That the City Manager is requested to work with the Law Department and Community Development Department to study whether the City Council could add maximum lot area per dwelling unit, maximum setback requirements, and minimum floor area ratios in some districts or as part of an overlay in the Zoning Ordinance and whether the City Council could require a special permit for a down conversion in developments that would result in a net loss of housing units. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR PICKETT IN COUNCIL MARCH 18, 2024

O-5 Calendar Item # 1 FIRST IN COUNCIL March 18, 2024 March 25, 2024 City of Cambridge COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER COUNCILLOR AZEEM COUNCILLOR WILSON COUNCILLOR NOLAN WHEREAS: Cambridge’s current Zoning Ordinance and the state building code in some cases incentivizes the tear down of existing multi-family homes such as triple-deckers and other types of more affordable housing and the replacement of them with multi-million dollar single unit dwellings; and WHEREAS: These down conversions result in a loss of much needed housing and a replacement of homes that are affordable for more Cantabrigians with housing that is out of reach for most residents; and WHEREAS: Cambridge’s Zoning Ordinance currently has minimum setback and lot area per dwelling unit and maximum floor area ratio requirements but not maximum setback and lot area per dwelling unit or minimum floor area ratio requirements; and WHEREAS: Cambridge’s Zoning Ordinance should incentivize housing affordability rather than the replacement of existing multi-family homes with new, expensive single unit dwellings or the creation of large, single unit dwellings on parcels where more affordable multifamily housing could be built; and WHEREAS: Adding maximum lot area per dwelling units and setback requirements and minimum floor area ratios in some districts would help disincentivize down conversions and the loss of affordable multifamily housing; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Law Department and Community Development Department to study whether the City Council could add maximum lot area per dwelling unit, maximum setback requirements, and minimum floor area ratios in some districts or as part of an overlay in the Zoning Ordinance; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Law Department and Community Development Department to study whether the City Council could require a special permit for a down conversion in developments that would result in a net loss of housing units.

History: 03/18/24 City Council CHARTER RIGHT Next: 03/25/24