Councilor Flynn & Councilor Flaherty Announce IPOD Extension

Dear Neighbors,

We would like to thank you for your engagement around the expiration of the Interim Planning Overlay District (IPOD) and the existing deficiencies within Article 68. Whether it was at numerous abutters and civic meetings, or through e-mails and phone calls, we heard your concerns and we stand with you. Your feedback is critically important for our efforts to improve Article 68 to ensure it is a zoning code that allows for reasonable and responsible growth while preserving what makes South Boston such a special and unique place to live. We agree with the assessments many of you made about instituting zoning for the South Boston community as 3F (3 Family), a minimum lot size, as well as the need to obtain additional feedback from the community at a neighborhood meeting.

Please note that the South Boston elected officials have been working diligently on this issue with Mayor Walsh and his Administration, the Inspectional Services Department (ISD), the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), and the Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS). We are encouraged by the recent extension of the IPOD until October 31, 2019, and thank Mayor Walsh and his Administration for extending the IPOD.

This extension ensures that technical corrections to South Boston’s zoning regulations can be carefully considered and drafted for future enactment. Further, IPOD protections ensure continued neighborhood scrutiny of projects that, while perhaps zoning compliant under the current scheme, may not be appropriate to abutters and surrounding neighborhoods. We look forward to working with Mayor Walsh, the appropriate City agencies and the community on this critical issue for the future of our neighborhood.

Sincerely,

Ed Flynn – Boston City Councilor, District 2 Boston

Michael Flaherty – City Councilor At-Large