The Petition, referred on February 3, 2021, Docket #0296, for a special law re: An Act Relative to The Boston Landmarks Commission, the committee submitted a report recommending that the home rule petition ought to pass in a new draft.
TUCKER Number 0296, the Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred on February 3rd, 2021, number 0296 petition for a special law relative to an act. An act relative to the Boston Landmarks Commission, submits a report recommending that the home rule petition ought to pass in a new draft. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The chair now recognizes Chair Lydia Edwards, chair of the Committee on Governance Operations. Chair Edwards, the floor is yours. Thank you very much. The committee held a hearing on February 8th, as well as working sessions on February 18th and September 8th, 2021. This docket would amend Section two of Chapter seven seven, two of the Acts of 1975, basically a landmark step in defining law of the state of Massachusetts. It would allow for local resources to have historical significance in the community to be designated as landmarks. Right now, it essentially requires a certain significance at a state level beyond our local hearts and minds and significance. And this would allow for us on the ground in our neighborhoods to really identify things that mean something special to us as a landmark. We had a really good hearing, a lot of which was more concerned about whether this could be used as a defensive tool to stop development and reality. We wanted to make sure it was a proactive tool to really celebrate our diversity, celebrate what makes each one of our neighborhoods a little different, and to acknowledge that diversity and to really encourage people on the ground to be part of that conversation celebrating our history. Just wanted to note who some folks who came out to testify and I apologize for not noting this was led by our Councilor Bock, and I want to appreciate her. Not only did she lead this, but she also came up with a compromise legislation that I think everyone could come together on, saying we're going to be able to value our neighborhoods and also still grow our neighborhoods. But just calling out some people who came and testified at all of the hearings called Specter, the Environment Commissioner, Rosenthal , the executive director of the Landmarks Commission, Lynn Millage, who is chair of the Democrat Commission as well. Also, I want to thank Greg Basile from the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. Adam Hundley as well from the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, Paul Stankey from the Director of Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia came over to explain some of their landmarks, processes and of course, Greg Geller, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance. I'm going to turn this now over to Councilor Bok, but I do recommend that we pass this matter. I think we've had robust conversation and this is a perfect balance of preserving, but also celebrating and growing our city. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. The chair now recognizes the district council from Beacon Hill Councilor Kenzie Box, the floor is yours. Thank you so much, Mr. President. And thank you, Chairwoman Edwards. She summarize it well. But, you know, I think a number of colleagues were at our initial hearing, and one of the balances that we really wanted to strike was this is not aimed at being a sort of cudgel to block development. It is a question of giving Boston the right to protect its history in the way that, frankly, every other major city that we talk to in the in the States and also as close as across the river in Cambridge is able to do. So it's just making that significance level for landmarks able to be related to local stuff. And it was really great to be able to work with them both. Our Greg's Greg Vassell on the real estate board side and Gaylor on the Preservation Alliance side to think about, you know, how do we do this in a way that's meaningful? But that also doesn't penalize sort of projects that are currently underway and put them into any kind of like double jeopardy kind of situation where they thought that they were operating under one set of rules and then it shifted. And so we did end up kind of coming up with a compromise that that will ensure that projects that are already in the process in various ways are not sort of suddenly being subjected to a different standard on the landmarks front. And I'm pleased that at our last working session, all the stakeholders expressed that they were comfortable with where we had landed. So this is definitely one of those like the legislative process. It actually works sort of things. And obviously the next step will be to go up to the State House. But I would be very grateful if colleagues would support this today. And I think it's a reasonable step to take to just make sure that we can we in Boston, when we know something's really significant to us or have all the tools at our disposal. So thank you, Mr. President. Thank you very much. Councilor BLOCK, who would anyone else like to speak on this matter? It's after nine six, seeing no takers. Councilor Edwards, chair of the Committee on Government Operations, and Councilor Bock, the lead sponsor. Seek, accept, seek acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 0296 in a new draft. All those in favor, please indicate by saying I oppose. Nay, the ayes have it. The docket has passed. Congratulations. I'd now like to ask Councilor Baker to please take over the rostrum for docket. But as he does that, Mr. Clerk, could you read docket. 04410441 Councilor Edwards and who offered the following? The Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred on March 17, 2021. Docket number 0441 ordinance relative to the investments of the City Treasury submits a report recommending that the ordinance to pass in a new draft.