USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1954 > Part 20
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1953
1 Mary Battit, 56a Elm Street
1950
Kdgn.
Marguerite M. Driscoll, 20 Benton Road
1921
Asst.
° Mrs. Winona Neal, 10 Morrison Place
1953
MARTIN W. CARR SCHOOL Atherton Street
4
Helen Hession, 30 Merrill Road, Watertown
1924
6
Daniel N. Macero, 143 College Avenue
1950
5
Margaret M. Brennan, 15 Waldo Street
1917
5
¿Robert A. Leahy, 34r North Street
1953
5
John M. Russell, 11 Cambria Street
1950
4
° Patricia A. McSorley, 66 Lowell Street
1954
3 Alice M. Cumming, 117 School Street
1917
2 Mildred L. Shanahan, 68 Avon Street
1933
2 Mary E. Flanley, 4 Avon Street, Wakefield
1915
1 Eleanor Rose, 158 Summer Street
1942
1 Margaret Morgan, 123 Highland Avenue
1931
Kdgn.
Mabel R. Ingham, 62 Central Street
1912
Asst.
Mrs. Marion J. Mitchell, 10 Daniels Street, Arlington
1950
ENOCH R. MORSE SCHOOL Summer and Craigie Streets
Service
John W. Healey, Principal, 214 Powder House Boulevard
1931
6 Euince F. Lanigan, 161 Lowell Street
1942
6
Agnes C. O'Brien, 16 Prescott Street
1941
5 John P. Joyce, 15 Prospect Hill Avenue
1951
4 Margaret B. O'Hare, 24 Essex Street, Belmont
1949
3 Marjorie M. O'Brien, 22 Hancock Street, Brookline
1949
Grade
Michael B. Dewire, Principal, 600 Washington Street, Brookline
1929
6
Dorothy L. Lundgren, 93 Lowden Avenue 1915
321
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1954-Continued
Name and Residence
Began
Grade
Service
3 °Patricia Bellini, 61 Atherton Street
1954
2 Mrs. Ruth Kaup, 58 Central Street
1946
2 Ruth G. Harrington, 1 Carver Street
1930
1 Catherine E. Frazer, 95 Heath Street
1946
1
1 H. Jeannette O'Brien, 70 Richfield Road, Arlington
1947
Kdgn. Lucille Moseley, 199 Renfrew Street, Arlington
1942
Asst. °Mrs. Alice A. Sheehan, 33 Beacon Street 1953
GEORGE O. PROCTOR SCHOOL Hudson Street
Joseph S. Hawthorne, Principal, 11 Everett Street Concord
1915
Rem, Read. A. Teresa Diotaiuti, 170 Lowell Street
1942
6
Andrew A. Mountain, Jr., 12 Benton Road 1952
5
Nerio Restani, 24 Miller Street
1951
4 Anne B. Mullin, 33 Allen Street, Arlington
1930
3
° Ann P. Lynch, 73 Boston Street
1954
2
Mary E. McCarthy, 101 Central Street
1926
2
Mrs. Helen F. Martignette, 427 Broadway
1954
1 Mrs. Ethel M. Ziegel, 8 Foskett Street
1934
Kadn. Claire M. O'Brien, 59 Boston Street
1941
GEORGE W. DURELL SCHOOL Beacon and Kent Streets
3
Mary A. Dewire, 48 Central Street
1939
4
Mildred I. O'Meara, 272 Farrington Street, Wollaston
1946
2
°Mrs. Helen F. Crotty, 52 Highland Road
1953
1 Mary A. Driscoll, Cadet, 11 Greene Street
1954
MARK F. BURNS SCHOOL Cherry Street, near Highland Avenue
4
M. Constance MacDonald, 74 Belmont Street
1941
3
V. Maria DelTorto, 275 Highland Avenue 1943
1950
2
Martha Stanton, 754 Broadway
1951
2 Winifred Crowley, Cadet, 410 Medford Street, Somerville
1953
1
Mrs. Margaret K. White, 87 Hudson Street
1952
1
Helen Constant, 44 Mansfield Street
1951
Kdgn. Helen T. Brooks, 4 Spring Hill Terrace
1946
BENJAMIN G. BROWN SCHOOL Willow and Josephine Avenue
6
Gertrude E. Macdonald, 50 Bromfield Road
1926
6 William F. Kelly, 55 Madison Street
1953
5
° Edward G. Murray, 21 Prospect Hill Avenue
1954
4
°Mrs. Margaret Healey, 214 Powder House Boulevard
1940
3 Helen M. Lawrence, 433a Broadway
1923
2 Ruth Kelley, 250 Willow Avenue
1931
1
Andrea Driscoll, 545 Fellsway West, Medford
1944
1 Anne E. Waters, 243 Summer Street
1940
Kdgn.
