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A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a revised Massachusetts Avenue zoning petition
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 1
Petition: To amend the Zoning Map and Articles 3.000, 17.000, and 19.000 of the Cambridge
Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of establishing four three new zoning districts for
the Cambridge Street corridor.
Amendments to the Zoning Map.
See attached Zoning Map and descriptive text.
Amendments to Article 3.000.
Amend Section 3.11 to read as follows:
3.11
For the purpose of this Ordinance, the City of Cambridge is hereby divided into fifty-
four three classes of districts listed below in order of decreasing restrictiveness as
follows:
1.
Open Space District
Public parks and recreation facilities and other public
facilities
2.
Residence C-1 District
Multifamily dwellings
3.
Residence C-1A District
Multifamily dwellings
4.
Residence C-2 District
Multifamily dwellings
5.
Residence C-2B District
Multifamily dwellings
6.
Residence C-2A District
Multifamily dwellings
7.
Residence C-3A District
Multifamily dwellings and limited office
8.
Residence C-3 District
Multifamily dwellings
9.
Residence C-3B District
Multifamily dwellings
10.
Office 1 District
Business and professional office and multifamily dwellings
(Apartment house, hotel, dormitory)
11.
Office 2A District
Business, research and professional offices, limited
research oriented manufacturing
12.
Office 2 District
Business, research and professional offices, limited
research oriented manufacturing
13.
Office 3A District
Business and professional offices and multifamily dwellings
14.
Office 3 District
Business and professional offices and multifamily dwellings
15.
Business A-3 District
Neighborhood business
16.
Business A-1 District
Local business
17.
Business A-2 District
Local business
18.
Business A District
Local and drive in retail business offices and multifamily
dwellings
19.
Business A-4 District
Local business
20.
Business A-5 District
Local business and multifamily dwellings
21.
Business C District
General business, professional offices, multifamily
dwellings.
22.
Business B-1 District
General business, business and professional offices, and
multifamily dwellings
23.
Business B-2 District
General business, business and professional offices and
multifamily dwellings
24.
Business B District
General business
25.
Industry B-2 District
Office, warehouse and light manufacturing
26.
Industry A-1 District
Limited impact business and industry
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 2
27.
Industry B-1 District
Heavy manufacturing, warehouses, and offices
28.
Industry A-2 District
Limited impact business and industry
29.
Industry A District
Warehouse, storage and light manufacturing
30.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 1
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
31.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 2
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
32.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 3
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
33.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 4 and 4A
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
34.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 5
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
35.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 6
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
36.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 7
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
37.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 8
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
38.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 8A
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
39.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 9
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
40.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 10(F)
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
41.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 10(H)
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
42.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 11
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
43.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 12
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
44.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 13
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
45.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 14
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
46.
Special Business, Office and
Industrial District 15
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
47.
Cambridge Street-8
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
48.
Cambridge Street-10
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
489.
Cambridge Street-12
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
4950.
Cambridge Street-15
Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000
50147. Mixed Use Development (MXD)
District: Kendall Center
Various uses governed by the requirements of Article 14.000
51248. Cambridgeport Revitalization
Development District
Various uses governed by the requirements of Article 15.000
52349. North Point Residence, Office
and Business District
Various uses governed by the requirements of Article 16.000
53450.
Industry B District
Heavy Industry
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 3
Amendments to Article 17.000.
Create a new Section 17.700 to read as follows:
17.700
Cambridge Street Districts
17.701
Scope. This Section 17.700 regulates development within the Cambridge Street
Districts (CAM-8, CAM-10, CAM-12, and CAM-15) as shown on the Zoning Map of
the City of Cambridge, as amended. The regulations of this Section shall apply
equally to all Cambridge Street Districts except where otherwise specified.
