Zoning Subcommittee recommends approval of life science regulation changes

Visconti and McKenna propose ordinance change to biosafety level

  The City Council’s Zoning Subcommittee recommended approval of an ordinance change limiting the biosafety levels and animal testing at life sciences buildings at its Monday night meeting. The issue has generated passion within the City Council Chambers this year as the developers of the Suffolk Downs property move forward with plans for a massive life science building on the Revere side of the property.

  City Council President Gerry Visconti and Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna introduced a proposed ordinance change earlier this year that would limit life science buildings in the city to operate at no higher than a biosafety 2 level. Currently, the city allows up to biosafety level 3, and by right, Suffolk Downs developers HYM could allow the higher biosafety level within their buildings in the Suffolk Downs Overlay District.

  A biosafety level is a set of biocontainment precautions required to isolate dangerous biological agents in an enclosed laboratory facility. The higher the biosafety level, the potentially more dangerous the pathogens are and the more laboratory precautions that need to be taken.

  At Monday night’s meeting, Visconti and McKenna presented several amendments to their original proposal they said would further protect the city and limit potential animal testing. “So, we can be clear, currently, the way the ordinance is read is that the city allows for a life science building with a biosafety level 3,” said Visconti. “What Councillor McKenna and myself have proposed is a reduction in that biosafety level to biosafety level 2.”

  The proposed amendments would prohibit testing on a number of animal species, including dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys and other primates, within the Suffolk Downs Overlay District. In addition, the proposed amendments would prohibit all animal testing in any proposed life sciences buildings outside that district. In addition, any proposed life sciences building outside the Suffolk Downs Overlay District would require a special permit from the City Council.

  While the life sciences building at Suffolk Downs is allowed to operate at a biosafety level 3 by right, Visconti said HYM Managing Director Tom O’Brien has agreed to operate under the proposed amendments presented by himself and McKenna. “They have the ability to put a biosafety level 3 in there,” said Visconti. “After further discussion with Tom O’Brien and his team, he has agreed … that his intention was always to put no more than a biosafety level 2 there, and he has agreed to the changes regarding the animal testing.”

  Ward 4 Councillor and Zoning Subcommittee Chair Patrick Keefe said he supports the amendments made by Visconti and McKenna. “I think that this is a great amendment,” he said. “I think this checks a lot of the boxes that residents have voiced some concerns over.”

  Several residents said they generally approved of the amendments, but they questioned why there wasn’t more action taken previously to limit animal testing and lowering the biosafety levels in the city. There was a heavy trades and union presence at Monday’s meeting, with several labor leaders speaking in favor of the amendments, stating they were a good compromise to ensure that construction and life sciences jobs come to Revere.

  “Let me reiterate one thing: that not doing anything here is keeping this at a biosafety level 3, and that’s the alternative if we do not reduce to a biosafety level 2; it’s left at a biosafety level 3,” said Visconti.

  The Zoning Subcommittee unanimously supported the ordinance change and amendments, and it will now go before the full council at a future meeting for a vote.