A central focus of the meeting was the approval of a five-story mixed-use building on Dorchester Avenue, which will offer 46 residential units, ground floor retail space, and below-grade parking for up to 33 vehicles. Despite the need for variances related to parking and building height, the development received support from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, the Laborers’ Union, and the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA).

Another major project approved was the construction of a 36-unit multifamily structure with a cafe on the ground floor on Geneva Avenue. The board addressed concerns about the number of three-bedroom units and the size of the rooftop green space, ultimately approving the project, which will include 6 IDP affordable units, amounting to 16.6% of the total.

The meeting also saw the approval of a proposal for a new community center on Westville Street, spearheaded by the Lewis Peace Institute. The project, intended to serve families affected by murder, trauma, grief, and loss, garnered strong support from city officials and community members who had personal experiences with the Institute’s work.

In the residential space, a proposal on Colonial Avenue to convert a three-family building to a four-family building was ultimately denied due to concerns about the parking configuration and the loss of green space. The board called for an alternative parking design as the current tandem parking arrangement raised doubts about maneuverability.

The meeting addressed concerns about accessibility and affordable housing in various projects. A case on New Market Square was deferred pending additional parking approval, and a project on Callender Street was deferred due to building code concerns. Both deferrals were scheduled for later dates, allowing the applicants to address the pending issues.

A discussion revolved around a development project that included a request for a reduction in the number of required affordable housing units. The board debated the proposal and eventually made a motion for approval with several provisos, including window compliance, the inclusion of one affordable housing unit, and having the plans reviewed by the Boston Disabilities Commission.

The board also approved a Conditional Use Permit application for Berklee College of Music to use a space for classroom and dance studio purposes. The proposal, met with no opposition during the community process, aims to operate the space seven days a week.

A change in occupancy for a previously approved restaurant space to six residential units was discussed, with the proponents arguing that the change would align with the neighborhood’s configuration. The proposal included a large open multipurpose space for additional home office use in the basement. The Bay Village Neighborhood Association expressed concerns, but the Mayor’s Office and Neighborhood Services deferred to the board, which ultimately approved the project.

The approval of a video design for a project was followed by the discussion of a new project on Westville Street. Clementina Sheridan, CEO of the Lewis Peace Institute, presented the proposal for a center to serve families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss. The Institute’s growth since its founding 31 years ago was highlighted, and the project received strong support from various city officials, including the Mayor’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office, as well as from community members. The board voted to approve the project.