Search ▸ Agenda item attachment
CMA 2017 #276 · Agenda item attachment · Oct 23 2017
A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to information in response to discussion at the Ordinance Committee hearing of October 17, 2017 regarding the Volpe Petition
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 1 of 20
13.90
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT 7 DISTRICT
13.91
Purpose. The PUD-7 District is intended to provide for the creation of a vibrant
mixed-use district of high quality general and technical office and retail activity,
with significant components of residential use and open space. The retention of
government office facilities on the site is desired, as well as space for smaller
innovation companies as a component of the commercial space that is created.
The creation of open space to serve residents of the District and the surrounding
neighborhoods, as well as workers, students from nearby institutions, and visitors,
is desired. The PUD-7 District permits larger scale development and supporting
commercial activities and residences close to Kendall Square and the major public
transit services located there. It encourages strong connections between new
development at Kendall Square, the East Cambridge riverfront, the PUD-7 area
and the neighborhoods of eastern Cambridge. It also promotes permeability at the
edges of the district, public spaces that will feel welcoming and comfortable to all
users, ground floors that will activate public streets and spaces, and civic
functions and amenities serving residents and visitors of all ages and all
socioeconomic backgrounds. The expectation is for the District to transform into a
recognizable center of activity and civic life for Kendall Square and the
surrounding neighborhoods. Development in the PUD-7 District is expected to
meet high standards for urban design, architectural design, environmental
sustainability and open space design. Development should be generally consistent
with the policy objectives set forth in the then current Kendall Square (“K2”)
Planning Study and Design Guidelines (2013), the Planning and Design Principles
established by the City’s Volpe Working Group (2017) and Volpe Site Design
Guidelines (2017), collectively, the “PUD-7 Guidelines and Principles.”
13.91.1
Master Plan Area. To further the purpose of this Section 13.90, any Development
Parcel or portion of a Development Parcel meeting the requirements set forth in
Section 13.93 below that is at least five (5) acres in area shall be considered a
Master Plan Area, within which a Development Proposal shall present physical
information in a more conceptual or generalized way, subject to more detailed
approval by the Planning Board at a time and in a manner determined by the
Board in its PUD special permit decision.
13.91.2
Master Plan Requirements. Within the Master Plan Area, the locations of streets
and open spaces, the quantities of proposed land uses, and general building
envelopes, locations and heights shall be indicated in sufficient detail that the
Planning Board can reasonably assess the impact of the Master Plan and its
general consistency with the Master Plan Criteria set forth in Section 13.91.4
below and the guidance provided in the PUD-7 Guidelines and Principles. At a
minimum, a Development Proposal and subsequent Final Development Plan for a
Master Plan Area must contain the following components:
(a)
Site Development Plan — describing how the Master Plan Area is divided
into distinct building sites (including any Government Owned Lot as defined in
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 2 of 20
Section 13.97 below), streets, and open spaces and their development
characteristics, including potential uses and Gross Floor Area (“GFA”).
(b)
Site Massing Plan — illustrating the height and massing of building
volumes for each proposed building site, and including studies of anticipated
shadow and wind impacts resulting from building mass.
(c)
Parking and Loading Plan — identifying the locations of all parking
facilities, bicycle parking facilities and facilities for loading or other vehicular
service functions, and the number of spaces proposed at each location.
(d)
Connectivity Plan — illustrating all pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular
circulation routes within the Master Plan Area, their connections to nearby public
circulation routes and destinations outside the Master Plan Area, and approximate
locations of access and egress points on each building and parking facility within
the Master Plan Area.
(e)
Open Space Plan — illustrating and quantifying the areas of all proposed
open space and the ownership and designation of each area, specifically
delineating open space required in Section 13.94 below and the portions of such
open space that will be permanently guaranteed for public use, as well as
descriptions of major design elements and themes to be incorporated into each
space and the types of uses and activities that could be accommodated in each
space, including areas that will be designated for programmed uses such as spill-
out dining and performance space.
