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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2017-10-10 Solar Zones, LEED, Vacant Prop, Staging 9-5-17_201710051205179787ELECTED OFFICIALS: Mark S. Sideris, Council President Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Vice President Michael F. Dattoli, Councilor At Large Aaron P. Dushku, Councilor At Large Susan G. Falkoff, Councilor At Large Anthony Palomba, Councilor At Large Angeline B. Kounelis, District A Councilor Lisa J. Feltner, District B Councilor Kenneth M. Woodland, District D Councilor Watertown Town Council Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Phone: 617-972-6470 Committee on Economic Development and Planning Meeting: September 5, 2017 Report: October 10, 2017 The Committee convened at 6:00 pm on Thursday, September 5, 2017 in the Philip Pane Lower Hearing Room. Present were Susan Falkoff, chair; Kenneth Woodland, vice -chair; and Vincent Piccirilli, secretary. Staff present were Steven Magoon, Assistant Town Manager/Director of Community Development and Planning; Ed Lewis, Energy Manager; Gideon Schreiber, Senior Planner; Gerald Mee, DPW Superintendent; and Dennis Sheehan, DPW Director of Administration and Finance. Also present were Council President Mark Sideris, and Councilors Aaron Dushku and Anthony Palomba. See attached sign -in sheet for other attendees. 1. Creation of Neighborhood Solar Zones Councilor Falkoff distributed Councilor Dushku's outline for solar zones discussion (Attachment 1) and Jocelyn Tager's Proposal for Solar Zoning in Watertown (Attachment 2). Mr. Lewis stated Watertown adopted the "Stretch Building Code" in 2010 as a condition of becoming a "Green Community" which requires a more energy -efficient building code to be used in Watertown. A new version of the Stretch Code will become law on January 1, 2018 when the Massachusetts legislature votes on it, and will automatically apply to Watertown. The draft version of the code requires that new buildings will be "solar ready." In response to a question from Councilor Falkoff, he clarified that "solar ready" does not mean that solar installation is required. Councilor Dushku would like to see Watertown require solar installation on the solar ready buildings but Mr. Magoon questioned the legality of dictating to a developer the specific means that must be used to make a building more sustainable. Councilor Falkoff suggested that we get an opinion from the Town Attorney before going further into the details of what solar requirements might make sense. 4 Councilor Piccirilli made a motion, seconded by Councilor Woodland, to ask the Town Attorney for a legal opinion if it is possible to craft an amendment to the Watertown Zoning Ordinance to require the installation of solar panels. Voted 3-0 2. Changing the Requirement for LEED Certification Councilor Dushku discussed his desire that the requirement for having LEED Silver apply to all developments, not just those in the RMUD zone. Mr. Magoon stated that he is in favor of a level playing field for all developments. Councilor Piccirilli read the applicable Zoning Ordinance paragraph 9.03(c)7 (Attachment 3). Page 1 of 4 Committee on Economic Development and Planning Report September 26, 2017 Discussion followed about LEED Silver. Key points included: • A LEED Certifiable building requires 40 out of a possible 120 points, and the requirement for LEED Silver is 50 points. Mr. Lewis noted that 26 of the scoring points are purely energy related. • Councilor Woodland questioned what Watertown wants to achieve by doing this, and how do we measure success? 4 Councilor Piccirilli made a motion, seconded by Councilor Woodland, to ask the Department of Community Development and Planning to propose language changing paragraph 9.03(c)7 to make LEED requirements uniform at the Silver level for all commercial districts, and to provide a list of other communities in Massachusetts that have adopted LEED requirements and at what level. Voted 3-0 3. Creation of a Vacant Property Registry Councilor Falkoff distributed material from Councilor Dushku (Attachments 4 to 7). Councilor Dushku stated that he is concerned about vacant storefronts in Watertown, and he would like Watertown to adopt an ordinance like Arlington's. Mr. Magoon asked what is the problem that we would be looking to solve with such an ordinance. He noted that fining landlords who are trying to find a good tenant is not friendly to small business, and could encourage a landlord to rent to a business that might not be the right fit for Watertown. Councilor