General Membership Meeting – January 6, 2025

President and Host: Bill Walczak
Vice President: Eileen Boyle
Corresponding Secretary: Elizabeth Doyle
IT Manager: Taufiq Dhanani
Treasurer: Des Rohan
Minutes: Doreen Miller
Guest Speaker: Andrew Flynn from Copper Mill Development Company
Number in attendance: ~ 20 in person; 39 on Zoom

Administrative Business

• The December Minutes were approved.
• The treasurer reported $15,991.26 in the account as of 11/30. This reflects payment for the mural and does not include a $2,500 donation from Eversource received in December.

Wish List Ideas from Members for 2025

• We want to influence the upcoming elections by determining which issues we would like to see debated among candidates.
• We need to decide how best to spend the incoming monetary donation from Copper Mill. We should create a timeline and budget for expenditures. Committees need to submit their budgets for 2025.
•  We should give out a CSHCA informational gift package to new residents.
• We should create a Main Street program and hire a director. We are the only section without a Main Streets program.
• We need to explore ways to get the city to pay better attention to our needs and concerns.
• We should create a Dorchester Chorus open to everyone to help build community.
• We need to connect with other neighborhood groups with regards to the new proposed zoning law changes.
• We need to redefine our goals and demands with the city for what we would like to see for zoning in our neighborhood.
• We need to demand a return to the city providing basic services and ongoing scheduled maintenance. Residents should report issues that need attention to the 311 service.
• We should create a spreadsheet that consolidates information on local planning and the Morrissey Commission so we can see who is doing what.
• We should document our community vision and process for areas like Glover’s Corner and community meetings with UMB.
• We should push for the establishment of a state “311” system to report issues within state purview.
• We need more green initiatives like more trees and green spaces, clean up our local waters, and institute an actual plastic bag ban in Boston.
• We would like to see Dorchester history emphasized and highlighted with physical things and improvements in the area.
• We would like to see the city establish and enforce codes for Airbnbs and short-term rentals (STR) in our area. Many properties listed for STR are not owner occupied (as required) and are essentially operating as hotels, impacting available housing stock and fundamentally changing the dynamics of individual streets where they are located.

C-11 Police Report (Officer Keaney)

• The new commander at C-11 was introduced: Captain Steven Sweeney, who urged members to call 911 for matters that demand an urgent response. Calls are prioritized according to the greatest danger and urgency.
• Thank you to CSHCA for the $750 donation for the 24^th annual C-11 Christmas Toy Drive and party.
  • Around 100 kids attended.
  • They were able to help out 15 families.
• Between December 12-18, there were 4 car break-ins in the Romsey, Sydney Street area. Three of the cars were left unlocked. Items that were taken include: a wallet, a purse, $100, golf shoes and equipment. Be sure to lock your vehicles and leave nothing of value in your cars.
• The civil service exam to become a police officer is upcoming.
• Questions from members asking for further information include the following incidents that were posted on social media:
  • On 12/31 at 2:15 an altercation with bats took place at the corner of Castle Rock Street and Caspian Way.
  • On Sunday, 01/05, at 10 AM, an assault took place on Tuttle Street and Savin Hill Avenue.
  • The police have no information at this time and will look into both incidents. Many times people will post incidents to social media but not make a police report.
• Requests from members to the police include:
  • Needing police patrols in the summer down at McConnell Park at night. There is a new group of recruits out of the academy who will be in vans to respond to areas of concern. The current focus is on areas with violent crime.
  • Following up on complaints that policemen on construction detail are not paying attention to traffic and safety issues, are on their phones, etc. They will look into it.
  • Certain intersections are dangerous and have frequent car accidents. The police will monitor the situation.

Special Guest Andrew Flynn from Copper Mill Development Company

• This Boston-based company has taken over the development along Morrissey Boulevard.
• Andrew grew up in the neighborhood and considers himself a local.
• He claims they have been meeting with constituents and stakeholders over the past months and that their plans have not been fully developed yet.
• He holds the original CSHCA Master Plan in high esteem.
• He plans to start with residential development at 75 Morrissey first and move forward piecemeal with the other properties.
• He wants to be mindful of the surrounding ecosystem and find ways to improve it.
• He would like to address the current housing shortages keeping in mind where density makes sense and what impact a development will have on the adjacent neighborhoods.
• He is open to discussion.

