West Roxbury is unique with many different kinds of homes: single-family, multi-family, condos, and apartments. We used to have trailer parks too, but the property owners were bought out by developers for apartments.

The Planning Department traditionally established zoning standards for businesses and neighborhoods. The standard for the West Roxbury neighborhood was a single-family home. Variances were sought when neighbors wanted additions or structural changes made to their homes. This often involved controversy with neighborhood input and public meetings. The new allowances were sometimes not granted with abutters support.

Boston does need more housing. Developers, many of whom are from West Roxbury, are ready to build, demolish, convert and improve. Time is money and building delays expensive. The multi-family designation offers rapid development with the builder’s “as-of-right” to alter a single-family home in a multi-family zone without neighborhood discussion.

Using Planning Department regulations for alterations to a single-family home is currently a slow process, involving requirements for building height and size requirements. The multi-family development allows the as-of-right to build without restrictions from neighbors. A multi-family home property can be developed in the space of any single-family home property. This will change the historic character of West Roxbury’s neighborhoods.

We have been presented the Planning Department’s clear intention to change our zoning status from single-family requiring variances, to multi-family, which is as-of-right building standard. We have an individual agency to weigh this rezoning proposal carefully. Our representatives are listening for our thoughts.

We are in a highly competitive society yet West Roxbury has no high school and no independent senior center and no ombudsman.

Ruth Guarino

West Roxbury

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