acre, but then that that that plan was based on 3.3 acres, yet the parcel is five. So just concerns about that. I just want to make sure that we have

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something in place to prevent them doing more acres per unit. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other comments? >> All right. Hearing none, I'll ask for a motion to close. >> So moved. >> Second. Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. Yes.

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>> Andrew Ki. Yes. Tina Stravik. Yes. >> Roger Verm. >> Yes. All right. Um let's take that one first and I'm going to ask Mike to uh to to kind of weigh in on that. Um the five units versus the 3.6 >> or the five acres versus the 3.6.

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The reason why the five acres weren't wasn't in the calculation is because it's wetlands or flood hazard or stream. Therefore, uh you would need an individual permit and some most instances you just can't do it. So to develop a land is the three and change

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and that's what the analysis is. It discounts the wetlands and the flood hazard because frankly you can't build it. If that answers your question. So, so it's limited to the 3. >> Yeah. 68. >> The 3.3 is >> or 3.3 sorry >> 3.3 3 point there's a the wetlands have

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been delinated out there and there's a buffer and the flood hazard. Obviously any development should a development occur we'll have to address this but the plan is just for the uplands which is the developer portion and that's where the three acres is.

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>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Um so Mr. Cullen to to talk a little bit to uh to what you chatted about and and I agree with you. Uh so if we dial back a number of years, probably about 10 12 years ago, um the burrow uh at my direction

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had done um a housing plan because we wanted to make sure that we were in line with our affordable housing and our fair share component. Uh we did not partake in any of the previous rounds of affordable housing because our community

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met the needs of affordable housing through market rate, which means our rental rates were below what affordable housing would would uh would qualify for. So, but we wanted to be sure. So, we went through and we did a complete uh

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housing plan. At the same time, Fair Share Housing came into Somerville and we held a community meeting up at uh First United Methodist up on West High and Fair Share Housing at that time

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said, this is probably 2016, 2017, said Somerville's doing a great job. We are okay. We're compliant. We're we're in great shape. um we get our fair our our housing plan

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done and what we said was we need to ensure based upon the development that's coming in we need to ensure that um we remain in that situation in in that space. So

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20 end of 2017 this project was just coming to fruition. It was just in the planning stages. And what I can tell you is when I left um we had affordable housing as a component in this project.

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When I came back, the affordable housing component was not in this project. Where it went, I don't know. I can't tell you. But that's not going to solve all of the issues that we have. So, and it's not that we have a lot of issues. What does solve the issue and what addresses your

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concern that how do we ensure what we have passed, what we've worked on over the last year and a half and what we've passed over the last couple of months does just that. It presents an overlay over the entire burrow that says

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if you put in housing as a developer, you must you shall have affordable housing. And depending on whether it's for rent or for sale, that will determine whether it's 15% or 20%. That's the mandate. That's the law in in

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the burrow of Somerville. Now, so anything moving forward, we'll have to comply with that. If it's a multif family home that has less than five units, they still have to provide some compensation to our affordable housing

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trust fund. If they don't have it within the project itself because they don't meet that threshold, there's a calculation that's going to be used where they have to provide for that so that we as a bureau then can administer the affordable housing trust monies and

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help veterans, help seniors and help them improve their homes, give them a little bit better quality of life. um th that's what's been put in place. Um up until 2018 or so, we were okay. We were

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fine from a market base and that's as per fair share housing. In the interim, we had a lot of growth. The fall down was we didn't go back and look at the housing plan each year and adjust that. Um and and that happened

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over the course of six years. So, um, came back, first thing on on the table was affordable housing, and the planning board and this council took great pains in trying to develop a a fair share

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housing plan that works for Somerville. We didn't do a cookie cutter approach. We didn't just say, "Okay, um, we're going to craft one building." I'll tell you what, and and I made this very clear to to our entire staff. The last thing I

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want is a is a kid going to school giving his address and everybody knows he's from a project or she's from a project. I don't want that. I don't think it's fair. I don't think it's right. So what we did is we took it and

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we spread it and we now have a fair share housing plan approved by the state of New Jersey that works for Somerville. It it doesn't overpop populate the piece of property on Mountain Avenue. And the piece of property on Mountain Avenue is

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no different than every other piece of property in this burrow. there is a compliance mechanism in place where whatever project is developed there and there's no project right now just so you know there's not it's not like there's a

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a a eight-story building going up there it's zoned R1 it's zoned for single family housing because we wanted it to be because we understood that it's a it's a wellestablished neighborhood of

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single family homes and and you want that and the brook kind of separates. The brook is that divide and and we didn't want to change that character. Um like any other piece of property, anybody can go to the zoning board for

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anything. If somebody wants to put a carnival next to my house, they can go to the zoning board and say, "I want to put a carnival up. You know, I want to put a 12-story building up." Anybody can do that, but they have ordinances

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that they would have to comply with in order to be able to do that. You're seeing a lot of that go on right now. There's a couple of hot topic discussions at the zoning board right now. We're not allowed to comment on it because it's it's at the zoning board. It's a it's a different judicial body.

