Jun 07, 2018 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Rss Contact Name:Gerald Autler Contact Email Address:[email protected] Type:Public Meeting Location:Boston Police Department District D-4 Station 650 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02118 Contact Phone:617.918.4438
Description: On May 17 the BPDA Board approved a petition to make a text amendment to Article 64, the part of the Boston Zoning Code that covers the South End. This potential change had been discussed extensively at meetings about the Exchange South End project. We want to make sure that this change is widely understood in advance of the Boston Zoning Commission hearing on June 13 at 9:00 a.m. at Boston City Hall, 9th Floor. To that end, the BPDA will give a short presentation at the South End Forum meeting at 6:00 p.m. on June 12, in addition to this meeting on June 7. The proposed change would affect two parcels on Albany Street: the Flower Exchange at 540 Albany Street, which is the site of the proposed Exchange South End project, and the adjacent parcel, which is home to Jacobson Floral. The Impact Advisory Group appointed to advise the BPDA on the Exchange South End project has strongly supported this change, which would enable the project to be built with a massing that is not allowed under the existing zoning. Specifically, the project would be lower than the allowed maximum closer to Albany Street and instead would push most of the square footage and height away from the existing neighborhood and towards the Southeast Expressway. The total allowed square footage (density) would NOT change, but the increased height along I-93 would allow for more open space than is required—the project will create a 1.1 acre publicly accessible plaza. The text amendment would allow the BPDA and Zoning Commission to approve Planned Development Areas on those two parcels that allow greater height. Projects would be expected to compensate for that greater height by providing benefits such as those in the proposed Exchange South End project. In no case would any project exceed 350 feet in height. The Exchange South End project is proposed to reach 321 feet at its highest point near I-93. The Exchange South End project is still undergoing review through the PDA Master Plan process and Article 80 Large Project Review and there is ongoing opportunity to comment.