By Gazette Staff
The upcoming biennial election of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) was the main topic of discussion at the JPNC’s regular monthly meeting that was held last Tuesday, April 28.
On hand for the meeting were chair Renee Stacey Welch and fellow members Bernard Doherty, Peter DeCotis, Michael Reiskind, Alcurtis Clark, Chase Brewster, Aiko Miller, Alessia Shelley, Dave Baron, Willie Mitchell, Carla-Lisa Caliga, Lorenzo Bartoloni, Sarah Freeman, Purple Reign, Eryn Ashleigh-Bailey, and Gert Thorn.
The election will be held next Saturday, May 16, with the three polling locations — the Stop & Shop in Jackson Sq., JP Licks at 659 Centre St., and the Food Hub at Forest Hills — open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All 20 seats on the council, five at-large and five from each of three geographical districts in JP, are up for grabs. The deadline for submitting nomination papers with the required number of signatures (50 for at-large seats and 25 for district seats) was April 17.
The JPNC is seeking at least 30 volunteers to help run the election and staff the polling locations. In addition, three ombudspersons are needed to count the ballots and to resolve any issues. “We have a desperate need for volunteers,” said Clark, who is on the Election Committee.
The election was canceled twice last year because of a lack of volunteers. Clark noted that training sessions will be held for all volunteers.
The council heard from the chairs of its committees. Reiskind presented the report of the Public Service Committee. He said that the committee discussed its priorities for the coming year in the areas of transportation, public safety, and public works matters. “We’re going to concentrate on pedestrian and sidewalk improvements,” Reiskind said.
Reiskind made note of the specific streets and sidewalks that need repairs. Among the items on the list were: replacing the yellow centerlines on Elm St. and Pond St.; adding a crosswalk across Centre St. at 691 Centre St.; resurfacing portions of Mozart St., Spring Park Ave., Robinwood Ave., Cranston St., Lamartine St., Green St., So. Huntington Ave., Seaverns St., and Flora Ave.; securing the tree pits on Centre and South Sts.; filling the pothole in front of Curtis Hall; and moving the white speed hump chevron at 50 Eliot St. to its correct location.
Reiskind said that the list will be presented to the liaison for Jamaica Plain from the mayor’s office and to the Departments of Public Works and Transportation.
Purple Reign presented the report of the Housing and Development Committee. She said the guest speaker for the meeting was Elvira Mora from Abundant Housing. The discussion touched on issues such as housing policy, affordability challenges, and zoning reform efforts impacting Boston.
Concerns were raised about developer compliance, reductions in affordable housing commitments, and the impacts of recent policy changes, with an emphasis on balancing housing production with community needs, including transportation, infrastructure, and displacement risks
Ongoing challenges include rising construction costs, difficulty meeting affordable housing goals, and the need for stronger community engagement in development decisions.
Baron presented the report of the Zoning Committee. He said the committee, which has not been as busy as usual this spring because of a dearth of zoning requests, heard two matters and gave its approval to both.
The first pertained to 24 Neillian Crescent, where the owner is seeking to add a second floor and attic to the existing residence by extending the existing building to the rear and adding a new side deck on the left side. A variance is needed because the side yard setback is insufficient.
The second pertained to the proposal by the Rogerson House to expand its facility at 11 Beaufort Road and 434 Jamaicaway. The plan calls for combining the two parcels and constructing a six-story building. It will be a passive, all electric building, and solar ready. There will be three floors for memory care (66 beds/studios), and three floors with 41 affordable, one-bedroom senior apartments. It also will include a senior social day care program and a below-grade garage with 35 parking spaces.
Variances are needed for: conditional use (congregate living facility); insufficient lot area Insufficient; excessive floor area ratio (FAR); excessive building height (70 feet / 6 stories); insufficient off-street parking; insufficient side yard; and insufficient rear yard.
“This had been a much larger project, but they have reduced the number of units significantly and have stepped back the two upper floors,” said Baron, who said that the original proposal, which had called for a seven-story building, had met with strong opposition from residents.
Baron, who noted that Rogerson House eventually will be constructing a second phase to the project, said that the revised plan received praise from members of the Zoning Committee, both for Rogerson’s willingness to listen to residents’ concerns and for the design of the building.
The full JPNC voted in favor of endorsing both of the Zoning Committee’s actions, though three members abstained on the Rogerson House vote. Both applicants still must go before the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals in order to obtain their variances.
Freeman presented the report of the Parks + Committee, which included updates about the Hennigan Pool; Jefferson Park; the fencing that was erected by the VA that has had negative environmental impacts on the surrounding area; and the Shattuck Hospital.
Under new business, Thorn discussed the issues relating to the increase in activity at the Arbour Hospital that has been adversely impacting the residents of Robinwood Ave.
“There has been an increase in traffic and accidents,” said Thorn, who emphasized that Robinwood Ave. is a narrow roadway, but contractors and delivery vehicles for the hospital are parking on Robinwood Ave. rather than in the hospital’s parking lot.
Thorn said he is hoping the JPNC can send a letter to arrange a meeting among the hospital, the residents of Robinwood Ave., and District 6 City Councillor Ben Weber in order to achieve a resolution of the issues.
The last matter discussed concerned the pothole conditions across Jamaica Plain, which Welch said have been generating many emails from residents to the JPNC.
The members discussed strategies in order to get the attention of elected officials and city departments to address the problem.
The next meeting of the council is set for May 26.