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Inclusionary Housing Zoning Petition

On April 3, 2017, the City Council unanimously passed a Zoning Petition changing the inclusionary provisions in the Zoning Ordinance. This is the first time the inclusionary zoming provisions have been amended since their adoption in 1998. The details of this petition can be found here, in the Documents tab below, or at http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/zoninganddevelopment/Zoning/Amendments.

The process began when the Community Development Department commissioned an Inclusionary Housing Study to examine the current inclusionary housing provisions in the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance and determine whether any changes to the ordinance were warranted. David Paul Rosen and Associates (DRA) was selected to conduct the study, which analyzed changes in the housing market and demographics in the city, looked at similar provisions in other communities, and conducted an economic analysis of alternative inclusionary housing standards. The study, which was completed in April 2016, made several program and policy recommendations for changes to the inclusionary housing provisions in the city’s Zoning Ordinance (Section 11.200 of the Zoning Ordinance), including increasing the proportion of affordable units in new market-rate development up to 20%.

The study was reviewed and discussed by the Housing Committee of the City Council through a series of public meetings. The Affordable Housing Trust also reviewed the study and its recommendations. CDD discussed the study with interested residents, community groups, business groups and residential developers. Based on the recommendations from the Housing Committee, a zoning petition with recommended changes to the inclusionary housing provisions of the ordinance was submitted to the City Council. The Ordinance Committee held two meetings to review the recommended petition and approved the petition with amendments. The petition was submitted to the City Council and approved with some amendments on March 20, 2017. It was ordained on April 3, 2017.


On April 3, 2017 the City Council unanimously passed the Inclusionary Housing Zoning Petition. 

Prior to the adoption of the zoning petition,the Housing Committee of the City Council conducted a series of six public meetings about the Inclusionary Housing Study from May 18th to September 8th. These meetings included:

  • public comment initially focusing on collecting questions for the DRA study consultant;
  • a presentation by CDD of the study; a presentation by and discussion with the DRA consultant who prepared the study;
  • review and discussion of the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust recommendations;
  • a presentation of the study conducted by Landwise on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce;
  • continuing discussion of the Affordable Housing Trust and CDD recommendations;
  • and ongoing community input and public comment.

On September 8, 2016 the Housing Committee voted on its recommendations to the inclusionary provisions in the Zoning Ordinance.

On November 21, 2016 the City Manager submitted the Petition for Zoning Amendments to the Inclusionary Housing Provisions of the Zoning Ordinance to the City Council.

The Ordinance Committee of the City Council held two public meetings to discuss the petition on January 4 and February 28. The Committee adopted amendments to the Zoning Petition and referred it to the City Council. Minutes and videos from the meetings can be found at the Open Meeting Portal for the City of Cambridge

The City Council approved the Zoning Petition with amendments on March 20, 2017 and voted to ordain it on April 3, 2017


  • April 11, 2016: Inclusionary Housing Study submitted to City Council
  • April 28, 2016: Affordable Housing Trust meeting
  • May 3, 2016: Presentation to Planning Board - postponed
  • May 18, 2016: City Council Housing Committee meeting
  • May 26, 2016 Affordable Housing Trust meeting
  • May 31, 2016: City Council Housing Committee meeting
  • July 11, 2016: City Council Housing Committee meeting
  • July 12, 2016: Presentation to Planning Board
  • August 15, 2016: City Council Housing Committee meeting
  • August 30, 2016: City Council Housing Committee meeting
  • September 8, 2016: City Council Housing Committee meeting
  • November 21, 2016: City Council refers to the Ordinance Committee the Petition for Inclusionary Housing Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance
  • December 20, 2016: Planning Board meeting
  • January 4, 2017: Ordinance Committee meeting
  • February 28, 2017: Ordinance Committee meeting 
  • March 20, 2017: City Council meeting 
  • April 3, 2017: City Council meeting

Community Development Department
344 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139

For additional information on the Housing Inclusionary Study, please contact Linda Prosnitz at lprosnitz@cambridgema.gov.