Public Hearing For South Boston Interim Planning Overlay District (IPOD) & Neighborhood-Wide Zoning

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn and Boston City Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty have scheduled a public hearing for Monday, March 4, 2019 from 6:00-8:00pm at the Joseph P Tynan Elementary School at 650 East Fourth Street in South Boston. The public hearing will discuss the existing zoning deficiencies in South Boston. Representatives from the Boston Planning & Development Agency, Boston Inspectional Services Department, Boston Transportation Department, Parks & Recreation Department, Boston Housing Authority, neighborhood and civic groups and other interested parties are invited to attend.
The South Boston Interim Planning Overlay district (IPOD) and the expansion of Article 68 was intended to advance the City’s housing-creation goals within a zoning code framework respectful of the day-to-day living conditions of South Boston residents who have been significantly impacted by a period of unprecedented neighborhood development, residential expansion, and growing traffic congestion.  While the extension of the IPOD and the new zoning is an improvement of the previous zoning schemes, there are existing deficiencies, particularly pertaining to minimum lot size, in the new zoning schemes that require consideration in light of the multiple major development proposals for the area.
“South Boston residents have called upon their elected officials for a better South Boston zoning blueprint,” said Councilor Michael Flaherty, “Our residents deserve to understand and have a voice in what the master plan for South Boston is in light of all the intense neighborhood growth.”
“Councilor Flaherty and I seek to ensure responsible development that fits the character of our neighborhood and looks to address quality of life concerns for our neighbors and residents,” stated Councilor Flynn.
Councilor Flynn and Flaherty encourage all South Boston residents to attend this important public hearing. The hearing will be held by the City Council’s Committee on Planning, Development & Transportation which is chaired by Boston City Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu.