Ground Story Elevation Requirements

At a glance

• What: A Mayor's proposal (item 26-1259) to remove the two-foot ground story elevation requirement for apartment buildings, two-story homes and triple-deckers from the Zoning Ordinance (Sections 2.4.4, 3.1.7 through 3.1.11, 3.2.7 through 3.2.11 and 4.1.7 through 4.4.7).
• Where it stands: On Thursday, October 15, 2026 the Land Use Committee recommended approval as amended, 4-0 with President Davis recorded absent for the vote.
• Next: The Clerk's Office is to incorporate Councilor Ewen-Campen's additional changes and submit the amended language for the full Council.

Detail

• Dan Bartman, Director of Planning and Zoning, said the elevation standard is mainly an architectural design guideline rather than a true zoning need, so the Planning Department recommends removing it.
• Councilor Clingan asked why a building would be raised two feet. Mr. Bartman said elevation can reduce frozen pipes and flooding and may be needed with crawl spaces, but the requirement was meant mainly for a uniform look. Owners and builders would gain flexibility.
• Councilor Sait asked how the Department decides whether to elevate; Mr. Bartman said it reviews zoning and floodplain conditions case by case.
• Councilor Ewen-Campen wanted to remove more provisions and asked why the architectural guidelines were left out; Mr. Bartman said they are nonbinding and unenforceable. Councilor Ewen-Campen then proposed amendments to Sections 3.3.1.15.A(1), 3.2.14.A, 4.1.7.F, 4.2.7.F, 4.3.7.F and 4.4.7.F and moved to approve as amended.
• Vote: Yes, Clingan, Sait, McLaughlin, Ewen-Campen; absent, Davis.

Sources

• Land Use Committee minutes, October 15, 2026: https://somervillema.legistar1.com/somervillema/meetings/2026/10/4083_M_Land_Use_Committee_26-10-15_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
• The minutes are the Legistar versions, which carry the City's notice that they are not the official version; check with the City Clerk before relying on them.

Log

2026-10-15 - Land Use Committee

Recommended to be approved as amended, 4-0 (Davis absent for the vote).

2026-09-10 - City Council Regular Meeting

Administration and Councilor Link items to remove ground story elevation requirements were referred to Land Use with a copy to the Planning Board (from speech-to-text).