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Zoning, Planning Board and Urban Design
About Zoning, Planning Board and Urban Design
The Cambridge, Massachusetts zoning staff support both the Planning Board and Community Development programs. The staff undertakes land use studies, proposes revisions to the Zoning Ordinance, and assists the public on a daily basis by answering questions about zoning.
The urban design staff works to improve the quality of Cambridge's built environment and preserve the human scale of the city's neighborhoods and commercial districts. Tools used in this endeavor include:
- 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.
Planning Board Information
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.
The Planning Board ordinarily meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
- 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
- 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.
Zoning Information
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 #1333 ordained on August 2, 2010.
- Cambridge Zoning Map - Developed using the City's Geographic Information System (GIS). Includes all amendments through Ordinance #1333 ordained on August 2, 2010.
- Cambridge Institutional and Zoning Overlay Districts Map - Developed using the City's Geographic Information System (GIS). Includes all amendments through Ordinance #1333 ordained on August 2, 2010.
- Additional Zoning Maps - Developed using the City's Geographic Information System (GIS). Include all amendments through Ordinance #1333 ordained on August 2, 2010:
- 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.
- Directions to City Hall.
Advisory Committees
The Community Planning Division provides staff support to ongoing committees concerned with urban design of key commercial areas. Members of these committees are appointed by the City Manager:
Land Use and Zoning Studies
Ongoing Studies
Planning and Educational Institutions
Completed Planning and Zoning Studies
The reports described below are in PDF format. Viewing them requires a copy of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.
- Aging in the Cambridge Community. Completed 2010.
- Alewife: A Plan for Sustainable Development. Completed 1995.
- Alewife Revitalization: Alewife Urban Design Study Phase II. Completed 1979.
- Cambridge Riverfront: Connecting People to the Charles. Completed 2010.
- Cambridgeport Blue Ribbon Committee Report. Completed 1986.
- Cambridgeport Revitalization Plan. Completed 1983.
- Central Square Action Plan. Completed 1987.
- Comprehensive Planning for Trolley Square and Sheridan Square. Completed 1995.
- Concord Alewife Planning Study. Completed 2006.
- Citywide Growth Management Advisory Committee. Completed 2001.
- Design Guidelines for Dormers. Completed 1996.
- Draft Central Square Development Guidelines. Completed 1989.
- Draft Harvard Square Development Guidelines. Completed 2002.
- East Cambridge Riverfront Plan. Completed 1978.
- Eastern Cambridge Planning Study. Completed 2001.
- Green Building Zoning Task Force Recommendations. Completed 2009.
- Housing Options for Older Cantabrigians. Completed 2010.
- Institutional Growth Management Plan. Completed 1981.
- North Massachusetts Avenue Urban Design/Land Use Study and North Massachusetts Avenue Urban Design Guidelines. Completed 1986.
- Porter Square/Lower Massachusetts Avenue Study. Completed 2005.
- Prospect Street Corridor Study. Completed 2007.
- Rooftop Mechanicals Task Force Recommendations . Completed 2003.
- South Cambridgeport Development Guidelines. Completed 1992.
- Supermarket Access in Cambridge. Completed 1994.
- Toward a Sustainable Future: Cambridge Growth Policy Document. Completed 1993.
- Toward a Sustainable Future: Cambridge Growth Policy Document Update. Completed 2007.
- Trolley Square Committee Final Report and Recommendation. Completed 2002..
- University Park at MIT Design Guidelines. Completed 1987. Revised 1999.
- Zoning to Preserve Small Business Activity in Mid-Cambridge. Completed 2007.
Sign Certification Forms
The following document is in PDF format and requires a copy of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.
- Sign Certification Forms (314 KB)
For More Information
For information on the Planning Board, the zoning ordinance, allowable development, special permits and variances, contact Liza Paden, Associate Planner, lpaden@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4647.
For more information about urban design, contact Roger Boothe, Director of Urban Design, rboothe@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4646.
For more information about land use and zoning studies, contact Iram Farooq, Project Planner, ifarooq@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4606.
The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.
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