Elizabeth V. Colbert, 89 Ripley Road, Cohasset
1933
Asst.
Anna M. Burke, 1616 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Suite 3
1946
HERBERT CHOLERTON SCHOOL Highland Avenue and Grove Street
1930
6
Edward L. Smith, Principal, 10 Francis Street Marion Allen, 38 Powder House Boulevard
1911
6 Margaret McLeod, 20 Grove Street
1923
1948
6 Perry Yanow, 44 Chamberlain Avenue, Revere
John W. Healey, Principal, 214 Powder House Boulevard
1931
4
*Mrs. Gertrude T. MacNamara, 383 Broadway
2 M. Virginia Jennings, Cadet, 119 Yorktown Street
1953
John W. Healey, Principal, 214 Powder House Boulevard
1931
3 Estelle Brennan, 38 Arborway, Jamaica Plain
William J. Crotty, Acting Principal, 52 Highland Road
322
ANNUAL REPORTS
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1954-Continued
Name and Residence
Began Service
Grade
5 ° Ernest Bennett, 92 Elm Street
1953
5 Anne M. Doherty, 49 Electric Avenue
1932
5 Raymond I. Rigney, 35 Nathaniel Road, Winchester
1949
5 *George H. Ellison, Cadet, 48 Stone Avenue
1954
Kdgn. Mrs. Margaret Grady, 34 Highland Avenue
1947
(WILLIAM H.) HODGKINS SCHOOL Holland Street
Edward L. Smith, Principal, 10 Francis Street
1930
4
Stella G. Bucknam, 7 Stowecroft Road, Arlington
1917
6
Helen B. Busher, 33 Bromfield Street 1943
6 John J. Madden, Cadet, 64 Vinal Avenue
1953
5
Carolyn E. Crockett, 38 Day Street
1923
5 Helen M. Merry, 119 College Avenue
1936
3
Gertrude O. Kohler, 24a Jackson Road
1931
3
Isabelle G. Porter, 36 College Avenue
1928
2
Mary M. Diskin, 33 Lexington Avenue
1938
2 Abbie M. Brown, 154 Morrison Avenue
1923
1
Doris F. Tomlinson, 9 Watson Street
1947
1
Helen B. Hesson, 64 Horne Road, Belmont
1930
1
Theresa M. Andrews, 225 Tremont Street
1952
Louise Gartland, 7 Craigie Circle, Cambridge
1926
Kdgn. Asst. Corinne A. Dillon, 57 Bromfield Road
1950
S. NEWTON CUTLER SCHOOL Powder House Boulevard near Raymond Avenue
6
Mary A. Ahern, 62 Curtis Street
1928
6
Mrs. Minnie E. Lougee, 75 Moorland Road, Scituate
1922
6 Gladys R. Clark, Lowell Road, Concord
1926
5
Alice A. Libbey, 36 College Avenue
1919
5
Eugene J. Hayes, 581 Fellswey West, Medford
1951
5
Eugenia Carver, 119 College Avenue
1922
4
Evelyn J. Bucknam, 7 Stowecroft Road, Arlington
1943
4
Mildred H. Lunt, 119 College Avenue
1926
4
Eliza I. Patterson, 59 Ossipee Road
1919
3
Mrs. Mary D. Manning, 15 Teele Avenue
1945
3
Eileen M. Dewire, 80 Kirkland Street, Cambridge
1950
3
E. Mildred Milner, 119 College Avenue
1920
3
° Alice W. Sullivan, 151 Beacon Street
1954
2 Alice J. McNally, 52 Vinal Avenue
1942
2
Pauline Emery, 36 College Avenue
1925
2
Nora F. Keniry, 6 Bailey Street
1941
2
Rose Santosuosso, Cadet, 63 Main Street
1953
1
Mrs. Nancy G. Higgins, 34 North Street
1950
1
*Muriel P. King, 148 Powder House Blvd.
