Planning Board
The Cambridge Planning Board reviews plans and proposals under the Special Permit provisions of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance and Chapter 40A of the Massachusetts General Laws, proposes or reviews zoning amendments, makes recommendations to the City Council about proposed revisions to the Zoning Ordinance, and engages in general planning efforts to improve the physical environment of the City.
Planning Board Membership
- Hugh Russell, Chair
- H Theodore Cohen, Vice Chair
- Steve Cohen
- Tom Sieniewicz
- William Tibbs
- Steven Winter
- Pamela Winters
One of the two Associate Members of the Cambridge Planning Board vote when one of the full members is absent or unable to vote.
- Ahmed Nur
- Catherine Preston Connolly
Planning Board Rules
The Cambridge Planning Board operates using the following rules. Among other purposes, these rules outline the procedures for consideration of Special Permits and Zoning Petitions.
Planning Board Rules, adopted March 12, 2013
Planning Board Meetings
The Planning Board usually meets the first and third Tuesday of each month. Meetings are usually held in the Second Floor Meeting Room at 344 Broadway and begin at 7 P.M. The Planning Board meeting dates can be found on the Planning Board Agenda home page and the Citywide Calendar of Events. Please check the agenda for the time and location of particular meetings.
Agendas
The Planning Board makes available an agenda several days in advance of each meeting. Hearing Notices are posted 2 weeks in advance of the hearing date. Agenda and hearing notices for the current calendar year are found below.
Transcripts
In place of meeting minutes, the Planning Board adopts transcripts of each meeting. Transcripts are usually available 4 weeks after the meeting. Transcripts for the current year are below. Prior transcripts (2009 - 2011) are found in the corresponding page listed to the left. Transcripts prior to 2009 are available by contacting Liza Paden at 617/349-4647 or lpaden@cambridgema.gov.
| Date |
Agenda |
Transcripts |
Hearing Notices (if any) |
| January 8, 2013 |
Agenda |
Transcript |
• Forest City Zoning Petition Hearing Notice |
| January 15, 2013 |
Agenda |
Transcript |
• MIT PUD-5 Zoning Petition Hearing Notice
• 54R Cedar Street Hearing Notice (SP#273) |
| January 22, 2013 |
Agenda |
Transcript |
• Medical Marijuana Zoning Petition Hearing Notice |
| February 5, 2013 |
Agenda |
Transcript |
|
| February 12, 2013 |
Agenda |
Transcript |
|
| February 19, 2013 |
Agenda |
Transcript |
|
| March 5, 2013 |
Agenda |
Transcript |
• 33 Cottage Park Avenue Hearing Notice (SP#276) |
| March 12, 2013 |
Agenda |
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• 19-21 Wendall Street Hearing Notice (SP#280) |
| March 19, 2013 |
Agenda |
|
• Bicycle Parking Zoning Petition Hearing Notice |
| April 2, 2013 |
Agenda |
|
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| April 9, 2013 |
Agenda |
Transcript |
• 130 Cambridgepark Drive Hearing Notice (SP#279)
• 33 Cottage Park Avenue Hearing Cont'd Notice (SP#276) |
| April 16, 2013 |
Agenda |
|
• Martin Luther King School Hearing Notice (SP#277)
• 240 Sidney Street Hearing Notice (SP#278) |
| May 2, 2013 |
Agenda |
|
Note: Planning Board walk. No votes will be taken and no hearings will occur. |
| May 7, 2013 |
Agenda |
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• 130 Cambridgepark Drive Hearing Cont'd Notice (SP #279) |
| May 14, 2013 |
Agenda |
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| May 21, 2013 |
Agenda |
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• 33 Cottage Park Hearing Cont'd Notice (SP #276)
• Teague Zoning Petition Hearing Notice |
| June 4, 2013 |
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• 240 Sidney Street Hearing Cont'd Notice (SP# 278)
• 1201 Massachusetts Avenue Hearing Notice (SP#281)
• Phillips Zoning Petitition Hearing Notice |
| June 11, 2013 |
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| June 18, 2013 |
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| July 9, 2013 |
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| July 16, 2013 |
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| August 6, 2013 |
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| August 20, 2013 |
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| September 3, 2013 |
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| September 20, 2013 |
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| October 1, 2013 |
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| October 15, 2013 |
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| November 12, 2013 |
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| November 19, 2013 |
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| November 26, 2013 |
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| December 3, 2013 |
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| December 17, 2013 |
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Prior Planning Board Agendas, Hearing Notices and Transcripts
Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance
The zoning amendments page lists all amendments to the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance currently under consideration by the CIty Council and Planning Board as well as those passed or placed on file (expired) since mid-2009.
Special Permits
The Planning Board is the Special Permit Granting Authority for those uses listed as "PB" in the Zoning Ordinance Article 4.000 - Use Regulations. The Planning Board conducts public hearings where applicants present proposals, public testimony is taken and findings are made as to the relief being sought.
Special Permit Pending Applications and Granted Permits
Follow this link to find all special permit applications, supporting documents, hearing notices, and decisions for all applications submitted since the beginning of 2011. For each application you will find information about the proposal, relevant zoning ordinance sections and supporting documentation.
All special permits granted but not built, under construction, or completed since the beginning of 2011 can be found on the Special Permits Interactive Map. Select a permit to learn more and find links to relevant documents.
Locations of all granted Planning Board special permits not later withdrawn are found on the Zoning Viewer maintained by the city's GIS staff.
Special Permit Application Form
Planning Board special permits require the completion of a multi-part application. Follow this link for more information.
Town Gown Reports
For information about and copies of the Town Gown Reports submitted by Cambridge College, Harvard University, Lesley University and MIT, see the Institutional Planning home page.
For More Information
For more information about the Planning Board contact Liza Paden at 617/349-4647 or lpaden@cambridgema.gov.