Policy Order O-12
Councillor Carlone, Councillor Mazen
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is facing a severe and escalating crisis of housing affordability; and
WHEREAS: A broad consensus has emerged on the need for new housing in Central Square, particularly housing that is affordable to individuals, seniors, and families of low, moderate, and middle-incomes; and
WHEREAS: Housing plays an essential role in building communities; housing supports retail at least three times more than office uses, and housing also requires significantly less parking than office uses; and
WHEREAS: The City's ability to encourage the production of affordable housing in Central Square is constrained by the fact that the Central Square Overlay District is zoned Business B, which means that market-based proposals for new housing are forced to compete with other, more lucrative forms of commercial development, such as offices and laboratories; and
WHEREAS: At the April 1, 2015 Ordinance Committee hearing on the Normandy Twining zoning amendment, this issue was raised by the developer's local counsel, who stated on the record, that with respect to his clients' site in Central Square, "It's housing, or office."; and
WHEREAS: As the City's policymaking and legislative body, the City Council is responsible for making amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, "to encourage housing for persons of all income levels," and for "the protection of residential neighborhoods from incompatible activities..." (
WHEREAS: The City has already created minimum housing requirements for zoning districts where there is a concern that market pressure to build non-residential uses would significantly outcompete housing uses, such as in the PUD-KS district; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That it shall be the policy of the City of Cambridge to promote housing as the use to be most greatly expanded throughout Central Square in the immediate future, along with vibrant retail and related public amenities; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council refer to the Ordinance Committee and the Planning Board, for hearing and report, the following amendment to the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance, Section 20.300, Central Square Overlay District, by inserting the following text: