By Michael Coughlin Jr.
Squares + Streets, a city planning and zoning initiative that has recently been a hot topic in Jamaica Plain, was discussed at the latest Jamaica Pond Association (JPA) meeting on Monday as members sought more information about it.
The Planning Department’s website describes Squares + Streets as a “planning and zoning initiative focused on adding, supporting, and improving housing, public space, small businesses, and arts and culture in transit-accessible neighborhood centers and along main streets.”
Members of the Planning Department spoke about the initiative during a March meeting of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) Zoning Committee.
Specifically, the Squares + Streets process has been underway in areas such as Cleary Square in Hyde Park and Roslindale Square.
As part of the process, small area plans are developed for the study areas, which contain recommendations for aspects like transportation, open space, land use, and design framework. These small area plans then inform the second part of the Squares + Streets process, a zoning map amendment, which attempts to implement the recommendations from the small area plan.
Moreover, members of the Planning Department noted at that meeting that the Squares + Streets process has its own zoning districts—S0 through S5, each with different regulations for aspects like use and building scale—which can be mapped in the study area.
The JPA had initially planned to have a guest speaker discuss Squares + Streets during its meeting, but this did not occur.
However, the group still decided to discuss the initiative with several attendees, who provided their thoughts, since areas in Jamaica Plain are among the 17 locations listed on the Planning Department’s website that could be eligible for Squares + Streets zoning after a community process is conducted.
For example, Rosemary Jones wondered about affordability as it related to Squares + Streets and what the city was thinking in terms of what is considered affordable. While Mark Freudenberger could not answer that question, he mentioned that he knew this topic was being raised in the Codman Square area.
Kevin Moloney discussed some of the proposed zoning updates in Roslindale Square. He pointed out that in the initial draft zoning map, the S5 zoning district was mapped in the area, which allows buildings up to 145 feet tall.
“I would not like to see Jamaica Plain become a victim of 145-foot-tall buildings,” said Moloney.
Franklyn Salimbene noted that there has been much discussion surrounding Squares + Streets in Hyde Park and Roslindale and mentioned “a lot of dissatisfaction with the process and with some of the results, particularly relating to the height.”
In Roslindale Square’s case, some concerns have been voiced through groups like the Roslindale Coalition, which has visited other civic associations around the city and highlighted issues with aspects of Squares + Streets such as the engagement process, potential displacement, and more.
However, it should be noted that a presentation from a March Roslindale Square public meeting hosted by the Planning Department indicated that about 75% of those who commented supported the proposed zoning updates in the area, while about 25% had concerns.
Later, Jones mentioned that learning about this process from other neighborhoods would be good, and JPA Board Chair Kay Mathews noted that she has tried to put something like that together the past couple of months, but it has fallen through.
“Next month we’ll have somebody,” said Mathews.
Eventually, Caroline Peters, Jamaica Plain’s liaison from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, joined the conversation.
“I know that this is a popular point of conversation going around, given that Roslindale and Hyde Park recently went through this process and are still finishing it up,” she said, indicating that the Egleston Square Neighborhood Association discussed Squares + Streets at its meeting last month.
Peters then spoke about the goal of Squares + Streets and potential pilot neighborhoods, saying, “[it’s] trying to identify areas where you kind of get this trifecta of a business district, existing public transportation, and residential areas. Centre Street is a perfect example, Egleston Square, Forest Hills.”
“That’s the goal of Squares + Streets: to identify those areas to really maximize existing infrastructure, support business districts, and add housing to those areas.”
Peters also talked about the aforementioned meeting the JPNC Zoning Committee had with members of the Planning Department and suggested it’s something the JPA could do. She emphasized that there has been a lot of learning throughout the existing processes in Roslindale Square and Hyde Park since they have gone on for over a year, which is longer than the initial planned timeline.
Ultimately, it appears the JPA will get some information about Squares + Streets they are looking for in the future.
“I’m anxious to hear from the neighborhoods who are experiencing it…so hopefully we can do that soon,” said Mathews.
It should be noted that at the previously mentioned JPNC Zoning Committee meeting, Planning Department staff emphasized that there were no plans to launch anything in Jamaica Plain this year other than Neighborhood Housing, another zoning initiative that had already started.
Peters reinforced this point on Monday, indicating there was no timeline for when Squares + Streets may come to the neighborhood. For more information about the JPA visit, https://www.jamaicapondassociation.org