Piccirilli noted the following: • Almost all the Vacant Property Ordinances on the provided list appear to be for residential properties in bank foreclosure, and most were passed from 2008 to 2010 during the financial crisis. • The Arlington ordinance appears to be the only one targeting vacant storefronts, and was prompted by a problem in Arlington center where 6 out of 14 vacant stores were controlled by one owner. • Of the properties on the Watertown list, some just recently became vacant, and some have been rented but are undergoing remodeling or licensing by the new tenant. • This Committee took up ways to encourage small businesses at a meeting on October 19, 2016, and proposing fines does not seem consistent with that. Janet Jameson from the Watertown Public Art and Culture Committee spoke in favor of the Arlington ordinance's requirement to allow public art to be displayed in vacant storefronts (Attachment 8). The discussion turned to blighted properties, as opposed to just vacant properties, and whether that is that problem that Watertown should address. Mr. Magoon noted the Health Director discussed proposing such an ordinance in 2010, but it became difficult to define what blight is, and was not pursued. 4 Councilor Piccirilli made a motion, seconded by Councilor Woodland, to ask the Department of Community Development and Planning to review the work done in 2010 on a blighted property ordinance, and report back to the Committee if it made sense to proceed or not. Voted 3-0 4. Establishment of Department of Public Works Staging Areas As a follow up to the Committee meeting on June 20th (see report dated July 11, 2017), Mr. Magoon looked at properties in Watertown which could potentially be used by the DPW for staging purposes, and identified six properties in non-residential zoning districts in the East End and West End, but he did not want to discuss specific properties in a public meeting, to protect both the property owners' rights and the Town's interests. Page 2 of 4 Committee on Economic Development and Planning Report September 26, 2017 Councilor Piccirilli made a motion, seconded by Councilor Woodland, to have the Economic Development and Planning Committee go into Executive Session to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if the chair declares that discussion in open session may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Town Council, for the purpose of discussing potential locations for use by the DPW for a staging area. Councilor Falkoff, the chair, declared that it would be detrimental, and asked for a roll call vote to go into Executive Session. Councilor Woodland: Yes Councilor Piccirilli: Yes Councilor Falkoff: Yes Councilor Falkoff stated the Committee will not be returning to open session at the end of the Executive Session. The meeting in open session adjourned at 7:50 pm. Report prepared by Vincent Piccirilli Page 3 of 4 Committee on Economic Development and Planning Report September 26, 2017 Attachments — Documents Used During Meeting Creation of Neighborhood Solar Zones Attachment 1: An outline for solar zones discussion (Provided by Councilor Dushku) Attachment 2: Proposal for Solar Zoning in Watertown (Provided by resident Jocelyn Tager) Changing the Requirement for LEED Certification Attachment 3: Excerpt from Watertown Zoning Ordinance dated December 13, 2016, Page 104, Paragraph 9.03(c)7 Environmental Sustainability Creation of a Vacant Property Registry Attachment 4: Survey of Vacant Storefronts in Watertown (Provided by Councilor Dushku) Attachment 5: Center for Community Progress - Vacant Property Registration Ordinances (Provided by Councilor Dushku) Attachment 6: List of Vacant Property Ordinances in Massachusetts (Provided by Councilor Dushku) Attachment 7: Article on Arlington's Vacant Storefront Registry (Provided by Councilor Dushku) Attachment 8: Watertown Public Art and Culture Committee Letter of Support Page 4 of 4 ELECTED OFFICIALS: Mark S. Sideris, Council President Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Vice President Michael F. Dattoli, Councilor At Large Aaron P. Dushku, Councilor At Large Susan G. Falkoff, Councilor At Large Anthony Palomba, Councilor At Large Angeline B. Kounelis, District A Councilor Lisa J. Feltner, District B Councilor Kenneth M. Woodland, District D Councilor Watertown Town Council Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Phone: 617-972.6470 MEETING NOTICE feftwiven 13Y TO IN ERh'S OFFICE 4/111: 31 COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017, 6:00 P.M. PHILIP PANE LOWER CONFERENCE ROOM, GROUND FLOOR ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 1. Call to Order 2. The Creation of Neighborhood Solar Zones 3. Changing the Requirements for LEED Certification 4. The Creation of a Vacant Property Registry 5. The Establislunent of Department of Public Works Staging Areas 6. Adjourtunent Councilor Susan G. Falkoff, Chair cc: Honorable Town Council Committee Members: Susan G. Falkoff, Chair Kenneth M. Woodland, Vice -Chair Vincent J Piccirilli, Jr., Secretary LGjVa/ne �t Tao \4ass David Sfokes LtC\ aAr u fir . - R ( 11 l l e Ca lAni oqi e if fikgee / * -e),A, s svkat /-64/1- Vje/F44.1 _, ?0 Lawro4t e Si— 4Z Lert %h 9rz 3� TCI Gil �1- ?