ORDINANCE 2021-17: A Zoning Petition Has been received from Francis Donovan, regarding Advancing Housing Affordability (AHA) zoning petition

2021 SEP - | AM IO: 57 OFFICE CF THE CITY CLERK CAMBRIDGE. MASSACHUSETTS Advancing Housing Affordability (AHA) Zoning Petition WHEREAS: Cambridge is a unique historic city, founded in 1630, and decades of growth and more recent explosive commercial development have made Cambridge one of the densest cities per square mile in the U.S., Cambridge's diverse neighborhoods include a broad array of architecturally beautiful and historic housing which most residents feel is essential to preserve, Cambridge's diverse neighborhoods strike a unique and delicate balance between architectural density and green space that is the envy of many other cities, Climate Change makes it imperative to preserve mature trees, green spaces, and open spaces between buildings, and WHEREAS: Cambridge is facing unique and massive development pressures (including $4.6 billion life science investment) (Boston Globe 5.26.21). WHEREAS: Cambridge is a wealthy city with a progressive citizenry committed to maintaining its historic diversity, but the cost of creating each new unit of tax-funded affordable housing is extremely high, and Cambridge is one of the only cities in Massachusetts currently meeting state standards for affordable housing, but the local and area waiting list for our affordable housing is extremely long, and anyone in the U.S. is eligible to apply, so very few people will live in the new affordable units and the vast majority of our residents in need of lower-rent housing will not be helped, and WHEREAS: Cambridge already has a large existing housing supply of smaller units within our existing housing infrastructure both in compliance with and not in compliance with all applicable zoning and building codes, and WHEREAS: Many single-family and multi-family homes can be adapted to create a new supply of residential units such as studios, one-bedrooms, and smaller two-bedroom units, as well as single-room-occupancy communities and cooperatives with shared living spaces, all of which, will enable individuals and households seeking lower rents to move in, increasing the supply of various unit sizes, thereby helping reduce average rents citywide, and WHEREAS: for purposes of equity it is time to end zoning for exclusively single family housing throughout the city, and do so in a way that will not exacerbate housing costs by substantially increasing property values, or destroying the rich array of sustainable historic housing, or adding to environmental problems by tearing down and building new larger more expensive housing, and WHEREAS: the Cambridge Envision Report Housing Goals explicitly promote: 1) Affordable Housing; 2) Housing Diversity; 3) Livable Communities; 4) Housing Stability; 5) Market Affordability; and 6) Opportunity Neighborhoods (near transportation, services, and employment); 7) retaining and increasing green spaces, and. WHEREAS: City housing needs will vary over time; while the housing concerns now are REAL and severe, over the next 10-15 years a massive decline in housing needs due to demographic and other factors is expected according to a recent Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies Report. COVID may also bring more changes. THEREFORE: We, the undersigned ten or more Cambridge residents and registered voters, hereby petition the City Council to integrate all zoning amendments specified of this petition as new zoning law and implementing its other recommendations as Policy Orders to the City Manager in order to: ENACT The Following NEW ZONING AMENDMENTS to Increase Housing, Enhance Housing Affordability, Promote Equity, Accountability and Environmental Sustainability Modify Cambridge Zoning Ordinance Section 4.31 as follows: 4.31 Current language: Detached dwelling occupied by not more than one family [Res A-1&2, Res B, Res C, C-1, C-IA, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B] YES. Insert New Footnote. Provided that the street-facing exterior design of the structure is notchanged, and minimal changes are made on the sides, a maximum of three dwelling units may occupy a single structure in what is currently a single family home; four dwelling units may ocuppy a current two-family home 1