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Um but that's the appropriate place for it. What's going to go on Mountain Avenue? Well, it's been wonderful right now because there's nothing there. It's a park. It really is. It's just it's I I don't I'm being facitious that it's a park. It's

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just open space right now. And everybody gets used to the open space. So, I can't tell you what's going to go there. I I don't know. the property owners um over the course of 25 years have had three different serious three or four

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different serious four different serious discussions about potential projects on that property and none have come to fruition. So I I I don't know what to tell you as to what will be there, but what I can tell you is that it's zoned

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R1 for single family homes and that has not changed. So, um, all right. So, I will ask for a motion for adoption. So, moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Roll call. >> Council members. Theresa Bonner. >> Yes.

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>> Andrew Ki. >> Yes. >> Genus Travik. >> Yes. >> Roger Verm. >> Yes. >> And I thank you for coming out. Um, this is a part of that process. It's It's not always easy. There's a little bit of, you know, trepidation. What's going to happen to my

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neighborhood? I get that. I do. I understand that. Um, know that the planning board looked at this piece of property very carefully as well as this council uh very carefully and we wanted to make sure that we treated it um well. So, thank you. I appreciate you coming

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out. All right. Uh, consent resolutions. Are there >> we have a second ordinance? >> I do. Okay. 2801 amending chapter 102 entitled land use development article 11 entitled zoning

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section 116 entitled conditional uses subsection U entitled fences to establish that an applicant can have a combination of fence material. Um, this is an ordinance that allows for it's specific to corner properties and it allows corner properties which under the

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current uh or under the previous zoning were somewhat punished uh for being a corner property in what uh they could and couldn't do with fences and fencing material. So, this cleans that up a little bit and it allows for different styles of fencing within the same piece

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of property um subject to architectural review board approval. So, uh, I will ask for a motion to open the public hearing on 2801. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members. Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Kiy.

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>> Yes. >> Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Ferm. >> Yes. >> All right. Uh, public hearing on 2801 is now open. Hearing none. Close 2801 and ask for a motion for adoption. >> So moved. >> Second. Discussion. Roll call.

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>> Council members Terresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Kiy. >> Yes. Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Ver. >> Yes. >> All right. Consent resolutions ended to be pulled off >> 170. >> Okay. Uh 160 is approving the New Jersey Zcar Club to utilize spaces uh in front

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of the courthouse June 19 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 161 is authorizing Tie the Town Teal for Tourett Syndrome awareness June 4th, 2026. Um 162 is approving the hiring of full-time lifeguard for 2026 pool season. 163 is authorizing change order

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number one and final payment to topline construction for Altoont Place improvements in the amount of $17,808. 164 is authorizing the administrator to execute a federal aid cost reimbursement agreement with the NJ DOT for the safe routes to school along Veterans Memorial

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Drive road diet and pedestrian improvements project. 165 is approving the hiring of Robert Stashic as a certified pool operator for the 26 pool season at an hourly rate of $25. 166 is approving chapter 159 for an outdoor fitness court grant as a part of the

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National Fitness Campaign through the 26 Horizon BCBS grant. 167 is authorizing the 26 salary adjustments for certain burough personnel retro to January 1, 2026. 168 is authorizing the initiation of INREM tax foreclosure proceedings

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against properties delinquent in the payment of municipal taxes. 169 is authorizing the initiation of inrem tax foreclosure proceedings against block 78 lot 3.02 commonly known as 174 Grove Street based upon a municipal lean arising from court imposed penalties for

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failure to obtain required construction permits. 171 is authorizing the award of a 5-year contract to Axon Enterprise for bodywn camera equipment, software, and related services pursuant to New Jersey state contract as noted. 172 is approving chapter 159 from the National

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Opioid Settlement Trust. 173 approving chapter 159 for the state of New Jersey Clean Communities Grant. >> That's it. Uh, do we have a motion? >> So, move. >> Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Ky, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. Roger Verum. >> Yes.

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>> All right. 170 awarding phase 100 schematic design professional services to TNM Associates for improvements at Shambre Park, Burrow of Somerville. Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second >> discussion. >> I just thought it'd be worth um Shambre's Park been sitting there empty for so long that maybe we just let the

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public know what's the next steps are. >> Okay. Kevin, can you give us an overview? >> Sure. The the uh the federal government has finally approved the agreement with um for funding on this project. It's, if you recall, it's it's probably about four to five years old on on the

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funding. Um, the project does has another five years before the close out of that project. This award of the contract uh is authorized. It's about $59,000. It's the requirements. It's the first

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step in the requirements by the project engineer to perform um prior to putting together the bid specifications. The engineering on this project is over $325,000. Uh this is basically step one at

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$59,000. >> Okay, great. Things move slowly at the Vatican. >> They're very slow. Uh roll call, please. >> Council members, Theresa Bonner, >> yes. >> Andrew Kiy, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Verm, >> yes.

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>> All right. Uh, roger. Bills and vouchers. >> Tonight is a large sum of money, Mr. Mayor. Um, it is a new quarter, so as such, we have taxes to dole out since we are the ones that collect them. So, I make a motion to pay bills and vouchers

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in the amount of 10,353,189.71. >> Second >> discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. Yes. >> Andrew Ki. >> Yes. >> Tina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Verm. >> Yes. >> All right. Uh Mr. Ki, I will ask for a

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motion for adjournment, please. >> Motion for adjournment. >> Second. Discussion. All in favor? I >> opposed. This meeting is adjourned.