Special to the Gazette
The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 22, via Zoom. Chair Renee Stacey Welch presided over the session. JPNC members in attendance included at-large members Sarah Freeman, Michael Reiskind, Purple Reign, and David Baron; Area A members Willie Mitchell, Peter DeCotis, and Danielle Sommer Kieta; Area B member Lorenzo Bartoloni; and Area C members Bernard Doherty, Nick Chaves, and Carla-Lisa Caliga.
Also on hand were Caroline Peters, the liaison to Jamaica Plain from Mayor Michelle Wu’s office, and Bonnie Delaune, the Chief of Staff for District 6 City Councilor Ben Weber;
The meeting began with Baron presenting the report of the Zoning Committee. Baron told the council members that the Zoning Committee had given favorable recommendations for four zoning matters during the past month and requested that the full council support those recommendations.
Those matters were as follows:
— 13 Marmion Street (construct two-story rear addition and add new attic dormer and perform interior renovations) which required variances for excessive FAR (Floor Area Ratio), excessive building height, and insufficient side yard, rear yard, and front yard;
— 3815 Washington Street (partial renovation of 3rd floor commercial space for expansion of existing private school for grades 3-5) including selective demolition, new staircase, gypsum assemblies, finishes, MEP, fire alarm and fire suppression upgrades. The needed variance(s) include extension of a non-conforming (school in a Neighborhood Shopping [NS] Subdistrict);
— 59 Weld Hill Street (construction of a new, three-story, three-family dwelling with roof deck on an existing vacant lot abutting 57 Weld Hill Street). The requested variances pertained to additional lot area, Insufficient traffic visibility around a corner, lack of rear and side yard setbacks; excessive height, excessive FAR, insufficient usable open space, and insufficient off-street parking. The Zoning Comm. approved the project, but requested that the City Planning conduct a design review. Baron also noted that neighbors expressed concern about the planned removal of a large tree (the developer said he would try to save it); and
— 1891 Columbus Avenue (existing auto repair business seeks to add motor vehicle dealer use for purchasing and selling used vehicles). The needed variance is for a forbidden use of outdoor sales of motor vehicles in multi-family residential sub-district.
The full JPNC approved all four of the Zoning Committee’s recommendations. The owners of the properties now must go before the City of Boston Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) in order to obtain their variances.
In addition, the members discussed a proposed letter that the Zoning Committee was seeking to send to the ZBA expressing the Zoning Committee’s disappointment with the ZBA’s recent decision to issue variances for a 12-unit apartment complex at 561-579 Centre St. on the site of a former gasoline station despite strong opposition from neighbors, the Jamaica Pond Assoc., the Zoning Committee, and the full JPNC.
“We have a process that is even-handed and fair and we are far from opposing development,” said Baron. “But we deserve a greater voice in this process than what we got. What is the point of this process if we don’t have a voice with the ZBA and our elected officials?”
After a brief discussion among the members, all of whom spoke in favor of the letter, the full council voted to send the letter to the ZBA with one abstention. (See full text of the letter in a separate story).
Chaves presented the report of the Parks Committee. He said that the committee discussed pedestrian and bicycle safety around Jamaica Pond, an issue that has drawn much attention from the JPNC over the past year because of the dangerous conditions for pedestrians that are created when cyclists do not ride in the designated bike lanes, which has resulted in injuries to pedestrians.
Chaves said that Nate Hinchcliffe, the Director of Park Maintenance for the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, was invited to the July meeting to address ongoing conflicts between pedestrians and bicyclists around Jamaica Pond.
“Nate indicated that installing new signage may be a lengthy process due to the need for Landmarks Commission approval,” said Chaves. “However, he expressed openness to re-installing existing signage and repainting pavement markers as interim solutions. Overall, he demonstrated a willingness to collaborate with the committee and community members to enhance safety for both pedestrians and bicyclists in the area.”
Chaves further noted that Mark Freudenberger, representing the Campaign for Jamaica Pond and Olmsted Park, delivered a comprehensive presentation highlighting key areas of concern, including signage issues (especially at Chestnut and Perkins Sts.), bicycle-pedestrian conflicts, and pond maintenance considerations.
Freudenberger also was on hand for the JPNC meeting and pointed out that there are “many short-term, low-cost, and easy things the city can do” in order to alleviate the problems at the pinch-points around the pond.
The members also heard from mayoral candidate Domingos DeRosa, who spoke to the members and answered their questions for about 20 minutes.
Freeman asked about his position on bicycle lanes. Though DeRosa said he generally was in favor of bike lanes, he objected to the process which has excluded input about bike lanes from members of the communities where they are being implemented.
Caliga asked DeRosa about what distinguishes him from his opponents, Mayor Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft. “I’m a doer, not a talker,” said DeRosa, who was speaking while helping with a community event in Dorchester.
Sommer-Kieta asked whether he supports rent control and what proposals he supports for affordable housing. DeRosa said he would “not sell off public properties and give away our public housing as they are doing.” He touched on the need for low-income housing and that he supports rent stabilization. “Landlords are price-gouging,” he said, with the result that fewer and fewer families are able to remain in the city, especially because much new housing consists of one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Welch asked about the “lack of connection” among the city’s communities. “How do we create a sense of community in the City of Boston right now?”
“Cutlure, music, events like this,” DeRosa said.
Purple Reign asked about the lack of parking for residents in certain areas of the city. DeRosa said he wants to offer parking across the city for all residents so they can park near their homes.
In the final piece of business for the evening, Welch reminded the members that the council’s biennial election is set for September 20.
Reiskind noted that nomination papers are available at the local libraries and at Curtis Hall. Candidates must submit their nomination papers, either in person or on-line, by August 19.
The next meeting of the JPNC is set for August 26.