2 i. All alterations to create these units shall be made within the existing building envelope, without altering the exterior appearance, except for essential minor alterations at the building rear and rear half of the building sides. These essential alterations may include, specifically, new entries/means of egress, window wells, dormers, and similar relatively minor changes. Special permitting will be allowed for other exterior changes. Rationale: Increase available housing while preserving building facades and neighborhood sustainable homes while providing a means to update and legalize illegal City rental units not allowed in some districts. 5.16 [General Regulations section to apply to ail districts]. Insert New Footnotes: i. Any new structure with more than three residential units shall include one unit that meets current affordability guidelines, proportionally increased as the numbers of units increase. ii. New residential structures replacing current three family or larger residential structures shall include at least one affordable unit except by special permit from the Planning Board. iii. Within an existing single- or two-family home or affiliated Auxiliary Dwelling Unit (AFU), if the principal residence is owner-occupied and at least one of the units is affordable, the number of dwelling units permitted may be increased by thirty percent (30%) and the additional Gross Floor Area permitted in the ADU may be increased by thirty percent (30%) to a maximum of .50 FAR if the property retains current zoning compliance and as long as units meet City affordability requirements. New or existing dwelling unit sizes may be 500 SF or above. iv. If an existing single or two family home is demolished, the replacement structure does not need to meet affordability requirements unless it exceeds the current building's height or footprint. Rationale: To provide more affordable housing while retaining existing green spaces. 6.22 [off street parking regulations]. Current language: All accessory off street parking facilities shall be located in accordance with the provisions of subsections 6.22.1, 6.22.2 and 6.22.3. New Footnote: All new residential parking provided in accordance with this Article not located within a structure shall be of permeable construction to absorb rainwater and minimize runoff. Rationale: To facilitate water drainage in this period of global warming and climate change. 6.45 [Parking| Drainage, Surfacing, and Maintenance. [Current language): All sections of off street parking facilities which are not landscaped according to the requirements of Subsection 6.48 shall be graded, surfaced (preferably with durable pervious paving materials such as modular paving blocks, bricks or similar materials), and maintained.... New Footnote: All new residential parking provided in accordance with this Article shall be surfaced with pervious paving materials that absorb rain water and minimize runoff and maintained... Rationale: To facilitate water drainage in this period of global warming and climate change. 20.2000 Citywide Commercial, Institutional, and Public Property Overlay District Rationale: The 20.2000 ordinance will require all employers of more than 100 persons to provide area plans and annual reports for housing, transportation, parking, and infrastructure for 85% of its full-time employees, students, and affiliates by the year 2040. These plans will be reviewed and approved by CDD staff, irrespective of when affiliated properties have been or will be constructed or renovated. A continuing enforcement mechanism for compliance including approval of future building plans and/er other mechanisms including fees, special permit requirements or other means consistent with 20.2000 can be used. 20.2001 Purpose. It is the purpose of the Commercial, Institutional, and Public Property Overlay District, to promote an area-wide solution to local Cambridge residential, transportation, and infrastructure needs. 20.2002 Establishment and Scope. There is hereby established the Commercial, Institutional, and Public Property Overlay District. It is the intent of this Section that these regulations will apply to properties within the City of 2

