[Massplanners] Housing Density and Design Review

Mon Jun 6 09:09:14 EDT 2022

I think Watertown’s commercial and mixed-use design review process is a great example of working with a developer and the community to look at this.  We also considered standards which were incorporated into the Zoning Ordinance.  Ultimately, this was not about density, but there was an actual project that was reluctantly willing to be used a real-life example.  The current design review does not consider density now.  It is primarily focused on urban design and 9 areas critical to quality development.  For Watertown, it has worked well for larger scale resicential and mixed-use projects.  Here is the excerpt from the website on the effort:

2014 to 2015 Design Guidelines and Standards (Adopted June 30, 2015)
·         Adopted Design Guidelines Book (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/09969550-d4e9-40de-bdef-1c8ba8e4fbd2> (Adopted June 30, 2015) - The design guidelines offer nine categories to consider as part of design. The document also suggests zoning amendments which are incorporated through the Design Standards, below, into the adopted Zoning Ordinance<https://ecode360.com/36825722>.
·         Adopted Design Guidelines Pocket Guide (Poster) (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/6fa8e8c8-9f28-4afd-97fc-2ed9402413f3> (Adopted June 30, 2015) - This graphic summary document forms the basis for the guidelines and provides a poster sized pocket guide to the guidelines.
·         Design Standards (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/7aafd093-14e6-4b23-8f27-5d7df3cd88fa> (Adopted June 30, 2015) - This is the adopted City Council Ordinance that was based on the Public Hearing Comments and initial Planning Board Deliberation on March 31, 2015. It is a companion to the Design Guidelines Book and identifies amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. The final step was a Public Hearing before the City Council June 30, 2015 at 7 pm.
The Planning Board submitted the following report (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/0308158b-ebf8-4e86-bae5-b704dce6044e> to the City Council.
April 30, 2015 Planning Board Hearing
An updated Design Standards Document based on the Public Hearing Comments and initial Planning Board Deliberation on March 31, 2015 was developed. It is a companion to the Design Guidelines Book and identifies recommendations to update the Zoning Ordinance. The document has recommended amendment language by Zoning Article.
March 31, 2015 Planning Board Hearing
A public hearing was scheduled for March 31. At that hearing, numerous comments where received. An electronic file of written comments (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/772c7c6e-2e1e-4798-b973-8c6402af472c> is available. The meeting was continued to the next Planning Board Meeting, scheduled for April 8, 2015. The Board the continued hearing will be scheduled on April 30, 2015 at 7 pm.
Planning Board | Rollout of Draft Design Standards & Guidelines
·         Draft Design Standards - The recommended Design Standards Document is a companion to the Design Guidelines Book and identifies recommendations to update the Zoning Ordinance<https://ecode360.com/36825722>. The document has recommended amendment language by Zoning Article.
·         Draft Design Guidelines Book - The draft guidelines offer nine categories to consider as part of design, which are also summarized in the Design Poster below.
·         Draft Design Guidelines Pocket Guide (Poster) - This graphic template forms the basis for the guidelines and provides a poster sized pocket guide to the guidelines.
Community Meeting Three
Meeting Three Presentation (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/6af38cf2-6a33-44ef-a5c1-04e0b250ec62> (11 mb file slow to download) - This meeting presented the content of the design guidelines and provided a summary of the design standards being considered for integration into the Zoning Ordinance.
Community Meeting Two
·         Summary of comments (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/991befd0-09d0-4dc1-a7f4-91b2d5691d14> - The meeting comments cards were summarized by Gamble and Associates. The comments cards (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/b253b9b0-8b7e-412a-85a9-93c02272761d> have also been scanned for anyone interested.
·         Handout Showing Structure and Initial Content (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/a1bdd2a9-b801-4435-bb47-a15175592a3b>: Nine categories are included within the Design Guidelines Framework showing examples of prototypical development. The descriptions and images are a starting point for additional diagrams that will be included under each category. In addition, specific Standards will be developed moving forward which will be included as an amendment to Watertown's Zoning Ordinance.
·         Meeting Presentation (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/28336b56-a17e-4cec-b60c-28ccff81ef8e> (12 mb file, slow to download): The meeting presentation includes graphics for the draft guidelines and looks at a test case (Pirolli Site at Irving and Arsenal Streets) for how design guidelines could affect one area. (The developer presentation is not included in the slides.)
Elements of the Guidelines - Comment Opportunity (Closes October 30)
The development of the structure of the Design Guidelines are underway. Please list your ideas, concerns and comments as they relate to these elements (the questionnaire closed October 30, 2014). While the format for the document has not been finalized, one intention is to create a user-friendly Guideline poster with key information as a compliment to the letter sized and more detailed booklet.
Applying Design Guidelines to a Project
As part of the Design Guidelines and Standards scope of work, the design team collaborated with Greystar, the national developer proposing to build a large residential project at the corner of Irving Street and Arsenal Street in Watertown. Over the four to six weeks, the teams worked to apply design guideline concepts and standards to the project under design.
Creating the Graphic Template
[a drawing of a building]Design Guidelines help to make legible spatial and dimensional criteria. The design team established a graphic template (updated January 22, 2015 poster) upon which information and content was added.
Meeting One Results
·         Meeting One - October 15 at 6:30 pm at the Watertown Middle School
·         Here is the Post-Meeting Presentation (PDF)<https://ma-watertown4.civicplus.pro/asset/aa5cce75-a3c5-43e8-aa0a-a2dc6c37cb18> (this is a large 10 mb file so be patient) showing the slide show and the results of the interactive aspects of the meeting.
Background
Development pressure has resulted in a number of projects being built or proposed on Arsenal Street, in Watertown Square, Coolidge Square, and Pleasant Street corridor. As a result, the City of Watertown selected Gamble Associates to conduct an expedited process to create Design Guidelines and Standards. The project was initiated in September and is anticipated to be wrapped up in December of 2014. The intent of the project is to develop a set of documents that provide clear guidance and requirements for new development and redevelopment within Watertown's key corridors and squares.
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Helpful Documents
1.      Timeline Schedule (PDF)<https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/9a6f37be-9ce8-48c2-918b-9319ee587175?cache=1800>
2.      Town Council Approval Packet (PDF)<https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/cfa7e7a0-69a9-49f6-a482-501e4362ae43?cache=1800>

Gideon Schreiber, AICP, Assistant Director of Planning
(617) 972-6417 press 1 then 3

When responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined that most email is public record and therefore cannot be kept confidential.

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Chris Skelly via MassPlanners
Sent: Friday, June 3, 2022 3:23 PM
To: massplanners at masscptc.org
Subject: [Massplanners] Housing Density and Design Review

I am looking for examples where having design review was useful in moderating opposition to increasing housing density.  I’d especially like to hear of examples where housing density was substantially increased but would be interested in hearing whatever examples are out there.
Chris Skelly
Skelly Preservation Services
Community Planning and Preservation
www.skellypreservationservices.com<http://www.skellypreservationservices.com>
ccskelly12 at gmail.com<mailto:ccskelly12 at gmail.com>

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