GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION
OVERLAY DISTRICT (GCOD), article 32 zoning
The City of Boston adopted a Groundwater Conservation Overlay District (GCOD), Article 32 zoning, in sections of the City to protect wood pile foundations of buildings from being damaged by lowered groundwater levels. The purposes of this article are to:
Not sure if you're in the GCOD? Click on the image below.
Still not sure? Please visit the Boston Water & Sewer Commission (BWSC) GCOD page HERE.
- Prevent the deterioration of and, where necessary, promote the restoration of, groundwater levels in the city of Boston
- Protect and enhance the city's historic neighborhoods and structures, and otherwise conserve the value of its land and buildings
- Reduce surface water runoff and water pollution
- Maintain public safety
Not sure if you're in the GCOD? Click on the image below.
Still not sure? Please visit the Boston Water & Sewer Commission (BWSC) GCOD page HERE.
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Any applicant seeking a building permit for a proposed project within the GCOD shall be subject to the requirements of this article where such Applicant seeks:
- The erection or extension of any structure, where such new structure or extension will occupy more than fifty (50) square feet of lot area
- The erection or extension of any structure designed or used for human occupancy or access, mechanical equipment, or laundry or storage facilities, including garage space, if such construction involves the excavation below grade to a depth equal to or below eight (8) feet above Boston City Base (other than where such excavation is necessary for, and to the extent limited to, compliance with the requirements of this article)
- To Substantially Rehabilitate any structure
- Any paving or other surfacing of lot area
Citation for Article 32 requires the applicant to accomplish BOTH of the following items to be deemed in compliance.
Groundwater Recharge System
- The design and installation of a groundwater recharge system capable of capturing 1” of precipitation over the impervious area of the lot.
- The designed system must be submitted to the Boston Water & Sewer Commission (BWSC) for review, comment, and approval.
- For more details on the BWSC site plan requirements please visit HERE.
- Once the system is approved, BWSC will then issue an, “ARTICLE 32 COMPLIANCE ONLY: GROUNDWATER STORAGE & RECHARGE” approval letter. NOTE: See example below.
- A copy of the letter will be provided to the Applicant, the Inspectional Services Department, the Boston Groundwater Trust (BGwT), the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), and the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA).
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Certification of No Harm
- The applicant must provide certification that the Proposed Project will result in no negative impact on groundwater levels within the lot in question or adjacent lots.
- The no harm certification is submitted in the form of a letter stamped by a professional engineer registered in Massachusetts. NOTE: See example below.
- The applicant must provide a copy of the no harm letter to the Inspectional Services Department, the Boston Groundwater Trust, the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- If the project is subject to Article 80 review a copy of the no harm letter must be provided to the Boston Planning and Development Agency and the Boston Groundwater Trust.
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The certification, together with the drawings and specifications for the Applicant's proposed rainwater infiltration system, shall be submitted by the Applicant with the Applicant's notice of appeal, and it shall state the substance of the facts and opinions upon which it is based and a summary of the grounds for each opinion. In this regard, the Applicant bears the specific burden of demonstrating that the Proposed Project will not result in a negative impact on groundwater levels within the lot or adjacent lots.
An Applicant's compliance with Subsection (a) of this Section 32-6 in itself will not be deemed to be evidence of the Applicant's compliance with Subsection (b) of this Section 32-6.
For more details on the ZBA process please visit HERE.
An Applicant's compliance with Subsection (a) of this Section 32-6 in itself will not be deemed to be evidence of the Applicant's compliance with Subsection (b) of this Section 32-6.
For more details on the ZBA process please visit HERE.
Image Courtesy of the Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD)
The ZBA will not approve the Conditional Use Permit before receiving both the BWSC approval and no harm letters. Failure to provide the approval letters prior to the hearing date will result in project deferment.
Please remember that no building permit will be issued by ISD until the zoning requirements are satisfied, so it is good to start early on resolving groundwater issues and getting a date before the ZBA. Depending on the backlog at the ZBA, this process can take a couple of months. If your project requires other zoning relief, the GCOD requirements will be dealt with at the same time as those requirements.
Once completed both letters are emailed (prior to the ZBA hearing) to ISD at isdboardofappeal@boston.gov and the BGwT at csimonelli@bgwt.org.
Please remember that no building permit will be issued by ISD until the zoning requirements are satisfied, so it is good to start early on resolving groundwater issues and getting a date before the ZBA. Depending on the backlog at the ZBA, this process can take a couple of months. If your project requires other zoning relief, the GCOD requirements will be dealt with at the same time as those requirements.
Once completed both letters are emailed (prior to the ZBA hearing) to ISD at isdboardofappeal@boston.gov and the BGwT at csimonelli@bgwt.org.
For questions or additional guidance please contact Christian Simonelli, Executive Director, at csimonelli@bgwt.org.