By Michael Coughlin Jr.
As the start of a new year rapidly approaches, the Boston Planning and Development Agency’s (BPDA) process to make zoning changes for East Boston continues to move forward – however, it is doing so with some backlash – most of which comes from residents of Orient Heights.
Back on Monday, Nov. 28, over 200 Orient Heights residents convened at the Madonna Shrine Function Room to discuss and voice their displeasure regarding the BPDA’s plan to turn zoning in the neighborhood on its head.
Orient Heights resident John Casamassima highlighted the proposed plans to those in attendance and got a good sense of the overall sentiment among attendees concerning the zoning changes.
The BPDA’s proposed zoning updates, initially revealed back in October, would focus on the dimensions of the building itself rather than its use, such as a one or three-family home like zoning is now.
On the surface, a zoning process that looks at the actual dimensions of the building seems to make sense. However, to residents in Orient Heights, it could cause many problems.
One of the main problems residents have with the plan is that they feel it would encourage developers to come in and essentially squeeze out one and two-family homes.
“A lot of us are afraid that the single and two-family homes here in Orient Heights would easily be torn down and turned into six or seven-family homes. Basically, this plan is really incentivizing developers to do that as it currently stands,” said Casamassima
Another issue residents have with the proposed zoning changes is the impact on density it would have on the neighborhood. This is especially important considering the impending impact from the influx of units being introduced at Suffolk Downs.
“It just doesn’t seem right that we are giving 10,000 units at Suffolk Downs, and they are asking for more when places like Back Bay and Beacon Hill are not building any affordable units or any units,” said Casamassima.
“Why should East Boston continue to have to give – let West Roxbury and let Hyde Park go build 10,000 units, and then we can talk about how much more East Boston has to do.”
While those residents in attendance could voice their frustrations with the BPDA’s plan to elected officials, such as City Councilors Michael Flaherty and Gabriela Coletta, who were present at the meeting, they could not do so with BPDA officials themselves.
The BPDA was not represented at the Nov. 28 meeting due to an incident of “threatening behavior” toward a BPDA staff member and their family at a community engagement event on Nov. 15.
The incident forced the agency to pause all meetings while they drew up a code of conduct for future meetings, which explains the BPDA’s absence.
Due to the pause, Brittany Comak, the BPDA’s Assistant Director of Communications, explained that the agency hopes to reschedule postponed visits to neighborhood associations and more in January.
Casamassima described that many residents in attendance did not know about the proposed changes that could be coming their way. He alluded to the barrier Zoom meetings create for those who might not know how to use the program and some residents not being on the BPDA mailing list.
“I would be surprised if more than five percent of the people in that room had even heard of this plan before,” said Casamassima.
As for what is next – upon completing their remaining community engagement commitments, the BPDA will present revisions and updates to the public regarding their plans at a date expected in February.
Even with impending revisions, it is clear that Orient Heights residents will not let these plans come to pass without their voices being heard.
“I think they’re just beginning up here. Maybe this plan can go forward with Jeffries Point and Eagle Hill if they support it, but I think we are too far apart up here between what I am hearing they are willing to consider for changes and what the neighborhood actually wants,” said Casamassima.