Description
A PUBLIC MEETING OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL
ORDINANCE COMMITTEE
December 2, 2025 @ 5:30 PM
Sullivan Chamber
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2022 adopted by Massachusetts General Assembly and approved by the Governor, this meeting will be hybrid allowing participation in the Sullivan Chamber and remotely via ZOOM at https://cambridgema.zoom.us/s/97895847144.
The Ordinance Committee, comprised of the entire membership of the City Council, will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. on two Zoning Petitions by the Cambridge City Council. This meeting is a continuation of the meeting that was held and recessed on October 30, 2025 and reconvened and recessed again on November 13, 2025. There will be public comment.
Massachusetts Avenue Zoning Petition, which would amend the Cambridge Zoning Map and Ordinance in Articles 2.000, 3.000, 4.000, 5.000, 6.000, 11.000, 17.000, and 20.000 with the intent of establishing three new base zoning districts for the Massachusetts Avenue corridor in order to:
- (1)encourage patterns of development consistent with the vision of the Mass Ave Planning Study (2025);
- (2)allow up to 12 stories of residential uses along the length of the corridor;
- (3)incentivize active non-residential uses on the ground floor;
- (4)establish building and site design standards to achieve urban design goals; and
- (5)create a Planned Unit Development Overlay District in Porter Square allowing up to 18 stories of residential uses in exchange for increased open space requirements and minimum retail density.
Cambridge Street Zoning Petition, which would amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance in Articles 3.000, 17.000, and 19.000 with the intent of establishing four new base zoning districts for the Cambridge Street corridor in order to:
- (1)encourage patterns of development consistent with the vision of the Our Cambridge Street Planning Study (2023);
- (2)allow up to 8 stories of residential uses along the length of the corridor;
- (3)incentivize active non-residential uses on the ground floor;
- (4)establish building and site design standards to achieve urban design goals; and
- (5)allow additional residential height of up to 10 stories in parts of Inman Square, up to 12 stories in the Webster Ave/Windsor Street area, and up to 15 stories in the Lechmere area.
ZOOM is also being used for public comment. If you would like to provide public comment, you can use PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN UP FORM to sign up. The meeting can be viewed on the City’s Open Meeting Portal at OPEN MEETING PORTAL. Cambridge residents may also view on Channel 22-City View Local Access.
City of Cambridge does not discriminate on the basis of disability. The City Council will provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to persons with disabilities upon request. Contact the Office of the City Clerk, 617-349-4260, tty/TDD 617-349-4242.