17.702
Purpose. The Cambridge Street Districts are meant to encourage patterns of
development consistent with the vision of the Our Cambridge Street Planning Study
(2023). This Section establishes the following goals for the Cambridge Street
corridor:
(a)
Maintain established patterns of land use while allowing new infill development that
complements existing buildings;
(b)
Encourage residential and mixed-use development while incentivizing additional
density for development that includes active ground floor retail uses;
(c)
Promote a dynamic urban streetscape and an accessible public realm through
building and site design, and;
(d)
Allow the production of a diverse mix of economically viable ground floor retail
uses.
17.703
Use Regulations.
17.703.1
Permitted Uses. The following uses, as they are listed in Article 4.000 and
otherwise defined in this Zoning Ordinance, shall be permitted as-of-right:
(a)
Residential Uses: All uses in Section 4.31.a through 4.31.i.
(b)
Tourist house (Section 4.31.1.a) only within the CAM-15 District.
(c)
Radio and television studio, Section 4.32.f.
(d)
Transportation Uses: Bus or railroad passenger station, Section 4.32.a, all uses in
Section 4.32.k through 4.32.n.
(e)
Institutional Uses: All uses in Section 4.33 except Municipal service facility (Section
4.33.f.4) and Institutional use not listed in any other category (Section 4.33.h.4).
(f)
Office and Laboratory Uses: All uses in Section 4.34.
(g)
Retail or Consumer Service Establishments: All uses in Section 4.35 except Animal
Services Facility (4.35.l) and Retail or Consumer Service Establishment not
otherwise defined. A Craft Retail and Production Shop (4.35.b) shall be permitted
as-of-right if it occupies no more than 2,500 square feet of Gross Floor Area,
including storage areas, and does not involve the use of equipment that produces
dust, fumes, odors, smoke, vapors, noise, vibration, flashing, light trespass, or glare
outside of the premises.
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 4
(h)
Outdoor Retail or Consumer Service Establishments: Open-Lot Retail Sales
Establishment (Section 4.36.a) and Temporary Outdoor Retail or Consumer Service
Use (Section 4.36.j).
(i)
Cannabis Delivery Operator Establishment (Section 4.37.o).
17.703.2
Special Permit Uses. The following additional uses, as they are listed in Article
4.000 and otherwise defined in this Zoning Ordinance, shall only be permitted upon
the issuance of a special permit by the Planning Board:
(a)
Trailer Park or mobile home park, Section 4.31.j.
(b)
Tourist house (Section 4.31.1.a) where not permitted as-of-right as set forth in
Section 17.703.1.
(c)
Hotel or motel, Section 4.31.1.b.
(d)
Transportation Uses: Automobile parking lot or parking garage for private passenger
cars, Section 4.32.b – so long as not an accessory use, and no repairs, servicing, or
sale of gasoline allowed, provided that the Building and Site Planning Standards of
Section 17.705 below are met and that all other state and local laws applicable to
parking facilities are met.
(e)
Utility Uses: All uses in Section 4.32.g.1 through 4.32.g.2.
(f)
Wind turbine Installation, Section 4.32.j.
(g)
Institutional Uses: Municipal service facility, Section 4.33.f.4, and Institutional use
not listed in any other category, Section 4.33.h.4.
(h)
Retail or Consumer Service Establishments (Section 4.35), not otherwise permitted.
(i)
Outdoor Entertainment and Recreation Facility, Section 4.36.d.
(j)
Any other use permitted as-of-right or by special permit in a Business B zoning
district, if the Planning Board finds that the use is compatible with permitted uses
and supports the purpose of the Cambridge Street Districts.
17.703.3
Ground Story Active Uses. The following uses, as they are listed in Article 4.000
and otherwise defined in this Zoning Ordinance, shall be considered Active Uses for
the purposes of this Section 17.700.
(a)
Institutional Uses: All uses in Section 4.33.
(b)
Office of a physician, dentist or other medical practitioner, Section 4.34.a.
(c)
Office of an accountant, attorney, or other non-medical professional person,
Section 4.34.b.
(d)
Real Estate, insurance or other agency office, Section 4.34.c.