1931
1
° Mrs. Sarah Talbot, 15 Teele Avenue Mildred M. Lougee, Gingerbread Hill, Marblehead
1928
1
Barbara Lee, 916 Broadway
1951
1
Eleanor E. Waldron, 135 Powder House Boulevard xAdeline Shinshiro, 69 Garfield Street, Cambridge
1919
Kdgn.
Catherine M. Hagan, 351 Washington Street
1943
Kdgn.
Katherine R. Austin, 34 Ware Street
1945
Asst.
Mrs. Mary E. Marquis, 576 Essex Street, Lynn
1950
Asst.
Mrs. Ada Mawhinney, 25 Walnut Street
1951
Asst.
Mrs. Alice B. Burkhart, 901 Broadway
1947
MARTHA PERRY LOWE SCHOOL Morrison Avenue near Grove Street
John W. Healey, Principal, 214 Powder House Boulevard 4
1931
Marion A. Cannon, 6 Cherry Street, Lexington
1928
4
Mrs. Katherine D. Millen, 108 Powder House Boulevard
1920
3 Clare A. Stanton, 754 Broadway
1945
3 Ruth Brooks, 441 Lowell Street, Lexington
1943
1954
1
1
Edward L. Smith, Principal, 10 Francis Street
1930
323
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1954-Continued
Name and Residence
Began® Service-
2 Elizabeth M. Sliney, 19 Garden Street, Cambridge
1925
2 ° Mrs. Grace I. O'Brien, 35 Conwell Avenue 1953
1 Selena G. Wilson, 30 Hall Avenue 1922
1 Helen J. Dervan, 46 Bates Avenue, Winthrop
1928
EVENING SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Thomas J. D. Horne, 357 Williams Street, Stoneham
CADETS
Term Expires September 1, 1955
Winifred Crowley, A.B. 410 Medford Street
Patricia Daly, B.S.Ed.
18 Maine Avenue
M. Virginia Jennings
545 Fellsway West, Medford
John J. Madden
64 Vinal Avenue
John A. McDonald
9 Lovell Street
Patricia A. Owens, B.S.Ed.