(f)
Ground Floor and Activation Plan — illustrating the conceptual
arrangement of functions such as retail establishments and other active uses,
residential and office lobbies, and utility spaces at the ground floor of each
building in the Master Plan Area, as well as the locations and anticipated sizes of
Active Space, Innovation Space, and Community Space that may be required or
incentivized by the specific provisions of this Section 13.90 and strategies for
programming and activating those spaces (specifically including a report from a
retail specialist describing strategies for recruiting and supporting retail tenants in
a manner that will support the requirements and goals of the District).
(g)
Housing Plan — providing the approximate number and mix of housing
unit types proposed on each residential site, and identifying the anticipated
location of dwelling units that may be required or incentivized by specific
provisions of this Section 13.90.
(h)
Phasing Plan — describing the general sequence in which development is
proposed to proceed, and specifically describing how the phasing requirements set
forth in this Section 13.90 will be met.
(i)
Sustainability Plan – describing: (1) how the sustainability requirements
set forth in Section 13.96.4 below will be met; (2) expected greenhouse gas
emissions from the development and strategies employed to improve energy
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 3 of 20
efficiency and support renewable energy production, through individual building
design and by utilizing existing or new district-wide energy systems; and (3)
expected vulnerability of the development to the effects of climate change,
including increased precipitation, flood risk, temperature, and urban heat island
effect, and strategies to promote resiliency within individual building sites and at
a larger district-wide level, including natural stormwater management systems,
increased vegetation and shade, and measures to withstand and recover from
extreme climatological events.
(j)
Transportation Plan – incorporating: (1) a Transportation Impact Study
required by Section 19.20 of this Ordinance; (2) a Shared Parking Study required
by Section 13.95.5 below; (3) a study of the impacts of increased demand on
public transportation services in the Kendall Square area; (4) a description of the
development’s relationship to future regional rail, bus, pedestrian/bicycle and
other transportation system connections in the area, such as the Grand Junction
rail corridor; and (5) a Transportation Demand Management and Mitigation
program describing measures to offset or mitigate the project’s impacts on
transportation systems. Such studies shall account for the proposed scale and
phasing of development and the limitations on system capacity to accommodate
new vehicle, transit, and other trips.
(k)
Environmental Comfort Plan – describing or showing screening, building
elements, or other site improvements designed to reduce impacts from wind and
shadows, provide adequate lighting for safe use while minimizing excessive light,
mitigate urban heat island effect, and control noise generated by mechanical
systems and by truck traffic, particularly on Binney Street.
(l)
Architectural Character Plan – describing general approaches to the design
of buildings, landscaped areas, streets, and pathways, identifying the type of
visual character that the development will aim to achieve, with the expectation
that specific designs of individual buildings and spaces will be reviewed in further
detail as they are developed.
13.91.3
Master Plan Approval. The Planning Board shall grant a PUD special permit
approving a Final Development Plan for a Master Plan Area (with the exception
of any Government Owned Lot that is not subject to local regulation) upon
finding that the Final Development Plan is consistent with the criteria set forth
below, all other criteria applicable to approval of a Final Development Plan in this
Zoning Ordinance and any other special permits being sought, and upon
consideration of the PUD-7 Guidelines and Principles. In approving a Final
Development Plan, the Planning Board may incorporate criteria and additional
guidelines for future design review of individual building sites and open spaces in
support of its findings. The PUD special permit may identify specific
modifications to the Final Development Plan that may be subject to future
approval by a written determination of the Planning Board. Otherwise, any
modifications to a Final Development Plan for a Master Plan Area shall be
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 4 of 20
considered pursuant to the PUD Amendment provisions set forth in Section 12.37
of this Zoning Ordinance.
13.91.4
Master Plan Criteria. An approved Final Development Plan for a Master Plan
Area shall meet the following objectives:
(1)
Providing a mix of commercial, including research and technology, and
residential uses, with particular emphasis on ground-floor retail along portions of
Third Street and Broadway, to encourage activity throughout the day and evening.
(2)
For residential uses, incorporating a diversity of dwelling unit sizes that
are appealing and accessible to a variety of users, including families with children
and households from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds.
(3)
Breaking up large blocks to increase permeability and create a fine-
grained network of connections that seamlessly integrates the PUD-7 District with
the surrounding urban fabric of Kendall Square and the East Cambridge,
Wellington-Harrington, and Port neighborhoods.