(e)
Retail or Consumer Service Establishments: All uses in Section 4.35.
(f)
Radio and television studio, Section 4.32.f.
(g)
Other uses upon the issuance of a special permit by the Planning Board if the
Planning Board finds that the use serves the purpose of providing services to the
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 5
general public and promoting pedestrian activity along Cambridge Street, with
necessary conditions to ensure those objectives are met.
17.704
Development Standards.
17.704.1
FAR Limitations. The maximum FAR devoted to non-residential uses shall be 1.0
except as listed below. There shall be no maximum FAR for residential uses or for
Religious Purposes listed in Section 4.33.a. FAR limits shall be applied in
accordance with Section 5.25.4.
(a)
The maximum FAR for Dormitory uses (Section 4.33.b.7), shall be 1.75.
(b)
The maximum FAR for Transient Accommodations (Section 4.31.1) and Institutional
uses except Religious Purposes (Section 4.33 except 4.33.a) within a CAM-15
District shall be 1.75.
17.704.1.1
Ground Story GFA Exemption. Portions of the Ground Story of a building that are
devoted to one or more of the following active non-residential uses, as they are
listed in Article 4.000 and otherwise defined in this Zoning Ordinance, shall be
exempted from FAR limitations upon granting of a special permit by the Planning
Board:
(a)
Social or recreation center, Section 4.33.a.4.
(b)
Community Center, Section 4.33.e.2.
(c)
Public park, playground, or public recreation building, Section 4.33.f.5.
(d)
Municipal Library, Section 4.33.f.6.
(e)
Private library, museum, or noncommercial gallery, Section 4.33.h.2.
(f)
All Retail or Consumer Service Establishments listed in Section 4.35.
17.704.2
Building Height. Building height in feet above grade and Stories Above Grade shall
be limited by the Table of Height Limitations below. The provisions of Section 5.23
shall govern the application of height limits.
17.704.2.1
Additional Height for Ground Story Active Uses. As set forth in the Table of Height
Limitations, greater height shall be permitted for portions of buildings containing
Residential Uses if the Ground Story is occupied by one or more Active Uses, as
defined in Section 17.703.3, comprising at least 60% of the interior portion of the
Ground Story that is within 50 feet of a Primary Street.
17.704.2.2
Inclusionary Housing. Building heights exceeding 6 stories above grade or 75 feet
above grade shall only be permitted if portions of the building used as Residences
comply with the Inclusionary Housing Requirements in Section 11.203 of this
Zoning Ordinance, regardless of whether it exceeds the size threshold requiring
compliance.
17.704.3
Table of Height Limitations.
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 6
CAM-8
CAM-10
CAM-12
CAM-15
Non-Residential
Uses (Section 4.30
except 4.31 a-j.,
4.33.b.7 & 4.33.a)
35 feet and 3
stories above
grade
35 feet and 3
stories above
grade
35 feet and 3
stories above
grade
45 feet and 4
stories above
grade
Dormitory Uses
(Section 4.33.b.7)
45 feet and 4
stories above
grade
45 feet and 4
stories above
grade
45 feet and 4
stories above
grade
45 feet and 4
stories above
grade
Residential Uses
(Section 4.31 a-j.)
& Religious
Purposes Uses
(Section 4.33.a)
75 feet and 6
stories above
grade
75 feet and 6
stories above
grade
75 feet and 6
stories above
grade
75 feet and 6
stories above
grade
Residential Uses
with Ground Story
Active Uses
(Section 17.703.3)
100 feet and 8
stories above
grade
120 feet and
10 stories
above grade
145 feet and
12 stories
above grade
175 feet and
15 stories
above grade
17.705
Building and Site Plan Standards.
17.705.1
General Provisions.
17.705.1.1
Applicability. The standards of this Section 17.705 shall apply to new construction,
including buildings and additions to buildings. Buildings in existence before the
adoption of this Section do not need to be modified to meet the standards of this
Section, but shall not be modified in a way that further violates the standards of this
Section unless approved by special permit from the Planning Board.
