The term IPOD stands for the Interim Planning Overlay District that has been established for the Fenway neighborhood. The boundaries are indicated on the map below. The IPOD process is put in place to rewrite the zoning law for the district. Any new projects proposed for district must meet the approval of the Planning Task Force before submittal to the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) for approval.

From Linda Harr, BRA Director of Planning and Zoning, July 9th, 1999: “The main purpose of the IPOD is to control uses that are currently allowed as of right and to assure a public process for any project proposed during the IPOD period while planning is being conducted and permanent zoning developed. ... One would have the right to seek an IPOD permit from the Board of Appeal to construct or expand a building or to conduct a new use, but the IPOD sets out standards in writing for the granting of any IPOD permit.”

The IPOD documents amend the Boston Zoning Code with an article including, but not limited to, following:

Statement of Purpose, Declaration of Need, Physical Boundaries, General Land Use Objectives, Interim Height Controls, Special Study Areas, Planned Development Areas, and a Transportation Master Plan.

What is the Fenway Planning Task Force?

The FPTF is the advisory committee that works with the BRA to develop the IPOD documents and maps. After public hearing and approval by the Zoning Commission, the FPTF works with the BRA to develop final zoning documents.

As of August 25th, the Task Force is proposed to be:

In the words of one Audubon Circle resident (IPOD meeting of Aug. 25th), “If I were Boston University, I would be very happy with the current task force.” BU and other institutions that want more parking and sub-standard housing for students are very well represented by the proposed task force above. Residents that just want a nicer place to live are not well represented.