�I� (---0d�F V -2_ 7 may. - -Le.. rV-AA Zc ATTACHMENT 1 Establishing Policy for Solar Zones in Watertown An outline for discussion 1. Definition of a 'Solar Zone': an allocated space suitable for solar panels to be installed on a property 2. Required 'Solar Readiness': minimum characteristics of new buildings for solar panel feasibility 3. 'Solar Access': prohibited impingement of neighboring properties solar potential 4. Space requirements for solar zones 5. Required production estimates 6. The 'Community Solar' requirement 7. Requirements for existing properties 8. Certificate of compliance or waiver ATTACHMENT 2 Solar Zoning in Watertown Regulation Concepts: As a Green Community, Watertown is required to meet the BBRS regulations. Currently, Watertown does not meet the new Building Regulations and Standard Code (BBRS), which requires all new buildings and construction to be solar ready. This standard will go into effect on January 1, 2018. In addition, Representative Mike Connolly is sponsoring a bill (H3390) that will require all new construction in Massachusetts to be solar ready. In 2009, Massachusetts became to first state to adopt an above -code appendix to the base building energy code, the "Stretch Code" (780 CMR Appendix 115.AA). The Stretch Code, which emphasizes energy performance as opposed to prescriptive requirements, is designed to engender construction that is more energy efficient than what is required by the base energy code. Municipalities may choose to adopt the Stretch Code in lieu of the base building energy code. Stretch code adoption is mandatory for designation as a "Green Community" under the GCA. As of June 19, 2017, 205 municipalities have adopted the Stretch Code, with more expected in the upcoming months. Building code officials can receive free code training. • The objective of this by-law is to require the use of renewable energy in developments through the provision and protection of solar access through a solar zone and a mandatory minimum level of solar installed for each development. • There is precedent for Watertown's adoption of this by-law in other towns in states such as California and Florida. • The progression of regulation includes: 1. solar feasibility study: Watertown requests 2. solar ready: Watertown does not require 3. solar mandatory (Platinum LEED and the Living Building Challenge, a performance -based standard): Watertown does not require 4. net -zero —the building produces as much energy as it uses: Watertown does not require • All land development in the Town of Watertown involves a planning process, which considers factors such as the massing of allowed square footage of buildings, the construction of buildings, the amount of required parking, the allotment and use of open space, public space, green space, and public access. The goal of this amendment is to add a provision to these land -development requirements that would ensure the access to and installation of solar energy. In December 2015, the United States signed the Paris Pact and agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% below the 2005 levels by 2025. Given this federal commitment (rescinded by Trump, but reaffirmed by Baker), the Town of Watertown amends the proposed planning and zoning stipulations 1 to require the use of solar energy in all districts and the provision and protection of solar access through a planned solar zone. • A solar zone is an allocated space --with minimal shading, penetrations, and obstructions --that serves as a suitable place for solar panels to be installed before or after construction. • The DOER allows Green Communities to meet Green Communities Criterion One by zoning for a solar facility .... on "disturbed land." Watertown has brown fields along Pleasant Street, behind Repton Place, and along Grove Street, to name a few locations. These can be granted by right or taken by eminent domain for solar arrays. In