17.705.1.2
Other Standards. The general development standards of Article 5.000 shall apply
except as otherwise set forth in this Section 17.705. The applicable Sustainable
Development standards in Article 22.000 shall be met. The standards of Section
19.50 shall not apply except as set forth in this Section.
17.705.1.3
Modifications. The Planning Board may approve modifications to the standards of
this Section 17.705 by special permit upon finding that: (i) the criteria in Section
17.707.2 are met and (ii) such modifications respond to unique site-specific
conditions that result in a design that is equally supportive of the purpose of the
Cambridge Street Districts. Approved modifications shall be specifically
enumerated in the special permit decision.
17.705.2
Site Plan Standards.
17.705.2.1
Street Types. For the purposes of this Section 17.700, there shall be Primary
Streets and Secondary Streets as defined below:
(a)
Primary Streets shall include Cambridge Street, North First Street, Hampshire
Street, Monsignor O’Brien Highway, and Prospect Street.
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 7
(b)
Secondary Streets shall include all streets not identified as Primary Streets.
17.705.2.2
Open Space. Lots shall be subject to a minimum ratio of total open space to lot
area as set forth in the table below. The application of open space requirements
shall be governed by Section 5.22. Some lots shall have a minimum requirement for
Publicly Beneficial Open Space or Public Open Space as set forth in the table
below, expressed as a minimum ratio of open space to lot area but included within
the total open space requirement. Such required Public Open Space or Publicly
Beneficial Open Space shall be accessible for use by the general public during
reasonable times of day for the purposes for which the space is designed. The
intent of such Open Space shall be to provide small-scale neighborhood amenities
such as pocket parks, plazas, playgrounds, and other similar uses.
17.705.2.3
Front Yards. Minimum required front yard setback distances are set forth in the
table below. Such setback distances shall be measured in feet from front lot lines
(or street lines). Different standards may apply based on the street type from which
the setback is measured.
17.705.2.4
Side and Rear Yards. Minimum required side and rear yard setback distances are
set forth in the table below. Such setback distances shall be measured in feet from
side or rear lot lines. Different standards may apply based on whether or not the
portion of the lot line from which the setback is measured is located within 85 feet
of a front lot line abutting a Primary Street, measured perpendicularly from the front
lot line.
17.705.2.5
Upper Story Setbacks. Minimum setback distances are set forth in the table below
that apply to portions of buildings above a specified height above grade. Such
setback distances shall be measured in feet horizontally from either the front lot
line, varying by street type, or from a zoning district boundary adjoining a Residence
district. Where development is impacted by the Flood Resilience Standards in
Section 22.80, the heights at which upper story setbacks are required shall be
adjusted according to the provisions of Section 5.23.2.
17.705.2.6
Yard Exceptions and Projections. In general, the yard provisions of Section 5.24
shall apply to yard setbacks but not to upper story setbacks. However, portions of
buildings may project into a required front setback or upper story setback from a
Primary Street, notwithstanding Paragraph 5.24.1(f), if the following limitations are
met:
(a)
Projections shall not be allowed at or below the ground story.
(b)
Projections shall not extend more than 4 feet into the required setback.
(c)
Projections shall not occur over more than 50% of the total area of the façade facing
a Primary Street.
(d)
In a CAM-10, CAM-12, or CAM-15 district, the Planning Board may approve
additional, limited projections into a yard setback or upper story setback upon
granting a special permit if it is found to provide spatial definition of larger or
broader streets, parks, or squares or to emphasize significant locations such as
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 8
major street intersections, prominent bends in streets, and termina of major view
corridors.
