When Brookline’s Town Meeting begins on Nov. 19, elected members will consider several proposals that could change zoning rules for large portions of the town.
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Article 7, put forth by Brookline’s Planning and Community Development Department, proposes to set a cap of 2.5 stories for buildings in certain areas zoned for single and two-family homes, to go along with existing height limits.
“We want to reinforce the prevailing neighborhood character while expanding living areas or new construction to facilitate smaller sized units, especially where we see trends of demolition and luxury size units taking their place,” said Maria Morelli, senior planner for the department.
The goal of the proposal is to support “adaptive reuse,” Morelli said, in order to encourage development that better fits the neighborhood’s scale.
“You can convert space that is not habitable right now, like an attic or a basement, and that way you’re not demolishing the existing structure, you’re just rehabilitating and expanding the living area within it,” Morelli added.
Article 9, put forward by leaders of the advocacy group Brookline for Everyone, would make it easier to build a third housing unit, like in an attic, basement or addition, in existing two-family zones in Brookline.
“Population growth and job growth increased much more quickly than housing since the 80s and 90s,” said co-petitioner Jeff Wachter, a Brookline for Everyone board member. “If we had had some of these changes in place that would have allowed housing to get built gradually over time, and we’d be in a much better position today.”
“If you want to preserve the character of a neighborhood, you need to preserve the access for people who made that neighborhood characteristic,” said Town Meeting member Gary Shiffman. “Article 9 increases the housing supply by incentivizing people to stay in Brookline, invest in their houses and create small apartments, which will be cheaper to rent or buy than bigger apartments just because they’re smaller,“ Shiffman said
Other proposals at Town Meeting also take on important zoning questions. Article 8, brought forward by Town Meeting member Chi Chi Wu, would make it easier for the owners of single-family homes on small lots to convert them to two-family homes. And Article 15 is intended to put in place new local regulations for accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, to prepare for changes being brought by major statewide legislation on the subject.
These changes could affect large parts of town: according to a map produced by town planners, Article 8 could affect more than 4,100 parcels, Article 7 more than 3,800 and Article 9 more than 2,100.
For that reason, some town leaders have argued that some of these zoning changes should be part of a broader planning process called the Comprehensive Plan, rather than adopted as piecemeal changes. The Select Board voted to recommend referring Articles 8 and 9 to a committee working on developing the comprehensive plan.
Here is the full list of articles to be considered at Town Meeting. Click on each article title to read the full text and analysis published by the town:
This is a placeholder article inserted in the Warrant for every Town Meeting in case there are any unpaid bills from a prior fiscal year that are deemed to be legal obligations of the town. It won’t be moved or voted on at this session of Town Meeting.
Another placeholder article prepared for every Town Meeting related to the approval of collective bargaining agreements, of which there are none currently pending. It will not be moved or voted on at this session of Town meeting.
This article aims to devote $160,000 from state fees on rideshare companies to subsidized transportation programs for older adults and town-wide pavement maintenance. If approved, the town will devote $100,000 to increasing access to transportation for Brookline’s senior citizens. The town will also devote $60,233.90 to maintaining pavement markings for crosswalks, stop bars and bike lane symbols.
If passed, this article would authorize the Select Board to create a Veteran’s Property Tax Work-Off Abatement Program. The program would allow eligible veterans or their spouses to volunteer for the town to reduce their property tax bill by up to $1,500, or 125 hours of work paid at minimum wage
The proposed program is similar to the already existing Senior Work-Off Tax Exemption Program, which proponents of the veteran’s program say is both successful and in high demand. The estimated cost to the town for a new 10-person veteran’s property tax work-off program is between $15,000 and $18,750.
The goal of this article is to create a Brookline Youth Council to engage more young people in local government and community development. No town staff support is required.
This non-controversial article would codify an agreement between the town and developer Chestnut Hill Realty, which restricts further development of land owned by the developer in Hancock Village.
A zoning bylaw to set a cap of 2.5 stories in certain districts. Read more above.
A zoning bylaw which would make it easier to convert single-family homes to two-family homes on small lots. Read more above.
A zoning bylaw which would make it easier to build a third unit in existing two-family zones. Read more above.
This article would tweak the complex form-based zoning guidelines put in place last fall as part of the passage of the MBTA Communities Act compliance. It would expand the list of materials that can be used for exterior construction in the Harvard Street zoning district. It would also remove some restrictions on childcare centers and educational services from the original zoning.
This article is not expected to be moved during Town Meeting, so will not be considered or voted upon, according to moderator Neil Wishinsky. It was a proposal from the Planning Board which tries to address the same issue as Article 10, related to the materials allowed in the Harvard Street zoning, but with what the Board argued is a more general, flexible approach.
A proposal by the town’s Department of Planning and Community Development to create new standards for light pollution to add to zoning bylaws. It proposes that outdoor lighting in Brookline be subject to requirements aimed at avoiding glare, certain color temperatures, shut-off hours, and more.
Another proposal by the Department of Planning and Community Development which would make it easier for businesses to install signs of certain sizes and heights in commercial districts.
Another DPCD zoning bylaw amendment related to the ownership requirements of multiple condos in certain multifamily zoning districts in Brookline.
Amendments to the town’s rules for accessory dwelling units in order to comply with a new state law. Read more above.
This article aims to expand and strengthen the town’s existing Tree Preservation Bylaw, which Town Meeting passed in 2022. Proponents say Brookline’s large trees are carbon sinks that help mitigate climate change, and the loss of Brookline’s large trees in recent years is concerning.
The proposed changes to the current bylaw are related to tree removal, tree protection and tree loss monitoring. Among other changes, the proposal hopes to expand the current bylaw from residential property only to all private property and would apply regulations to the removal of any protected tree, not just trees threatened by construction or demolition.
If passed, this home rule petition would ask the State Legislature to allow the town to limit its business with companies that manufacture or maintain nuclear weapons. Proponents of Article 17 say it will help the town uphold its commitment to a nuclear-free future by allowing the town to disqualify companies that manufacture and maintain nuclear weapons from bidding for town contracts.
If approved, the policy could require bidders to disclose whether they manufacture or maintain nuclear weapons as part of their bidding process. The proponents believe this article should be applied only to future contracts.
This home rule petition aims to prohibit or restrict the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides. Proponents of the article argue that SGARs cause unnecessary harm to natural predators such as hawks, owls and coyotes, and that trash control is the best way to reduce rodent populations. The petition would ask the state legislature to allow the town to regulate or prohibit the use of these chemicals.
This resolution would declare May to be Jewish American Heritage month in Brookline, in recognition of Brookline’s Jewish community and its contributions. Similar resolutions have been passed in recent years to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Indigenous People’s Day and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
A resolution calling for an “immediate, permanent, bilateral ceasefire and unrestricted passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza” and the “the immediate safe return of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza.” Read more about this issue in our separate coverage by clicking here.