36 Ash Avenue
Rose Santosuosso
63 Main Street
Mary A. Driscoll
September 1, 1956
11 Greene Street
*George H. Ellison
48 Stone Avenue
SUPERVISORS AND SPECIAL TEACHERS SUPERVISOR OF ELEMENTARY GRADES
William J. Crotty, 52 Highland Road 1926
MUSIC
Paul O. Kelley, Director, 585 Broadway
1946
12-7 Arthur J. Bizier, 143 Park Drive, Boston 1953
6-1 Arthur F. Sullivan, 219 Beacon Street 1934
ART
Mrs. Elsie M. Guthrie, Director, 50 Bromfield Road
1919
PENMANSHIP
6-1 Ruth L. Whitehouse, Supervisor, 123 Highland Avenue
1915
SEWING
6-5 Mary Rhilinger, 48 Prince Street, Jamaica Plain 1926
6-5 Pia M. Fortini, 274 Willow Avenue 1930
6-5 Cornelia Dalaklis, 52 Linwood Street 1948
MANUAL ARTS
Melvin T. Carver, Supervisor, 247 Winthrop Street, Winthrop
1936
ATHLETICS
Charles A. Dickerman, Director, 68 Nichols Road, Cohasset 1925
324
ANNUAL REPORTS
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1954-Continued Name and Residence PHYSICAL INSTRUCTION
Began Service
John St. Angelo, Director, 109 Highland Avenue 1928
ATYPICAL
Edward M. McCarty, Supervisor, 48 Upland Road Winifred M. Ford, Educational Tester, 83 Pearson Road 1927
1939
#Dorothy M. Leighton, 148 Lovell Road, Watertown
1936
Mrs. Muriel H. Albanese, 7 Avon Street 1949
1953
°Mrs. Dorothy Merrifield, 84 Bay State Avenue "Mrs. Margaret E. Sullivan, 391 Broadway James Keefe, 108 Webster Street, Arlington
1936
Wilson E. Whittaker, 135 Walnut Street
1949
Elena Alberghini, 18 White Street, Arlington
1943
Susanne Lombardi, 8 Mount Pleasant Street
1946
Donald Jones, 12 Brown Street, Maynard Katherine E. Dooley, 18 Bagnel Street, Allston
1950
Ruth Buttery, 416r Washington Street
1946
°Mrs. Louise Gordinier, 3 Union Street
1953
: :
SIGHT SAVING
Alice M. Hayes, 181 Central Street : 1913
LIP READING
Marion C. Moran, 42 Montrose Street 1929
THRIFT
E. Bella Weisman, 78 Gibbs Street, Brookline 1921
Eva Palmer, Assistant, 24 Austin Street 1930
FIELD MUSIC
Bart E. Grady, Jr., 123 Highland Avenue
1945
AMERICANIZATION
Mary A. Whitney, Supervisor, 10 Dow Street
1916
PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED
Mrs. Blanche G. Crowell, 145 Highland Avenue 1928
Mrs. Madeleine Scammell, 216 Pleasant Street, Arlington 1951
AUDIOMETER
Helen A. Moran, 315 Alewife Brook Parkway
1919
SUPERINTENDENT AND SECRETARY
Everett W. Ireland, 18 Day Street
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
Leo C. Donahue, 108 Summer Street
1938
1948
325
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1954-Continued
Name and Residence
Service Began
CLERKS
Marion E. Marshall, 62 Highland Avenue Regina Truelson, 23 Blackrock Road, Melrose
Frances C. Geaton, 29 Aldrich Street
William E. Hogan, 12 Richardson Road, Newton Julia DiMaggio, 53 Main Street
Claire F. McAnneny, 33 Pearson Road
Eileen M. Mahoney, 14 Madison Street
Elizabeth E. Cassidy, 50a Powder House Boulevard
SUPERVISOR OF SCHOOL CAFETERIAS
° Dorothea G. Shanney, 33 Highland Road Mrs. Mary McNamara, Clerk, 8 Bowers Avenue
SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE James G. Hourihan, 225 Powder House Boulevard