17.705.2.7
Upper Story Floorplates. Portions of buildings above a specified height shall have
a maximum floorplate area in square feet as set forth in the table below. For the
purpose of this Section, the floorplate above a specified height shall mean the
Gross Floor Area of any contiguous story of the building located partially or
completely above the specified height. A building may have multiple non-
contiguous stories above the specified height so long as each contiguous story
does not exceed the maximum floorplate area. Where development is impacted by
the Flood Resilience Standards in Section 22.80, the heights at which floorplates
are limited shall be adjusted according to the provisions of Section 5.23.2.
17.705.3
Table of Site Plan Standards.
CAM-8
CAM-10
CAM-12
CAM-15
Minimum Open Space as a percentage of lot area
Lots with no
buildings more than
6 stories above
grade
none
none
none
none
Lots with a building
7 or more stories
above grade
15% total
15% total
15% total
15% total
Lots with a building
9 or more stories
above grade
N/A
15% total
5% public or
publicly
beneficial
15% total
10% public or
publicly
beneficial
15% total
10% public or
publicly
beneficial
Minimum Yard Setbacks in feet
Front, Primary
Streets
4’
4’
4’
4’
Front, Secondary
Streets
2’
2’
2’
none
Side or Rear,
within 85 feet of a
Primary Street
none
none
none
none
Side or Rear, not
within 85 feet of a
Primary Street
5’
5’
5’
none
Minimum Upper Story Setbacks in feet
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 9
CAM-8
CAM-10
CAM-12
CAM-15
Setback from
Primary Street –
Cambridge St,
Hampshire St or
Prospect St
14’ above 75’
14’ above 75’
34’ above 100’
14’ above 75’
44’ above 100’
14’ above 75’
44’ above 100’
Setback from
Primary Street –
Monsignor O’Brien
Highway or North
First St
none
14’ above 100’
14’ above 100’
14’ above 100’
Setback from
Secondary Street
12’ above 75’
12’ above 75’
12’ above 75’
32’ above 100’
10’ above 100’
Setback from
Residence District
Boundary
15’ above 75’
15’ above 75’
15’ above 75’
none
Maximum Upper Story Floorplates in square feet
Maximum
floorplate
No maximum
15,000 sf.
above 100’
15,000 sf. above
100’
15,000 sf. above
100’
17.705.4
Building and Site Design Standards.
17.705.4.1
Location of Uses. The standards for location of uses set forth in Section 19.53 of
this Zoning Ordinance shall be met.
17.705.4.2
Maximum Building Length. A building footprint exceeding 200 feet in length,
measured parallel to a street line, shall contain a massing recess extending back at
least 15 feet in depth measured from and perpendicular to the front lot line and at
least 15 feet in width measured parallel to the front lot line so that the maximum
length of unbroken façade is 200 feet.
17.705.4.3
Front Yard Design.
(a)
The area directly between a front lot line and the principal wall plane of the building
nearest to that front lot line shall consist of any combination of hardscaped
walkways, landscaped areas, and usable spaces such as seating, benches,
canopies, awnings, porches, patios accessible to pedestrians, or bicycle parking,
and may contain elevated porches, walkways, stairs, and/or ramps to provide a
transition from the sidewalk Grade to portions of the Ground Story that are elevated
above grade.
(b)
Parking and circulation for automobiles shall not be permitted in a front yard with
the exception of access drives to parking facilities located elsewhere on the lot,
which shall be limited to a total of 30 feet of width for each 100 feet of lot frontage.
17.705.4.4
Overall Façade Transparency. At least 20% of the total area of building façades
facing a public street or public open space shall consist of clear glass windows.
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 10
This figure shall be increased to 30% for non-residential portions of the building, if
any. No minimum requirement shall be imposed for portions of buildings containing
uses identified in Paragraph 19.50(2)(c).
17.705.4.5
Ground Story Façade Transparency. For the portion of the Ground Story façade
facing a Primary Street, the following additional standards shall apply:
(a)
Where the Ground Story contains non-residential uses, the portion of the façade
between 2 feet and 10 feet above the finished floor shall consist of at least 50%
transparent glass windows.
