Committee Report CR-1

The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 beginning at five o’clock P. M. in the Sullivan Chamber.  The hearing was held for the purpose of considering a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance to rezone the remaining Business C-1 property on north Massachusetts Avenue to Business A-1.

Present at the meeting were Councillor Brian Murphy and Councillor Michael A. Sullivan, Co-Chairs of the Committee, Councillor Craig Kelley, Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Lester Barber, Director of Zoning and Land Use, Community Development Department and City Clerk D. Margaret Drury.

Councillor Sullivan convened the hearing and explained the purpose.  He invited Mr. Barber to explain the petition.  Mr. Barber said that the petition affects a lot of approximately 11,000 square feet; the only remaining land zoned Business C-1 along north Massachusetts Avenue, where all of the remaining lots have been down-zoned.  Mr. Barber distributed a summary comparison of the current zoning and the proposed zoning

Chris McElroy, 4 Morrison Court, stated that her house is directly behind the lot.  There is a lot of construction going on in the area.  She has had a lot of flooding in her neighborhood.  DPW staff told here that it was possible that the flooding could be related to the construction in that the more ground that is covered with impervious surfaces; the fewer places water has to go.  She said that she is also concerned about having a balance of commercial and housing.  For the time being, there has been enough new construction of condominiums in the neighborhood.

Charles Teague, 18 Edmunds Street, said that 95 units are coming on line in the area, all with one parking space per unit.  A lot of parking need will be added.  He urged the City Council to listen to the people who live nearby.  He urged support of the petition.

Michael Brandon, 27 Seven Pines Avenue, spoke in support of the petition.  He identified himself as the clerk of the North Cambridge Stabilization Committee and stated that the committee supports the proposed amendment.  He read a letter from neighbors and submitted a copy for the record

Mr. Brandon stated that the Merino site is under agreement for sale to someone who apparently intends to keep it as a restaurant.

Councillor Sullivan stated that he is still concerned that the need to protect ground floor retail is not being addressed.  All of the new development is housing and Cambridge proposed petition.

Councillor Kelley moved that the petition be referred with a favorable recommendation to the City Council.  The motion passed on a voice vote without objection.

Councillors Murphy and Sullivan thanked all those present for their participation. The meeting was adjourned at five o’clock and twenty minutes p.m.