(4)
Sensitively interfacing with adjacent land uses with respect to use scale,
density, setback, bulk, height, landscaping, and screening, while providing
integrated pedestrian circulation systems with particularly strong linkages to the
Broad Canal, riverfront, Grand Junction corridor, other public spaces within
Kendall Square, and the East Cambridge, Wellington-Harrington, and Port
neighborhoods.
(5)
Sensitively managing the height and bulk of new buildings to (a) reduce
the impact of shadows, excessive wind, and obstruction of light and views, with
specific consideration given to residential buildings and public spaces; (b) reduce
detrimental environmental impacts such as excessive ground coverage,
diminution of open space, and monotonous development; (c) provide an
appropriate scale at interfaces with adjoining lower scale uses, such as proposed
and existing buildings and open spaces in the vicinity; (d) not otherwise diminish
the health and safety of the area around the development parcel; and (e) establish
a defined urban character at a “streetwall” height that is distinct from taller
“tower” elements of buildings, in accordance with the goals set forth in the PUD-
7 Guidelines and Principles.
(6)
Creating an integrated network of high-quality streets and open spaces,
including significant space for public gathering and recreation, that serves the
surrounding communities as well as the development on the site by encouraging
and fostering a sense of community, civic engagement, social interaction,
economic development, and environmental sustainability.
(7)
Integrating development with open space physically and functionally by
means of building orientation, active frontages, location of building entrances,
pedestrian linkages between major activity centers, and similar techniques in
accordance with the objectives set forth in the PUD-7 Guidelines and Principles.
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 5 of 20
(8)
Providing a strong street edge on major public streets, including Broadway
and Third Street as well as new street connections through the district, to create a
memorable “main street” experience.
(9)
Providing active ground floors that animate streets and open spaces, and
add to the vitality of Kendall Square.
(10)
Fostering a spirit of inclusiveness and diversity, particularly in the
planning and programming of Open Space, Active Space, Innovation Space, and
Community Space (in accordance with the requirements set forth below) to draw
users and visitors from across the city.
(11)
Enhancing the architectural diversity and aesthetic qualities of the PUD-7
District to harness the spirit of innovation and creativity in Kendall Square and
reinforces a Cambridge sense of place.
(12)
Promoting best practices for environmental sustainability in district-wide
planning and in establishing design objectives for individual buildings and sites,
in accordance with the City’s ongoing planning efforts, including the Net Zero
Action Plan and Climate Change Preparedness and Resiliency Plan.
(13)
Demonstrating a commitment to implementing a Transportation Demand
Management and Mitigation Program consistent with the reduced parking
mandated in this PUD zoning and the capacity limitations of the transportation
network that serves the Kendall Square area, including roadways and public
transportation systems. In approving a Final Development Plan, the Planning
Board shall refer to Article 18.000 and Section 19.20 of this Zoning Ordinance,
applicable PUD-7 Guidelines and Principles, and other City transportation
planning efforts (including the Kendall Square Mobility Task Force), and may
require measures to be linked to milestones, thresholds or performance standards
connected to the scale and pace of development within the PUD.
13.91.5
Pre-Application Conference. In the course of preparing a Development Proposal
for a Master Plan Area, the Developer shall be required to participate in at least
one PUD Pre-Application Conference as established in Section 12.33 of this
Zoning Ordinance and a similar conference with the full City Council or
Ordinance Committee. The purpose of the conference will be to discuss the
conceptual alternatives for site arrangement, building massing, circulation
systems and public space arrangement, as well as general approaches to
architectural and landscape design, and for the Developer to receive informal
feedback from the Planning Board prior to preparing the materials required by
Section 13.91.2. As set forth in Section 12.33.2, any statement made by the
Planning Board or the Developer at the Pre-Application Conference shall not be
legally binding. Notwithstanding Section 12.33.3, the Developer shall present
graphic and written materials as needed to illustrate and describe conceptual
development alternatives.
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 6 of 20
13.92
Uses Allowed in a PUD-7 District. The uses listed in this Section 13.92, alone or
in combination with each other, shall be allowed upon permission of the Planning
Board. The amount and extent of uses may be further regulated and limited as set
forth elsewhere in this Section 13.90. This Section 13.92 shall refer to uses as
they are listed in Article 4.000 and otherwise defined in this Zoning Ordinance as
of the effective date of the enactment of this Section 13.90.
