The most discussion centered on Somerville High School’s security measures. The Board examined a new visitor entrance designed to enhance security. This entrance would be open for students during morning arrival times and secured throughout the school day to control visitor access. The design includes a ground floor entrance leading visitors directly into the main office, with minor reconfigurations of guidance offices. A School Resource Officer (SRO) will manage the process. Compliance with stormwater management requirements and maintaining accessible routes from the adjacent parking lot were also emphasized.

Another application related to the high school involved site upgrades, including a schematic level drawing submitted as part of the referendum submission process. The project is classified as full-depth reconstruction, potentially qualifying for state funding under certain Department of Education conditions. Current parking configurations include a student lot with 109 spaces and a staff lot with 124 spaces, but the student lot lacks ADA-compliant spaces. The status of the referendum scheduled for March 2025 was a point, as the project’s continuation depends on its outcome. The discussion stressed that any expansions beyond the existing project footprint would incur additional costs to the district or taxpayers.

Following the school-related discussions, the Board turned its attention to the proposed fence ordinance. The chairwoman acknowledged past discussions about conditional use standards for corner lot fences, which had conflicting opinions about acceptable fence heights. A proposal suggested raising the height limit to 48 inches, while another recommended a 36-inch limit based on safety standards documentation. A suggestion to reduce the height to 30 inches sparked debate regarding pedestrian and vehicle visibility. Additionally, the Board considered limiting plant heights within the right-of-way to a maximum of eight feet to ensure visibility. However, concerns about maintaining street trees with branches above this height were raised, given typical street tree plantings do not accommodate such growth.

The conversation also included procedural aspects of the ordinance amendments. There were suggestions to clarify language in Section 11 117 i1 about height restrictions for structures near street intersections. A recommendation to add diagrams to reduce confusion was noted. Modifications to subsection two to include “planting or other visual obstruction” alongside “no fence or shrub” were considered minor but anticipated further input from the Board. The role of the Architectural Review Board (ARB) in reviewing applications and providing recommendations to the Planning Board was discussed, with an emphasis on maintaining procedural clarity and ensuring fair treatment for corner lot homeowners.

Transitioning to another agenda item, Mayor Brian Gallagher introduced a proposal for a new signalized crosswalk on West End Avenue, near the entrance to Immaculate Conception School. The proposal aims to address safety concerns due to the lack of crosswalks between Mida and Mountain streets. The existing midblock crosswalk is inadequately positioned between the school’s driveways, prompting the Department of Transportation (DOT) to consider relocating it slightly west. Additional safety features, such as traffic calming measures, were discussed, with the Planning Board asked to endorse the crosswalk improvements. A motion was made to recommend that the council draft a resolution in support of the changes.

During the public comment session, resident Rich O’Neal suggested adding two public citizens to the ARB to address representation concerns without overstepping existing member roles. The intent behind including public members was to enrich the decision-making process with community input.