addition, before the town grants permission for parking lots, such as the large lot on Grove Street, or those along Pleasant street, or for other parking lots and parking decks, solar canopies with charging stations must be required of all such development in Watertown. • For mixed commercial and residential developments, the solar zone could be located at any of the following locations: a. Roof of a building b. Overhang of the building c. Roof and overhang of another structure located within 250 feet (75 meters) of the primary building d. Covered parking installed with the building project e. Other structures include, but are not limited to, trellises, arbors, patio covers, carports, gazebos, roof awnings, and similar accessory structures f. Surrounding open space, including ground mounted arrays • Structures - The planning board will want evidence that the location, design, size, and land use are such that 70 percent of all proposed buildings will be oriented to maximal solar orientation and that the walls and rooftops of buildings with proper solar orientations and proper structure for the weight load are protected from shadows between the hours of 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM on October 20. Where feasible, the building design should incorporate solar energy including, but not limited to photovoltaic systems and solar hot water systems. • Solar Access - Proposed structures and landscape should not impinge on the solar rights of abutter facilities without provision to the abutter, at no cost, an equivalent solar development area (solar zone) with comparable solar production potential and a mechanism for transfer of energy value. • Solar Zone - The total solar zone must have at least an area that is no less than 60% of the total roof area of the proposed structures and no less than 15% of the remaining lot area. 2 • Solar Capacity - The planning board requires an applicant to provide a production estimate of the potential sites for onsite solar energy generation, including shadow patterns for all buildings and trees. The reference date for the shadow patterns is October 20 between the hours of 9:30AM and 3:30PM. October 20th provides a good reference point when considering shading. If August is used, the effect of shading will be underestimated, and using December results in a particularly conservative outcome. • Minimum Installed Production - The planning board will require developers to demonstrate that a minimum 40% of the onsite energy usage will be sourced from renewable sources, including onsite installed solar that fully utilizes a minimum 40% of the solar zone (combination of building mounted, ground mounted and carport). • Community Solar - When the owner of a parcel of land seeks a permit for new development and construction, a percentage of the solar zone shall be set aside for the development of member -owned community solar subject to negotiation of reasonable access conditions, but with leasing rates not to exceed fair market value with reference to historical pricing for similar solar developments. The percentage reserved for member -owned community solar is the percentage of the solar zone not used by the developer. Thus, if the development uses 40% of the solar zone for its use, the remaining 60% would be set aside for member -owned community solar. (Member - owned community solar is different from investment -owned community solar. These member -owned community solar arrays may be ground -mounted, roof top, or canopies.) • Existing Structures - All owners of existing commercial buildings in Watertown who seek building permits must have their buildings and lots evaluated for solar zones as defined in this amendment. If those existing roofs are structurally sound, solar arrays commensurate (if possible) with the building's energy use will be required. (If the existing buildings are not solar compatible, the owners are required to demonstrate this inability.) (The prescriptive formula is 100 square feet per kw. See attached photo of a building retrofitted for solar.) • The owner of a parcel of land in Watertown who seeks to develop that parcel of land must include documentation that meets the above solar zone stipulations for own energy use and member -owned community solar or demonstrate an inability to comply with these requirements. 3 ATTACHMENT 3 2. Relation of Buildings to Environment: Proposed development shall be integrated into the terrain and the use, scale and architecture of existing buildings in the vicinity and shall be in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan or other plans adopted by the Town guiding future development. The Planning Board may require a modification in massing so as to reduce the effect of shadows on abutting property in all districts or on public open space. 