(b)
There shall be no section of the façade more than 25 feet in length, measured
parallel to the street, that does not contain at least one transparent window or
pedestrian entryway.
17.705.4.6
Ground Story Finished Floor Grade. Ground Stories shall not have a finished floor
below the mean Grade of the adjacent sidewalk on a Primary Street. Ground Stories
containing only residential uses may be elevated no more than 4 feet above the
mean Grade of the adjacent sidewalk or to the 1%-LTFE as described in the Flood
Resilience Standards in Section 22.80 of this Zoning Ordinance, whichever is
greater. Ground Stories containing non-residential uses may be elevated above the
sidewalk grade no higher than the 1%-LTFE, where applicable.
17.705.4.7
Ground Story Height. The minimum height of a Ground Story shall be 15 feet,
measured from the Grade of the adjacent sidewalk on a Primary Street to the
finished floor of the second Story Above Grade.
17.705.4.8
Ground Story Entrances. Each use at the Ground Story shall have a pedestrian
entrance directly from the public sidewalk of a Primary Street, or of a Secondary
Street where the use does not have direct frontage onto a Primary Street. All
pedestrian entrances shall be accessible by way of routes that are separated from
parking areas or motor vehicle access drives. Where the Ground Story is elevated
above the Grade of the existing sidewalk, access to Ground Story uses shall be
provided from the sidewalk using exterior or interior ramps, stairs, lifts, or other
means that meet accessibility standards.
17.705.4.9
Structured Parking Restrictions.
(a)
Structured parking in Stories Above Grade, whether as a principal or accessory use,
shall not be permitted to have direct frontage on a Primary Street but shall be
permitted if it is shielded from a Primary Street by a building or portion of a building
containing principal non-residential or residential uses, pedestrian lobbies and
common areas, or other areas devoted to non-vehicular use with a depth of at least
20 feet measured from the building façade to the above-grade parking facility in a
direction perpendicular to the Primary Street. Driveway access shall be permitted
as allowed in Section 17.704.4.3.
(b)
Structured parking in Stories Below Grade shall be permitted but must be fully
screened from a Primary Street by an exterior wall wherever the story extends above
the sidewalk grade.
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 11
(c)
All permitted structured parking, where not fully enclosed within a building, shall be
screened from view from adjacent public streets by fences, plantings, fabric, or
similar decorative elements that are at least 50% opaque across the visible portion
of the structured parking with the exception of vehicular entrances and exits.
17.705.4.10
Fences. Fences within a front, side, or rear yard shall meet the following standards:
(a)
No fence shall be made primarily of chain-link or wire.
(b)
Fences may be provided for the purpose of screening parking areas, driveways, or
on-grade mechanical or electrical equipment but shall be less than 7 feet in height
above grade and may be partially or fully opaque. Any opaque fence shall be
reviewed by the Cambridge Department of Transportation to ensure that it does not
compromise safety by impeding views for motor vehicle drivers.
(c)
Fences may be provided for the purpose of containing or protecting planted areas,
including trees, as well as for delineating Private Open Space for the use of
occupants of the lot, but may be no more than 30% opaque and may be no more
than 4 feet in height above grade if located in a front yard. Fences may be partially or
fully opaque and may be no more than 7 feet above grade if located in a side or rear
yard.
(d)
Fences not meeting the standards or serving the purposes described in Paragraphs
(a) through (c) above shall require a special permit from the Planning Board.
17.705.4.11
Street Tree Planting. New buildings containing 25,000 square feet of Gross Floor
Area or more shall incorporate tree plantings on public sidewalks directly adjacent
to the lot or otherwise needing to be rebuilt as part of the development to the extent
feasible, subject to approval by the Department of Public Works in accordance with
the Cambridge Urban Forest Master Plan.
