The Visioning Process at Porter Square and Beacon Street

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a visioning process?
A community-oriented process where local residents, community leaders, business owners, and property owners, along with city planners gather to develop a collective vision for the community and create a plan for future development in their neighborhood.

Why is it important?
Community involvement throughout the visioning process is essential.  It helps the City to understand the needs, strengths and opportunities from the community's perspective and enables the development of effective policies and programs to realize the community vision. Process outcomes may include potential rezoning of key parcels, infrastructure needs identification, business development support, and community growth.

How is it done?

1. Kick off meeting: City staff presents relevant community data, background information, and explains the importance of producing a common vision for the community.
2. Planning: City staff incorporates the community's input and refines a visioning document. Key organizing principles include:
   1. facilitate development in opportunity areas
   2. respect transition between commercial and residential areas
   3. balance circulation amenities
   4. ensure design quality and compatibility
   5. provide greater certainty to property owners and abutters
   6. encourage sustainability development
3. Feedback: workshop with proposed ideas is presented to the community
4. Visioning document is refined with community input.
5. Presentation to the Planning Board

Who is involved in the visioning process?
Residents, business owners, community, and City OSPCD staff. 

For more information, contact:
Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development
City of Somerville
617-625-6600 ext. 2500