3. Open Space: All open space required by this Zoning Ordinance shall be so designed as to maximize its visibility for persons passing the site, encourage social interaction, maximize its utility, and facilitate its maintenance. 4. Circulation: Special attention shall be given to traffic circulation, parking areas and access points to public streets and community facilities in order to maximize convenience and safety of vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian movement within the site and in relation to adjacent streets. Special consideration shall be given to infrastructure and design that will enhance public transit, such as bus shelters, on -site transportation demand management measures, and participation in a Transit Management Association. 5. Surface Water Drainage: Special attention shall be given to proper site surface drainage so that removal of surface waters will not adversely affect neighboring properties or the public storm drainage system. Proposed developments shall seek to retain storm water runoff on site to the maximum extent possible, incorporating best practices in storm water management and Low Impact Design techniques. In cases where storm water cannot be retained on site, storm water shall be removed from all roofs, canopies and paved areas and carried away in an underground drainage system. 6. Utility Service: Electric, telephone, cable TV and other such lines and equipment shall be underground. The proposed method of sanitary sewage disposal and solid waste disposal from all buildings shall be indicated. 7. Environmental Sustainability: Proposed developments shall seek to diminish the heat island effect; employ passive solar techniques and design to maximize southern exposures, building materials, and shading; utilize energy -efficient technology and renewable energy resources; and minimize water use. All Mixed Use Developments in the NB, LB, CB, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and PSCD Districts must meet LEED Certifiable requirements as outlined by the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (current edition as applicable) as a minimum. Design documentation shall be provided by the Petitioner to the Town to verify that the project could achieve the minimum number of LEED points to achieve certification. Such documentation may include but not be limited to a project narrative describing how the project design intends to achieve selected LEED credits, and a LEED checklist with criteria (or points) which shows the project will achieve a minimum of 40 points. All Mixed Use Developments in the RMUD must meet LEED Certifiable requirements as outlined by the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (current edition as applicable) at the Silver level. 8. Screening: Screening, such as screen plantings, shall be provided for exposed storage areas, exposed machinery installations, service areas, truck loading areas, utility buildings and structures, and similar accessory areas and structures in order to prevent their being incongruous with the existing or contemplated environment and the surrounding properties. 9. Safety: With respect to personal safety, all open and enclosed spaces shall be designed to facilitate building evacuation and maximize accessibility by fire, police, and other emergency personnel and equipment. 10. Design: Proposed developments shall seek to protect abutting properties from detrimental site characteristics resulting from the proposed use, including but not limited to air and water pollution, noise, odor, heat, flood, dust vibration, lights or visually offensive structures or site features. 104 Vacant Store -fronts in Watertown ATTACHMENT 4 Preliminary visual survey (A. Dushku, 9/4/2017) Mt. Auburn Street Corridor 1. 33 Mt. Auburn (Bray, former Port Oil building site) 2. 489 Mt. Auburn Street (former medical practice next to former East Branch library)* 3. 495 Mt. Auburn Street (former gas station on corner of Boylston St)* 4. 285 Mt Auburn Street (formerly 'Bangs' hair salon) 5. 563 Mt. Auburn Street (next door to Massis Bakery) 6. 580 Mt Auburn Street (former Jasmine Restaurant) Under construction • 4 Bigelow Ave (former Coolidge Variety) • 21 Nichols (former 21 Nichols Bar) Galen Street 7. 70 Galen St (former US Petroleum Gas station) Under construction • 39-41 Galen Street (former convenience store across from MBTA Yard) • 2 Watertown Street (former Athens house of pizza) Arsenal & School Street Area 8. 