Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals 9-30-2026

The Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on September 30, 2026, approved the minutes from August 19 and September 2 and voted unanimously to approve special permits for 333 Highland Avenue and 61 Boston Street. At 333 Highland Avenue, the board approved renovations and additions to an existing four-unit building, subject to conditions in the September 25 staff memo; the applicant said the unit count would remain four. At 61 Boston Street, it approved a six-inch expansion of an existing rear-setback nonconformity for a two-family home, subject to conditions in the September 23 staff memo.

The board heard the 1154 Broadway application for 10 variances supporting a proposed eight-story hotel with ground-floor commercial space, underground parking, and a restaurant. Requested relief covered matters including height, setbacks, landscaping/green score, driveway and curb-cut placement, and sidewalk width. Public comments and board questions raised concerns about building scale, traffic and pedestrian safety, the proposed street configuration, accessibility, and the lack of direct soil-contamination testing; supporters emphasized redeveloping the long-vacant site. No decision was made: the application was continued to November 4, 2026, with the public-comment period left open and further information and staff analysis anticipated. Board members also discussed a change to the state variance standard that took effect July 31, 2026. No procurement activity was identified.