Zoning Commission Remote Meeting

9 a.m.

• Text Amendment Application No. 544
• PLAN:  Charlestown - PDA Height
• Article 62, Charlestown Neighborhood District

Said text amendment would add language to Article 62 (Charlestown Neighborhood District), specifically Section 62-20, specifying the applicability of PLAN:  Charlestown’s proposed height scheme to the area of PDA I immediately south of Austin Street, distinguishing this from the area of PDA I north of Austin Street. 

9:05 a.m.

• Text Amendment Application No. 543
• Squares and Streets Zoning Update
• Articles 3, 8, 11, 26 and 89

Said text amendment adds two new Squares + Streets districts to the set of options for Squares + Streets zoning and makes minor changes to four of the six existing Squares + Streets districts.  One of the new zoning options is the Shopping and Commercial Nodes district (SC).  The second new option is a six-story, Active Main Streets district (S3-6).   The amendment also makes it easier to create and maintain banks, shelter facilities, large retail stores, and ground-floor commercial uses in some of the existing Squares + Streets districts. Lastly, the amendment makes some small formatting fixes to improve the legibility of the zoning.

9:10 a.m.

• Special Order No. 16
• Linkage

Said Special Order would allow the Zoning Commission to adopt a zero percent increase to the Linkage Policy for a period of one year beginning January 1, 2026.

9:15 a.m.

• 2025-2035 Northeastern University Institutional Master Plan (“IMP”)

Northeastern University’s 2025 IMP provides a planning and zoning framework for shaping a built environment for the Boston campus that will strengthen and celebrate Northeastern’s mission. The Northeastern IMP contains eight Proposed Institutional Projects (“PIPs”), which will largely be driven by Northeastern’s academic mission as a global research university powered by experience.  Simultaneous with the Article 80D review of the IMP, Northeastern University proposes an Article 80B project to redevelop the 262 St. Botolph Street site, which currently houses Matthews Arena and a surface parking lot, and build a new, approximately 310,000 square foot (sf) Multipurpose facility.  The proposed 262 St. Botolph Street Multipurpose Facility Project will address both the short- and long-term needs of the university’s athletics program and enhance the student-athlete experience by providing critical athlete support and recruiting.

The Zoning Commission of the City of Boston hereby gives notice, in accordance with Chapter 665 of the Acts of 1956, as amended, that a virtual public hearing will be held

on December 10, 2025, at 9:00 A.M., in connection with Text Amendment Application No. 544, filed by the City of Boston Planning Department.

Said text amendment would add language to Article 62 (Charlestown Neighborhood District), specifically Section 62-20, specifying the applicability of PLAN: Charlestown’s

proposed height scheme to the area of PDA I immediately south of Austin Street, distinguishing this from the area of PDA I north of Austin Street.

The Zoning Commission of the City of Boston hereby gives notice, in accordance with Chapter 665 of the Acts of 1956, as amended, that a virtual public hearing will be held

on December 10, 2025, at 9:15 A.M., in connection with a petition for approval of the 2025-2035 Northeastern University Institutional Master Plan (“IMP”).

Northeastern University’s 2025 IMP provides a planning and zoning framework for shaping a built environment for the Boston campus that will strengthen and

celebrate Northeastern’s mission. The Northeastern IMP contains eight Proposed Institutional Projects (“PIPs”), which will largely be driven by Northeastern’s academic

mission as a global research university powered by experience. Simultaneous with the Article 80D review of the IMP, Northeastern University proposes an Article 80B project

to redevelop the 262 St. Botolph Street site, which currently houses Matthews Arena and a surface parking lot, and build a new, approximately 310,000 square foot (sf)

Multipurpose facility. The proposed 262 St. Botolph Street Multipurpose Facility Project will address both the short- and long-term needs of the university’s athletics program

and enhance the student-athlete experience by providing critical athlete support and recruiting.

The Zoning Commission of the City of Boston hereby gives notice, in accordance with Chapter 665 of the Acts of 1956, as amended, that a virtual public hearing will be held

on December 10, 2025, at 9:10 A.M., in connection with Special Order No. 16, filed by the City of Boston Planning Department. Said Special Order would allow the Zoning Commission to adopt a zero percent increase to the Linkage Policy for a period of one year beginning January 1, 2026.