32 Arsenal Street (left half of O'Reilly & Son Auto Body near Watertown Square) 9. 76 Arsenal Street (former MIDAS, near Enterprise Rent -a -Car) 10. 204 Arsenal Street (in Gables apartment bldg) 11. 390 Arsenal (former Monroe Muffler, near athenahealth) 12. 80 School Street (former karate school next to Arsenal Pizza) 13. 108A School Street (across street from Strip T's) 14. 112 Dexter Ave (corner of Hazel)* Under construction • 222 Arsenal Street (former Farmers Market Kitchen) Main Street / Waverly Ave Page 1 of 2 15. 15 Spring Street (former Tranquility Day Spa) 16. 19 Main Street/Watertown Square (former Michaels Insurance) 17. 182 Main Street (former WBCC) 18. 349 Main Street (corner of Waverly & Main Street) 19. 432 Main Street (former drive -through bank in La Fauci tile building) 20. 208 Waverly Ave (former Raider Tavern) 21. 214 Waverly Ave (former electrician office next to Pizza Roma) West End -Under construction • 129 Waltham St (former Bemis Market) • 1074 Belmont St (near Gerry's Italian Kitchen) NOT SURVEYED • Commercial zone along Belmont Street near Conley's Bar and Grill • Commercial zones in East End near Sacred Heart Church and across street from Greg's Restaurant • 'I' and RMUD zones along Elm and Arlington Street 'corridors' • Former RMV building in Watertown Square Municipal Parking lot *not in a current commercial zone Page 2 of 2 Vacant Property Registration Ordinances (VPROs) I Center for Community Progress Page 1 of 1 ATTACHMENT 5 Center for 111111 COMMUNITY PROGRESS Vacant Spaces into Vibrant Places About I The Help You Need Land Bank Information Headquarters Toolkit Learn More About Our Work Get news and resources to help you make a difference. 0010yam Newsroom I Blog I Contac Search Media I Conference I Events I Publications I Resources I Blog •7W !1Ole 40 le. . elk is. Tool 1: Vacant Property Registration Ordinances (VPROs) The purposes of a vacant property registration ordinance (VPRO) are threefold: • To ensure that owners of vacant properties are known to the city and other interested parties and can be reached if necessary; • To ensure that owners of vacant properties are aware of the obligations of ownership under relevant codes and regulations; and • To ensure that owners meet minimum standards of maintenance of vacant properties. In addition, the fee structure established in the ordinance may serve additional purposes, including covering costs incurred by the municipality to deal with vacant properties, and under some circumstances, motivating owners to restore and reuse vacant properties. A vacant property registration ordinance should include the following elements: • A clear definition of which properties and which parties must register; • The registration requirements and procedures, including the information required of the owner or lienholder; • The fee structure; • The obligations of the owner, with respect to maintaining the property; and • The penalties for failing to register in timely fashion. No -Go to Tool 2 for a discussion of the effect of different fee structures on owner behavior Using the information from registration forms, the city should create a vacant property registry. The registry should be accessible on line, and should provide a means by which individuals can report unregistered vacant properties to the city. Hundreds of cities, counties and towns in the United States have enacted VPROs. No -Go to a directory of ordinances, with links to the individual ordinances Do- Go to Tool 2: Motivating Owners to Use Properties 877.542.4842 1 Sitemap I Privacy Policy (Last updated on January 19, 2016) 1 Photo Credits I Web Design by Orbit Media © 2017 Center For Community Progress http://www.communityprogress.net/tool- l --vacant-property-registration-ordinances--pages-... ATTACHMENT 6 City/County Fees Status Enacted Date Reg. Timeframe Adams $100; annually due Jan.1 Enacted 7 days following abandonment or initiation of foreclosure Agawam none if registered within 30 days Enacted 6/15/2015 within 30 days following vacancy Athol may include bond up to $2000 Enacted 6/13/2011 upon vacancy Attleboro N/A Enacted 7 days following vacancy Barnstable 30 days following vacancy and/or 15 days following the initiation of foreclosure proceedings Enacted TBD Bellingham $100; annually Enacted upon abandonment and/or foreclosure Boston $100; annually Enacted 3/2/2008 upon vacancy and/or 7 days following foreclosure filing Bridgewater Proposed Brockton $150 escalating annual renewal