17.705.4.12
Mechanical Equipment, Refuse Storage, and Loading Areas. The standards for
location and screening set forth in Section 19.58 of this Zoning Ordinance shall be
met. Electrical equipment whose location is mandated by a public utility is strongly
discouraged from being located on a Primary Street; however, where it is necessary,
it shall be screened from public view by fences, plantings, or similar materials to the
greatest extent allowable by the utility’s standards.
17.706
Transportation.
17.706.1
Off-Street Parking, Bicycle Parking, and Loading. The off-street parking, bicycle
parking, and loading requirements of the Business A district as set forth in Article
6.000 of the Zoning Ordinance shall apply equally to the Cambridge Street Districts,
except as set forth below.
17.706.2
Waiver of Off-Street Loading Requirements. The Planning Board may, upon
issuing a special permit, waive any requirements for the amount, location, and
design of loading facilities, and may permit loading facilities to be shared across
various uses and lots within the Cambridge Street Districts, upon finding that such
waiver would reduce the negative impacts of loading activities on pedestrian
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 12
access to the public sidewalk. The special permit may include conditions to ensure
this criterion is met.
17.707
Development Review.
17.707.1
Review Procedures. The Cambridge Street Districts shall be considered Areas of
Special Planning Concern. The development review procedures shall apply as set
forth in Article 19.000 of the Zoning Ordinance, except that GFA dedicated to Active
Uses (Section 17.703.3) shall not be counted when calculating the Project Review
Special Permit Threshold set forth in Section 19.23.
17.707.2
Special Permit Criteria. In granting a special permit under this Section or any other
special permit granted by the Planning Board, the Planning Board shall find that the
following criteria are met in addition to the criteria in Section 10.43 of the Zoning
Ordinance and other criteria specific to the special permit being sought:
(a)
The proposal supports the purpose of the Cambridge Street Districts as described
in Section 17.702.
(b)
Development plans are in general conformance with the vision and goals of the Our
Cambridge Street Planning Study (2023) and the Citywide Urban Design Objectives
in Section 19.30 of this Zoning Ordinance and are consistent with the Citywide
Urban Design Guidelines (2025) and Design Guidelines for Multifamily Housing
(2025) as applicable. The Planning Board may grant special permits for
development that deviates from specific design guidelines if the Board finds that
the proposal, on the whole, advances the intent of those guidelines.
Amendments to Article 19.000.
Amend the first paragraph Section 19.23 to read as follows (with no changes to subsequent
paragraphs):
19.23
Special Permit Threshold. In all applicable zoning districts, a Project Review Special
Permit shall be required for new building construction or change of use (pursuant to
Subsection 19.23.1 below) where a Table I threshold has been met, on a lot or
combination of contiguous lots held in common ownership at any time after
September 15, 2000. In a Business A, Business A-1, or Business A-2 district, or a
Cambridge Street District (CAM-8, CAM-10, CAM-12, or CAM-15), a Project Review
Special Permit shall also be required for new building construction of 20,000 square
feet or more of non-residential Gross Floor Area (GFA), though a Traffic Study shall
not be required if a Table I threshold is not met. Where a mix of uses is proposed the
threshold shall be determined by the application of the Mixed Use Formula set forth
in Table 1.
Amend Section 19.46 to read as follows:
19.46
Areas of Special Planning Concern. The following zoning districts shall be
considered Areas of Special Planning Concern:
Cambridge Street Districts – Revised Zoning Petition
December 22, 2025
Page 13
(a)
Business A-1 and Business A-2 and Business A-4 Districts
(b)
Parkway Overlay District
(c)
Kirkland Place Overlay District
(d)
Harvard Square Overlay District
(e)
Central Square Overlay District
(f)
Cambridgeport Revitalization Development District
(g)
Massachusetts Avenue Overlay District
(h)
Special District 12
(i)
Special District 13
(j)
Special District 14
(k)
Memorial Drive Overlay District
(l)
Prospect Street Overlay District
(m)
Alewife Overlay Districts
(n)
Cambridge Street Districts (CAM-8, CAM-10, CAM-12, and CAM-15).