Inner Core Committee (ICC)

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

May 17, 2024 - Spring Legislative Breakfast

May 2023:

• The ICC met in May to work plan for the next fiscal year and hear from speakers about diversity, equity, and inclusion in planning and related work. We were joined by Charnelle Hicks-Gungor and Jordan Exantus of CHPlanning, who presented the Equity in Zoning Guide recently released by the American Planning Association. Brianna Aloisio Savage of YW Boston then shared information about the Parity on Board bill, which would require that the composition of each appointed public board and commission to broadly reflect the general public of the Commonwealth, racially, ethnically, and by gender. It also asks for transparency, data collection, and reporting of membership. To kick off the community exchange of local efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, Denise Molina Capers, Esq., Director of Racial and Social Justice for the City of Somerville, shared her work.
  • Equity in Zoning Policy Guide
  • Elliot - Zoning Equity Workshop
  • Parity on Board Overview
  • Gender and Racial Diversity on Public Boards Fact Sheet

March 2023:

• The ICC met on March 15 to hear a legislative update from MAPC’s Government Affairs Director Leah Robins and learn about technical assistance with Section 3A compliance and other work. The meeting included presentations from MAPC’s Technical Assistance Program Director Andrea Harris-Long and Chief of Neighborhood Development Karina Oliver-Milchman, as well as CHAPA’s MBTA Communities Engagement Manager Lily Link. The bulk of the meeting was spent discussing local 3A compliance efforts, including zoning strategies and challenges.
  Presentation Slides

January 2023:

• The January ICC meeting focused on the intersection between decarbonization, building electrification, and air quality. Members were joined by Dr. Jon Levy, Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Health at the BU School of Public Health, and Talia Fox, Sustainability Manager with the Town of Arlington. Discussion focused on options for electrification, indoor air pollution, and building codes.

November 30, 2022 - Legislative Breakfast

• In November, the ICC was joined by legislators to discuss the connection between affordable housing and economic development, investments in a cleaner public transit system, the Work and Family Mobility Act, and downtown revitalization to bring people back to main streets. Both Senator Brendan Crighton and State Representative Christine Barber shared on housing, transportation, and the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act.

November 2, 2022  - ICC Multifamily Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities

• The ICC was joined by Nate Carlucci and Chris Kluchman to learn about the final guidelines and requirements for compliance with Section 3A of MGL Chapter 40A. The meeting covered the timeline for compliance, zoning requirements, revisions made to the guidelines as of October 21, 2021, and upcoming tools and technical assistance. ICC members saw a preview of the compliance model and were provided information on grants available through the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, DHCD, EEA, and MAPC’s Technical Assistance Program.

September 21, 2022 - Field Visit:

• ICC members met in the City of Chelsea for a field visit to the Cool Block project, a block in the City surrounded by Congress Avenue, Willow Street, Highland Street, and Maverick Street. Members met at the lot for breakfast and to hear a presentation from Alex Train, Chelsea’s Director of Housing and Community Development, and Bianca Navarro Bowman, GreenRoots’ Climate Justice Organizer. Members learned about the project’s financing, public support, and lessons learned from this success. Next, the ICC took a walking tour of the block and participated in a Q&A.