schedule; renewal due April 1 Enacted 10/14/2011 90 days following vacancy Cambridge TBD Proposed TBD Chelsea $100 Enacted 11/24/2008 14 days following vacancy or 7 days following foreclosure filing Everett $500; annually with escalating fee schedule renewal on Nov. 15 Enacted upon vacancy and/or filing foreclosure Fall River $500; annually with escalating fee schedule Enacted 7/17/2008 45 days following vacancy Fitchburg $100; annually Enacted 4/15/2012 30 days following vacancy, abandonment, foreclosure, or notification Framingham $100; annually Enacted 10/17/2012 7 days following foreclosure Franklin $40; annually Enacted 10/20/2010 14 days following vacancy Gardner $250 initially renewal of $125 for 6 months Enacted upon vacancy Gloucester $500; annually with escalating fee schedule Enacted 9/2/2008 45 days Greenfield $25 one time fee Enacted 12/17/2014 within 7 days following initiation of foreclosure; within 14 days of city notice; annually Haverhill $250; annually due Jan. 1 Enacted 6/4/2013 upon vacancy Holyoke $250 Enacted 2/3/2009 45 days following vacancy; annually due Nov. 15 Hull $5000 bond requirement PROPOSED Proposed TBD Lawrence $100; annually due Jan.lst Enacted 4/5/2008 7 days Leominster $100 Enacted 7 days following foreclosure Longmeadow $100 Enacted 7 days following foreclosure; annually Lowell $1,000 Enacted 7/8/2008 14 days following city notice for vacancy, 7 days following foreclosure filing Lynn $300; annually with renewal on Jan. 1 Enacted 2/24/2009 abandoned and/or foreclosing properties Malden $500; escalating annual fee Enacted 30 days following the initiation of foreclosure proceedings or vacancy Marlborough $100; annually Enacted 6/22/2009 7 days following vacancy and/or filing foreclosure Medford $100; annually Enacted 5/5/2009 upon vacancy and/or 7 days following filing foreclosure Medway $100; annually renewal due Jan. 1 Enacted 7 days following abandonment and/or foreclosure Melrose $250 Dead N/A Methuen $100;annually Enacted 5/7/2008 7 days New Bedford $500; annually with escalating fee schedule Enacted 11/26/2008 45 days following vacancy North Adams $15; annually Enacted 5/12/2009 10 days following foreclosure North Attleboro TBD Enacted 30 days following vacancy or foreclosure Pittsfield $10; annually $1 for each add'I prop.; renewal Jan. 1 Enacted 11/1/2010 180 days following vacancy or 30 days following filing of foreclosure Plainville $100 Enacted 45 days following abandonment Quincy $100 Enacted 11/17/2008 30 days following filing offoreclosure Randolph $500 Enacted 4/1/2009 45 days Rental - Amherst $100; annually Enacted 1/1/2014 Rental - Barnstable $90 per unit $25 per additional unit on same property Enacted Rental - Boston Enacted Rental - Lowell $50 per unit Enacted 4/26/1988 30 days following rental Rental - Pittsfield $10 for one property $1 for each additional property Enacted 10/26/2010 Revere $500; annually renewal on Nov. 15 with escalating fee schedule Enacted 1/31/2007 45 days following vacancy Salem $300; annually Enacted 7 days following abandonment or initiation of foreclosure Somerset $250; annually with escalating fee schedule Enacted 8/12/2009 45 days following vacancy or upon filing foreclosure Somerville TBD Enacted 30 days following city notification Southbridge $100 annually Enacted 9/12/2016 within 30 days of vacancy Springfield $100; annually Not Enforced 4/9/2009 see bill Stoughton Enacted 30 days following vacancy Swansea escalated fee schedule per size of property and length of vacancy Enacted 2/6/2013 45 days following vacancy or initiation of foreclosure Taunton $100 Enacted 6/16/2009 upon vacancy Walpole $100; annuallyfees required if structure is vacant for 90 days Enacted 5/9/2012 7 days after notice of abandonment, 30 days after taking possession Wareham TBD Proposed TBD Westfield $100 annually Enacted 4/5/2015 upon vacancy and/or foreclosure Weymouth TBD Enacted 3/21/2015 within 35 days of vacancy or within 15 days of initiation of foreclosure process and receipt of notice from Town Winchendon Enacted Winthrop $100; annually Enacted Woburn $100; annually Enacted N/A Worcester $3,000 Enacted 12/15/2009 TBD Arlington's vacant storefront registry will soon be put into effect Page 1 of 2 ATTACHMENT 7 WICKED ARLINGTON LOCALIncludes content from the Arlington Advocate Arlington's vacant storefront registry will soon be put into effect By Bram Berkowitz ................................................ bberkowitz@wickedlocal.com Posted Jun 21, 2017 at 3:44 PM Updated Jun 21, 2017 at 3:44 PM After more than eight months since Town Meeting approved the bylaw amendment, the ............................................................................................................................ vacant storefront registry could be up and running as soon as July 1. The Board of Selectmen on Monday, June 19 voted to institute a $400 registration fee for landlords with vacant storefronts, one of the last remaining steps town officials needed to implement before they could put the initiative into effect. Passed in October, the bylaw amendment established a "vacant commercial property registry" that owners of vacant storefronts will soon have to pay $400 to enter once their property becomes vacant. Along with registration, the property owner must also state their efforts to fill the vacancy. Violation of the bylaw will result in a $100 fine per day. "The purpose of this bylaw is to assure that property owners are making good faith efforts to lease their spaces, and maintaining them properly during periods of vacancy," said Ali Carter, the town's economic development coordinator. "However, it is not intended to place an undue financial burden on landlords trying to lease their spaces, but are having trouble finding suitable, qualified tenants." A property owner must register and pay the $400 fee within seven days of a vacancy occurring. According to Carter, the fee will help cover the cost of quarterly inspections by the town's building inspector to make sure the property is being adequately maintained while it is vacant. The fee is based on the cost of the certificate of inspection and to make a petition to the town's Zoning Board of Appeals, she said. http:Harlington.wickedlocal.cominewsl20l 7O6211arlingtons-vacant-storefront-registry-will-... 9/7/2017 Arlington's vacant storefront registry will soon be put into effect Page 2 of 2 The town will waive the $400 registration fee if a property owner agrees to allow public art to be displayed in the storefront while it is vacant. Residents and officials, who have been frustrated by vacant storefronts, particularly in ....................................... Arlington Center that have sat empty for years, played a key role in the creation and approval of the registry. According to Carter, the five-year average of vacancy rates in town is 1.6 percent. Currently, she said, the vacancy rate is 1.2 percent, a number that surprised selectmen considering the amount of frustration over vacant storefronts. "When you walk down the street, it doesn't feel like 1.2 percent," said Selectman Dan Dunn, implying that the vacancy rate feels much higher. Carter acknowledged Dunn's point, saying the vacancies are much more visible at the retail level. She also said the vacancy rate was much higher when the bylaw amendment passed. Whether the decrease in vacancies can be attributed to the new registry or to some other factor is unclear at this time, she said. Carter said a majority of the vacant retail storefronts are still from one property owner. According to a vacant commercial property listing last updated in May 2017, out of 14 ......................................................................................................................................... vacant retail spaces, six are managed by Diane Poulos Harpell of DPH Realty. James Cohen of Marco Realty Trust manages another three vacant retail properties. In addition to the 14 retail vacancies, there are another six vacancies for office spaces. http://arlington.wickedlocal.com/news/20l 7O621/arlingtons-vacant-storefront-registry-will- ATTACHMENT 8 Committee Members: Janet Jameson Deborah Peterson Barbara Epstein Barbara Ruskin Ingrid Marchesano Aramais Andonian To: Committee on Economic Development and Planning Watertown Town Council The Watertown Public Art and Culture Committee is an ad hoc group that has worked with the town to create several murals and to promote public art in Watertown. We enthusiastically endorse a proposed policy on Vacant Property Registration that would encourage temporary public art in vacant spaces. We would be available to help advise and help produce exhibits and events in these spaces. Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee is committed to transforming the experience of our city, improving and enriching our quality of life, building community, and enhancing economic vitality by introducing art in the public realm and new artistic ideas to bring people together and prompt new conversations. We define art broadly to include visual, musical, performance, literary, and technological modes. www.watertownpublicartsandcuIture.wordpress.com