VISITING TEACHER Estelle M. Walsh, 25 Adams Street, Arlington
CUSTODIAN SCHOOL COMMITTEE ROOMS Leo J. Callahan, 9 Spring Hill Terrace
MATRON SCHOOL COMMITTEE ROOMS
Mrs. Margaret M. Manning, 22 Berkeley Street
326
ANNUAL REPORTS
SCHOOL CUSTODIANS, DECEMBER, 1954
School
Name
Residence
High
George A. Sullivan
High
John Mullaney
High
Robert Siggens
High
Leonard C. Mallette
27 Rogers Ave.
High
Andrew J. Curran
52 Montrose St.
High
Joseph Galbo
81 Grant St.
High
Joseph L. Kearns
80 Fremont St.
High, Central Heating Plant
Thomas Burns
248 Summer St.
High, Central Heating Plant
High, Central
Heating Plant
Michael P. Harrington
John P. Driscoll
John J. Ronayne
37 Albion St.
Prescott
William J. Hickey
9 Aberdeen Rd.
Hanscom
Richard T. Sullivan
66 Gordon St.
Bennett
Edwin C. Lamkin
17 Grand View Ave.
Baxter
Harold F. Killam
5 Henry Ave.
Knapp
Leo Antoncecchi
30 Warwick St.
Perry
George Kelley
10 Nevada Ave.
Southern Jr. High
Michael J. Reilly
Southern Jr. High
William G. Hitch
393 Somerville Ave.
Southern Jr. High
Frank J. Boyle
36 Greenville St.
Glines
Elmer V. Santarlasci
229 School St.
Vocational
Francis Gormley
253 Broadway
Vocational
John F. Fonseca
43 Garrison Ave.
Vocational
Harold MacCorkle
113 Heath St. 7 Avon St.
Northeastern Jr. High
Fred Secard
139 Walnut St.
Northeastern Jr. High
Hugh F. McQuade
18 Arcadia Pk.
Northeastern Jr. High
John F. O'Connell
40 Concord Ave.
Northeastern Jr. High
Thomas Conley
14 Cedar St.
Forster
Forster Annex
Arthur F. Law
71 Park St.
Bingham
Walter W. Kennedy
508 Broadway
Carr
Joseph F. Kelley
86 Rogers Ave.
Morse
Stanley Pabian
3 Franklin Street
Proctor
Durell
Joseph Binari
47 Lowell St.
Burns
Anthony Liberatore
40 Curtis St., Reading
Brown
William Anderson
36 Rhode Island Ave.
Cholerton
Emilio P. Buccelli
16 Grant St.
Hodgkins
Cornelius Collins
49 Woods Ave.
Western Jr. High
Carl Marcotti
5 Derby St.
27 Pearson Rd.
33 Vernon St.
13 Cameron Ave.
Cutler
Thurston W. Buchan
22 Richdale Ave.
Cutler
Antonio Severino
53 Sunset Rd.
Lowe
Thomas Copithorne
23 Gordon St.
Cummings
John Kiley
122 Heath St.
Edgerly
John P. Lawn
38 Magnus Ave.
SCHOOL MATRONS
School
Name
Mrs. Margaret E. Burke Mrs. Marie Mahoney
Residence
High High
Dominick Benedetto
8 Parker Pl.
7 Lee St. 44 Montrose St.
High, Central Heating
Prescott
Grimmons
Austin Albanese
Frank Regan
74 Avon St.
Thomas J. Driscoll
20 Lincoln Parkway
Western Jr. High
Edward Buckley
George E. Babin
Western Jr. High
Western Jr. High
Harry Dangora
52 Thurston St.
275 Medford St. 11 Stone Ave. 126 Albion St.
102 Perkins St. 12 Dickinson St.
327
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO BUILDING ZONE ORDINANCE
The Honorable William J. Donovan Mayor of Somerville City Hall Somerville, Massachusetts
Dear Mayor Donovan:
We are pleased to transmit herewith a report outlining. proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance of Somerville. The preparation of this report has been a major part of our activity this year. Extensive background studies concerning conditions and trends in the City and Metropolitan area have been made, and these have been related to studies, reports, and experience in other communities. This project was initiated. following a request by the Board of Aldermen, which bore out the opinion of this Board that the twenty-five year old ordi- nance needed a thorough re-study.
The Board has come to the conclusion that much of the: present ordinance and map is still valid, although many details need revision. The report, however, proposes new elements of flexibility to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.
In releasing this report, the Board also wishes to set forth the program which, after consultation with representatives of the Board of Aldermen, it has established for the near future. As rapidly as possible, a draft of the text will be made available. for public distribution. Open meetings will then be held in various parts of the City, so that opportunity for citizen partici- pation will exist. After a review of the comments in relation to the basic purposes of the amendment, this Board will hold a public hearing. Following that hearing, a final report with the proposed amendment will be prepared for submission to the Board of Aldermen, who, in their turn, are required to hold a public hearing, prior to the adoption of the proposal.
The Board wishes to point out that its staff is ready to answer questions and receive suggestions from interested per- sons, and welcomes the opportunity for discussion with civic groups at their own meetings.
Respectfully submitted, HARRY P. BURDEN, Chairman SOMERVILLE PLANNING BOARD
328
ANNUAL REPORTS
SOMERVILLE PLANNING BOARD
HARRY P. BURDEN, Chairman
JOHN J. MOLLOY, Clerk
LAWRENCE CAPODILUPO
ROBERT D. DONAHUE
* FREDERICK J. RYAN EARL W. LANDRY
STAFF
ALAN McCLENNEN, Planning Director ROBERT MAYERSON, Junior Planner İMARY W. VISE, Junior Planner FREREDICK J. LUND, Planning Assistant-Draftsman MARY A. FORD, Secretary
* Term expired, June 15, 1954
Resigned
FOREWORD
The problem which Somerville faces in relation to zoning is comparable to that of many cities which adopted zoning in the 1920-1930 period. Two major changes, only barely recognized in 1925, have profoundly changed urban patterns.
In 1925, the cities or areas such as Somerville which lie just outside the "downtown" part of metropolitan districts were growing rapidly. (See "Planning Progress in Somerville.") The feeling of the time was that urban population would in- crease more or less steadily. Accordingly, every main street was visualized as a prospective shopping row or an apartment house district.
Actually, the population of Somerville has decreased since 1930 and a further decrease to 90,000 by 1970 has been estimated in State Department of Commerce studies.
A parallel and joint change, perhaps better considered as the cause of the other change, was the popularization of the automobile. When people were relieved of their absolute de- pendence upon the public transit systems, the main artery was no longer more convenient as a place to live, and the shopping center could replace the corner store, or ribbon business area.
Today, therefore, we find ourselves living with a 1925 ordinance restricting our use of land to patterns no longer pop- ular or economic. In the following pages, we have set forth our recommendations which we believe will produce an atmos- phere wherein new building and new investment will be at- tractive, and yet the benefits of the old may be retained.
329
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
I.
THE TEXT FORM
Changes in the laws under which zoning is carried out, and the interim character of the original text, make it desirable to add to the wording of the ordinance. The Original Zoning Enabling Act, Chapter 601 of the Statutes of 1920, was the basis upon which the Somerville Building Zone ordinance was founded. Twelve years of practice, however, showed a need for revision, and in 1933, a revised law was passed, which, among other things, described a bit more thoroughly the pur- poses of zoning. It was again revised in 1954. It is believed that the addition of a set of purposes taken from the statute will lead to a clearer understanding of the purposes of zoning, and will assist in a good administration.
The presently available version of the Ordinance was printed in 1936. It incorporates the original text, some amendments to the wording, and some amendments to the map by description. The placement of the various sections makes it difficult to follow. It would appear desirable to place all sections relating to building permits, certificates of occupancy, appeals and amendment in one part.
The section on the Board of Appeal needs a substantial revision. Alterations to the form of the section are recom- mended to clarify the exact spheres within which the Board operates. These would follow the statutory provisions and thereby distinguish between the interpretation of uncertain provisions and correction of errors, the granting of special ex- ceptions where the ordinance requires a decision, and the allowance of variance for hardship as related to a specific lot. The special exceptions on which the Board might be allowed to rule would be designed to make a more flexible ordinance, without allowing excessive change as a matter of right.
A completely new section on Amendment would relieve the person desiring an amendment from referring to the General Laws for guidance.
The interest of the Planning Board in the ordinance, as an element in the planning process, was clarified in the 1954 amendment by requiring that the Board be informed promptly of all appeals and decisions on appeals. We recommend also that the Planning Board, in addition to its statute responsibility to hold hearings on petitions, be specifically authorized to initiate amendments.
330
ANNUAL REPORTS RESIDENTIAL AREAS
11.
The description of uses in the various residential districts was well related to what existed at the time the Ordinance was passed. By and large, the areas devoted to two, three, and multi-family uses are reasonably established.