3 Cambridge owned or leased by employers of more than 100 full-time persons, students or affiliates, This requirement applies to the employer or lease holder identified with the Cambridge property and applies to existing employers as well as new companies or institutions seeking to establish here. 20.2003 Stipulations. The Commercial, Institutional and Public employers meeting 20.2000 criteria of 100 or more full time employees, students, or affiliates shali provide a regional plan that sets out how it will meet housing, parking, transportation and infrastructure needs for 85% of its full-time employees and affiliates (the latter including students, post-doctoral students and research associates) by the year 2040. These employers will also provide Annual Reports on how and where the specific housing, parking, transportation, and infrastructure goals will be met in both Cambridge and in other area communities. Annual reports shall be submitted to the City Manager who will determine if compliance goals have been reached; the City of Cambridge will report its compliance with its designated goals for its own employees in an Annual Report to the City Council. Employers who decrease employee numbers to 20% below 100 employees are excluded; those attaining the 100 20,2003.a Each institution's or employer's 2040 Goals and Annual Reports shall include a time line as well as plans, and both achieved and proposed outcomes for housing, transporation, parking, and infrastructure needs for 85% of its employees, students, and affiliates in both Cambridge and outlying communities as established in 20.2000. While all employers and institutions may not be asked to acquire the requisite housing, transportation, parking, or essential infrastructure themselves, they will be required to show that they have successfully met the goals on their own or in collaboration with other Cambridge or area institutions and/or employers. 20,2003.b Plans for employees to work from home, telecommunicating certain days of the week, should be incorporated into such reports. A reporting means similar to the current Cambridge Parking and Transportation Demand Management Plan, but also including Housing and infrastructure may be set up for this purpose with a time line addressing specific goals to meet the 2040 commitment. Examples of parking plans include that created by MIT for where their non- Cambridge resident employees will park: http://web.mit.edu/facilities/transportation/index.html Employers may rent parking spaces not in use in company parking structures to local residents who meet certain income criteria to offset some parking requirements. Employers may create plans to provide home down payments for low-and-middle income employes to offset some housing requirements. The City itself may chose to meet its own annual housing goal by acquiring or building on its own land to prioritize key groups, for example, employees such as teachers, social workers, and fire fighters. 20.2003.c Plans for new residential and commercial structures shall include early and ongoing plans that safeguard or move existing mature trees, and otherwise comply with the City's tree ordinance. These plans shall be included and presented in subsequent public meetings. New plans for larger residential and commercial projects (FAR 1.5 and higher) shall include and present at public meetings CAD drawings and viewshed analyses of neighborhood impacts. All open space requirements shall be met using rain permeable surfaces. 20.2004 Letter of Commitment. Issuance of a base building permit or certificate of occupancy for any new building approved pursuant to a Special Permit granted under the above Section 20.2000 shall be conditioned on certification by all relevant departments of the City to the Superintendent of Buildings that the reports are accurate and goals are being met in accordance with the initial Letter of Commitment, and Annual Reports. 20.2005 Project Review. In granting approval for a building or buildings under this article, the Planning Board may approve commercial, institutional and public area plans, subject to later review and approval by the Planning Board upon finding that the interim and final plan is consistent with the meeting of annual goals under Section 20.2000. Construction, use and development under this Section shall be authorized by Special Permit granted by the Planning Board. In granting a Special Permit under this Section 20.2000, the Planning Board shall find that the intent of this Section has been satisfied if yearly housing, transportation and other goals toward reaching 85% of employees by 2040 have been met and find that provisions have been made for the conveyance to the City, or a designee thereof, by fee or easement, of interests in properties herein. 3

4 PETITIONERS Adress Name Signature 1. JULO TORRES SANTANA b ELLSWORTH AVE. #14 d FRANCES E JONORRA ARONN AMELA Y Elzaketa Golatse 4a Inrogst. elpath fnbata A Gilberte Haban 51 chilon st + 3 Fasat 1. Beverly Mire 12 Hilliard St. Awely 2 Mie e Mara Monke 10 DanAST Hydy mARKEEmOER anet Amphiell, SameT Amplatt 82 Ash STreet PI Cambridge 02138 * ameen nith 9 Hillesh e. Cambridg, 1402135 Jo CHRISTOPHER PULMAN 10 ASH ST• PLACE 0 2/38 Jo. GLADYS I GIFFARD 15 tilliard st 023 abdel, Jerd Litha Pullman co Och ATRace CaTher Tullma,

ENDORSEES Printed Name Address Zip Signature Laura Mayer Deford 3 Follen Place. 02138 hama MayanDefad LAURENCE HAMMEL 10 Hillk St. 02138 huntand Shavon Metride 44 Erving st. 02138 lamk, MoBile Laura Roborts 1715 Cambriaje 3F 02138 Lamá Rotar CHARLOTTE IKELS 14 SUMNER RD. 02138 Charlote kels Katiti Kıronde 1/11A meacham Rooao Kamleré PHILIP A. WELLONS 651 GREEN ST. 02139 Philip a. Wellms

ENDORSEES Zip 02/38 CHRISTIER MACKIN ASK H Mue Mle Suzanne P. Bler 5 Filler Pl. 02138 Alu- P.Bia Budolph Blier 5 Fuller 1702138 Pufl Bli