Committee Reports

• Government Affairs Committee (GAC) (Jake)
  • Update on the Morrissey Commission – The GAC will not accept mediocrity on the waterfront.
  • The committee hopes to work with the planning department on ideas for the future development for the Glover’s Corner area. Jake presented their ideas via a slide show.
    • The original plan from 5/5/2019 was discussed.
    • Issues from this plan include:
      • Insufficient Infrastructure
        • Traffic overwhelms this area already without additional residents.
        • Trains are infrequent and operational hours limited.
        • There are no concrete plans by the MBTA to improve Red Line timing and hours based on future growth.
        • There is no comprehensive planning for water, electricity and other impacts.
      • Fake green space – a street with trees does not constitute green space.
      • No sense of place – the plan is full of generic block style high rises that could be any city. It does not fit with the character of our neighborhood.
      • Planning was never finished.
        • Planning was abandoned during the pandemic.
        • There are tentative plans for Q2 2025 with on record support from BPDA Director Jemison and Kairos Shen.
        • There is no concrete start date.
      • Ideas from the committee include:
        • Build smartly.
          • Push for infrastructure planning and accountability.
          • Build all triple deckers, or
          • Have triple deckers mixed with commercial space?
        • Create a sense of place. The development should fit in with the architectural style of the neighborhood.
        • Incorporate real green space with planned parks and open areas for neighbors to use. A street with trees is not green space.
    • There is concern that Glover’s Corner will incorporated into the proposed Squares and Streets plan.
    • We need to push for keeping the integrity and character of our neighborhoods.
    • Next steps are:
      • Convert ideas into a draft plan at the next GAC meeting on Wednesday, January 15, at 7 PM on Zoom (link on the CSHCA website calendar).
      • Review ideas with Fields Corner Civic, Harbor Point and other associations.
      • Meet with BPDA and chief planner.
      • Mount a potential campaign with a call to action to finish the plan for Glover’s Corner based on CSHCA principles.
    • Other concerns that were voiced include:
      • There is a substation at the end of Dewar Street that is being expanded. Residential units should be kept away from this area.
      • Get the city to start planning comprehensively.
      • Our zoning code is not being followed resulting in inappropriate and overdevelopment. Southie is a prime example of this.
      • If family housing is planned, will there be a need for a school?
• Planning Committee (Kristine Hoag)
  • Action steps to address a tone-deaf ZBA were discussed at the December Planning meeting.
    • The ZBA approved 91% of all projects last year.
    • Meeting notes from the ZBA do not accurately reflect what when on in the meeting.
    • The Committee came up with 5 talking points when addressing the ZBA:
      • The Columbia Savin-Hill Civic Association is pro-development because we agree Boston is in a housing crisis. We are supporting over 10,000 new units of housing in our district and will support even more housing if it is sustainable and supported by infrastructure investments. 

2. We want a diverse, livable city with open space, effective transportation options, trees, and a sense of place and community, but we unfortunately have seen no plans for infrastructure improvements to support more housing and development. MassDOT has failed to coordinate comprehensive planning as required by the original vision and law for the K-Circle Morrissey Commission. The BPDA has agreed to, but not followed through on comprehensive planning for the area. The city and state continue to break promises and ignore Dorchester. 

3. We have no confidence in Mayor Wu’s ZBA because of the ZBA’s single-minded focus on building regardless of environmental or infrastructure impact. In 2024, the ZBA approved over 95% of requests on the first hearing, and 100% of requests in the long-term. 

4. History will not judge Mayor Wu’s ZBA kindly as the ZBA transforms Boston into Houston, a city notorious for anything-goes zoning. We have seen single-minded development in Boston previously and it resulted in the West End.

5. We hope the ZBA or individual members of it find the courage to demand better from developers for future generations. If the ZBA does not change, we the citizens will work tirelessly to bring change.

• We need to band together with certain groups and associations across the city that are taking on the Article 80 changes.
• Member comments on the ZBA and its processes include:
  • Residents are ignored while developers get a free rein.
  • We need a city audit on apartment availability.
  • It was proposed that the CSHCA take a vote of no confidence on Wu’s leadership on ZBA and the BPDA reform.
  • The ZBA approving projects the community opposes is a sham and is insulting and disrespectful to the community.
  • Disband the ZBA. If a property cannot conform to the existing zoning codes, it should not be built.
  • When a housing project is under a certain number of units, to claim it is approved due to the housing need is ridiculous.
• Vote on 35 Sudan Street proposal to change the occupancy from 3 to 4 family by adding a 2-bedroom rental unit in the basement.
  • The unit already exists but has not been legalized.
  • It will not change the exterior, only window wells will be added at the ground level.
  • No parking is provided.
  • There were no abutter comments.
  • This is the same developer for 20 Hinckley Street.
  • Sprinklers will be added at minimum for the unit and if required for the whole building.
  • Members voted to oppose the project: Support: 4, Oppose: 17

• Dorchester North Committee meets this Thursday, January 9, 7 PM on Zoom (link on the CSHCA calendar).
• Safety Committee – nothing to report.

Other News – The Savin Hill Mural at McKennas will have new lighting by March.