A major difficulty has been dealing with the desire of owners to convert single and two-family dwellings to three- family units. The number of cases of this type which have come before the Board of Appeal has totaled 300 over the past twenty-seven years and has been spread generally over the Residence A Districts. Many more such conversions seem to have occurred without official action. The Board of Appeals approved a substantial number of cases on the basis of hardship until 1946, when a special law was passed by the legislature to encourage the provision of additional housing. Many structures in Somerville are extremely well adapted to conversion, since they had very extensive third floor areas. It has resulted, however, in a substantial and unplanned change, with popula- tion changes occurring without added community facilities and parking areas being planned for. It is recommended that the Ordinance include limitations based on existing lot area pat- terns and dwellings so as to avoid overuse of this appeal technique.
To encourage new building and the replacement of obso- lete structures, it is recommended that the City include exceptions to the present two and three family construction umitation by authorizing limited apartment construction in Residence A and B areas. Also, the old uneconomic five-story limitation should be abandoned ir favor of a more flexible process allowing up to ten-story construction. In none of these cases should the bulk of building be allowed to exceed present attainable amounts. For example, a common dwelling type in a Residence B district is a 6-family, 3-story attached structure. Such a building, if built to the limits of the present restrictions, might have 6750 square feet of floor area on a lot of 5325 square feet, or 1.26 sq. feet of floor area for each square foot of lot. By allowing some such ratio of floor area to lot area to prevail, but allowing greater heights than now authorized, the light, air, and view for each dwelling unit would be substan- tially increased, and yet more yard space for play and parking would be available. Also, this would allow so-called garden apartments which, due to more efficient planning, would result in better provisions for recreation and parking.
33
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
PARKING FOR RESIDENCE
Another problem which can and must be partially overcome by revisions in the ordinance is that of parking. While the "'one side of the street" parking procedure at least organizes the situation and simplifies the plowing and sweeping work, the end objective should be to get the cars off the street. Three separate possibilities present themselves.
The first step would be to clarify the provisions relative to parking in residence areas. At the moment, it is not clear what the rights and duties of landowners are in relation to parking cars outdoors. Open air parking should be definitely allowed in the same manner and amount as garage parking, and at least one car space for every two families should be required with new construction.
There is a second method which would provide a frame- work whereby a landowner could petition the Board of Appeal for permission to rent parking space for private passenger cars. This could be restricted so that such parking areas would be adequately surfaced, landscaped, and fenced in a way that would fit into the residential community. The appeal procedure would give the abutters an opportunity to express themselves and any special restraints required of the landowner by the Board of Appeals can be set forth in exact terms for the specific case.
The third proposal is directed at aiding in the solution of parking problems in both business and residential areas as well as contributing toward the segregation of business and resi- dential areas. It is recommended that public parking of private passenger cars be allowed on any land contiguous with and up to 100 feet from a district zoned for business. Private enter- prise would thus be given the opportunity to solve its own parking problem, and at the same time could provide service to the adjacent residence area. By this means, the constant efforts to expand the business districts for parking, with the concurrent risk, which nearby residents wisely object to, that the area will ultimately be built on for business purposes, would be eliminated.
IV. PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES
One of the more difficult problems in Somerville is how to make sound use of many of the large dwellings which are left over from as far back as the last century. Many of these are
332
ANNUAL REPORTS
still structurally sound, and have many years of wear left in them. They are, however, obsolete in design and so must be changed if the most is to be made of their economic value. In certain locations, numerous properties have been acquired by professional men for residence and office use. Some are even used as office buildings by non-residents. This is authorized subject to limitations in the ordinance today, but the procedure should be clarified. We have done this.
Recent trends in the professions, particularly medical and dental, include the establishment of clinics where several specialists consolidate their activities under one roof. In most cases, these would not comply with the ordinance today, and should not be allowed in residence districts. While this type of operation is not seriously annoying to residence areas, it may well produce more traffic and parking than is desirable. We propose the allowance of such activities on a special permit basis, subject to requirements as to parking to prevent annoy- ance to the neighborhood.
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