The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) held its regular monthly meeting via Zoom this past Tuesday evening, September 22. On hand for the session were chair Alcurtis Clark, vice-chair Bernie Doherty, secretary-treasurer Michael Reiskind, Willie Mitchell, Dave Baron, Purple Reign, Sarah Freeman, Alessia Shelley, Caliga, Gert Thorn, Adam Burrows, Renee Stacey Welch, Lorenzo Bartoloni, and Erich Yaeger.
Also was on hand for the session was Melissa Betran from District 6 City Councilor Ben Weber’s office.
Clark mentioned at the start of the meeting that there are still two open seats on the council in Areas A and C. She said anyone interested in filling those seats should forward their information to the council.
The chairs of the JPNC’s committees presented their reports. First up was Purple Reign from the Parks + Committee. She said that representatives from the Friends of Jamaica Pond and the Jamaica Pond Conservation Committee attended the meeting and discussed their ongoing efforts.
Purple Reign also presented the report of the Arborway Yard Subcommittee. She said that State Rep. Sam Montano met with Eryn-Ashleigh Bailey, the chair of the subcommittee. Rep. Montano said she will be contacting Attorney General Andrea Campbell to discuss the enforceability of the 1999 Memorandum of Understanding, particularly as it relates to the designation of eight acres on the site for community development purposes.
Dave Baron presented the report of the Zoning Committee’s meeting on September 2 at which two matters were taken up, an expansion of living space into the attic at 131 Minden St. and the expansion of side-by-side duplexes at 137 School St.
“Neither one of them was controversial,” said Baron, who noted that the neighbors were in favor of the Minden St. project and that the Egleston Square Neighborhood Association (ESNA) sent a letter in support of the project.
Baron said that the Zoning Comm. approved both applications and the full JPNC unanimously affirmed that action. The owners now must go before the City of Boston Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) in order to obtain their variances.
Purple Reign presented the report of the Housing and Development Committee. She said that the committee met with the development team for the proposed project at 3841 Washington St. in Roslindale. (See accompanying story.)
Doherty expressed his view that the project, which entails a 7-story building with 165 apartments, is too large. “We’re making canyons out of our streets,” said Doherty, who also said that the 33 parking spaces are too few for an area “that already is woefully congested. I would strongly suggest against this.”
Yaeger agreed that the building is too tall, noting that other buildings in the area are 3-5 stories high.
Thorn opined that the proposed building is “darn ‘muddy’ and would not be a great gem to have in that location, or any location, and we asked that their design come up to the standards of other buildings nearby. They just look like old, dull brick.”
Mitchell suggested that the developer should meet the JPNC’s 25% threshold for affordable units — as opposed to the 17% threshold set by the city and the 20% in the developer’s current plans — because the developer has owned the property for decades and therefore there are no land acquisition costs.
“Their expenses just have to do with the construction of the building, so they should come across and give up the 25%,” Mitchell said.
Welch reported that the Outreach Committee has launched a Pet Initiative on the Community Spotlight tab on the JPNC website. Welch said the initiative is seeking nominations from residents for the Pet of the Month. Welch added that the committee also is seeking to focus on local businesses.
Reiskind provided the report of the Public Service Committee. He said that the committee took up one licensing issue at its September meeting from Mangu Dominican Bistro at 264 Hyde Park Ave., which is seeking to upgrade its current beer & wine license to an all-alcohol license and to extend its closing hours from 9 p.m. to 12 midnight on Thursday through Sunday nights.
The Public Service Committee approved the request and the full JPNC ratified that action by a vote of 12-1. The owner now must go before the city’s Licensing Commission to obtain its new licenses.