Zoning, Planning Board and Urban Design

• About Zoning, Planning Board and Urban Design
• Planning Board Information and Agendas
• Zoning Information
• Urban Design Information
• Land Use and Zoning Studies
• Related Documents
• For More Information

• Development of master plans, such as the Eastern Cambridge Planning Study, Concord Alewife Planning Study, and the Rooftop Mechanicals Task Force.
• Creation of design guidelines, such as the Central Square and Harvard Square Overlay District Guidelines and the Eastern Cambridge Design Guidelines.
• Design and implementation of public space improvements, including Central Square, Lechmere Canal, Quincy Square and Lafayette Square.
• Review of projects that come before the Planning Board for permits, including Project Review Special Permits required by Article 19 of the zoning ordinance.

• Current and Past Planning Board Agendas
• List of Planning Board Members
• Planning Board Meeting Dates: Information about upcoming Planning Board Meetings can be found on the Community Development Department public meetings calendar
• Planning Board Special Permit, including fee schedule
  • Word format for Microsoft Word 97, 2000 or XP (409 KB)
  • PDF format for viewing with the free Adobe Acrobat viewer (180 KB)
• Planning and Educational Institutions, including annual Town Gown reports presented to the Planning Board.
• For information about recent development activity see the Development Log, a quarterly publication of the Economic Development Division.

• Note: The Web version of the zoning ordinance and maps are provided for reference only. If any discrepancies exist between the print and web versions of the Zoning Ordinance, the print version available from the City Clerk's office, together with any City Council amendments, shall be considered correct. Recent amendments to the Zoning Ordinance may appear on the Web prior to being incorporated into the print version of the Ordinance.
• Cambridge Zoning Ordinance - Includes all amendments through Ordinance #1315 approved on May 12, 2008.
• Cambridge Zoning Map - Developed using the City's Geographic Information System (GIS). Includes all amendments through Ordinance #1315 approved on May 12, 2008.
• Cambridge Institutional and Zoning Overlay Districts Map - Developed using the City's Geographic Information System (GIS). Includes all amendments through Ordinance #1315 approved on May 12, 2008.
• Additional Zoning Maps - Developed using the City's Geographic Information System (GIS). Include all amendments through Ordinance #1315 approved on May 12, 2008:
  • Alewife Overlay Districts Map (833 KB)
  • Mixed Use Residential Overlay Districts Map (513 KB)
  • Planned Unit Development (PUD) Districts Map (687 KB)
  • Transfer of Development Rights Maps
    • Alewife (781 KB)
    • Cambridgeport (704 KB)
    • East Cambridge (841 KB)
• Design Guidelines - The Cambridge Zoning Ordinance makes reference to several sets of design guidelines to be used in the implementation of the various parts of the zoning code.
• Sign Certification Forms -This file is in PDF format and requires use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer. (314 KB)
• The Zoning Guide - A primer and overview about zoning in the City of Cambridge. Updated during 2004.
• Print copies of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map can be purchased at the City Clerk's Office, located on the first floor of City Hall, at 795 Massachusetts Avenue. For more information, call 617/349-4260.
  
  Go to Directions to City Hall.

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Urban Design Information

• Central Square Advisory Committee
• Harvard Square Advisory Committee and Related Activities
• Index of Design Guidelines

• Green Building/Zoning Task Force

• Zoning to Preserve Small Business Activity in Mid-Cambridge. Completed 2007.
• Prospect Street Corridor Study. Completed 2007.
• Toward a Sustainable Future: Cambridge Growth Policy Document Update. Completed 2007.
• Concord Alewife Planning Study. Completed 2006.
• Porter Square/Lower Massachusetts Avenue Study. Completed 2005.
• Rooftop Mechanicals Task Force. Completed 2003.
• Trolley Square Committee. Completed 2002, includes 1995 Trolley Square study.
• Citywide Growth Management Advisory Committee. Completed 2001.
• Eastern Cambridge Planning Study. Completed 2001.
• Alewife: A Plan for Sustainable Development. Completed 1995.
• Supermarket Access in Cambridge. Completed 1994.
• Toward a Sustainable Future: Cambridge Growth Policy Document. Completed 1993.
• Draft Central Square Development Guidelines. Completed 1989.
• Central Square Action Plan. Completed 1987.
• University Park at MIT Design Guidelines. Completed 1987. Revised 1999.
• Cambridgeport Blue Ribbon Committee Report. Completed 1986.
• North Massachusetts Avenue Urban Design Guidelines. Completed 1986.
• Cambridgeport Revitalization Plan. Completed 1983.
• Institutional Growth Management Plan. Completed 1981.
• Alewife Revitalization: Alewife Urban Design Study Phase II. Completed 1979.
• East Cambridge Riverfront Plan. Completed 1978.

• Design Guidelines for Dormers
• Sign Certification Forms (314 KB)

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