13.92.1
Residential Uses. All uses listed in Sections 4.31 d. (Townhouse Development);
4.31 g. (Multifamily Dwelling); and 4.31 i.2. (Hotels or Motels).
13.92.2
Transportation, Communication and Utility Uses. All uses listed in Section 4.32
and which are allowed or conditionally allowed in the base zoning district.
13.92.3
Office and Laboratory Uses. All uses listed in Section 4.34.
13.92.4
Retail Business and Consumer Service Establishments. All uses listed in Section
4.35 with the exception of j. (mortuary, undertaking or funeral establishment).
13.92.5
Open Air or Drive in Retail & Services. Uses listed in Sections 4.36 a. (Sales
place for flowers, garden supplies agricultural product conducted partly or wholly
outdoors, commercial greenhouse or garden) and 4.36 e. (Open air theatre or other
open air place of entertainment), but not including drive-in theatres.
13.92.6
Institutional Uses. All uses listed in Section 4.33.
13.92.7
Light Industry, Wholesale Business and Storage. Uses listed in Sections 4.37 a.
(Assembly and packaging of articles), b. (Manufacturing, processing, assembly
and packaging), c. (Bottling of beverages) and f. (Printing, binding, published and
other related arts and trades).
13.92.8
Other Uses. Any use not listed in subsections 13.92.1 through 13.92.7, otherwise
allowed in a Business B District, may be allowed by the Planning Board upon
written determination by the Board that such use is consistent with the objectives
of the PUD-7 District and is consistent with the predominant uses in the PUD-7
District.
13.93
District Dimensional Regulations.
13.93.1
Permitted Gross Floor Area (GFA). In the PUD-7 District the maximum GFA
shall be three million, two hundred fifty thousand (3,250,000) square feet,
including the up to four hundred thousand (400,000) square feet of GFA devoted
exclusively to a use designated as Other Government Facility in the Table of Use
Regulations on a Government Owned Lot (as set forth in Section 13.97 below),
subject to the provisions set forth below.
(a)
Assignment of GFA to Lots. A Development Proposal for a Development
Parcel including all lots within the PUD-7 District shall describe how all of the
permitted GFA set forth above will be assigned to lots within the District.
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 7 of 20
However, to the extent a Development Proposal for a Development Parcel
excludes the single lot identified on the Cambridge Assessing Maps as Map/Lot
28-43, which is located at the southwesterly corner of Binney Street and Third
Street and is approximately five thousand, eight hundred eighty-nine (5,889)
square feet in size , such Development Parcel shall be allowed a maximum of
three million, two hundred twenty thousand (3,220,000) square feet of GFA to be
allocated to the remaining lots in the District.
(b)
GFA Exemptions. The following shall be excluded from the calculation
of GFA for the purpose of meeting the requirements set forth in this Section or
elsewhere in this Zoning Ordinance:
(1)
GFA devoted exclusively to a use designated as Other Government
Facility in the Table of Use Regulations on a Government Owned Lot (as set forth
in Section 13.97 below), but only to the extent that the GFA of all Other
Government Facility uses on any and all Government Owned Lots located within
the PUD-7 District exceeds four hundred thousand (400,000) square feet, in the
aggregate.
(2)
GFA devoted to Active Space that is exempt according to the
provisions of Section 13.96.1, Paragraph (3) below, up to a maximum of five
percent (5%) of GFA allowed in the PUD-7 District.
(3)
Fifty percent (50%) of the GFA devoted to Innovation Space, up to
a maximum of five percent (5%) of non-residential GFA allowed in the PUD-7
District, as described in Section 13.96.3 below.
(4)
Private outdoor decks or balconies, up to eight percent (8%) of the
GFA of any building.
(5)
Any and all of the GFA devoted to the Community Space required
by Section 13.96.5.
(c)
Required Residential Development.
(1)
At least forty percent (40%) of the total permitted GFA in a Final
Development Plan, excluding up to four hundred thousand (400,000) square feet
of GFA devoted exclusively to a use designated as Other Government Facility in
the Table of Use Regulations on a Government Owned Lot (as set forth in Section
13.97 below), shall be devoted to residential use. Such calculation shall be based
on GFA authorized exclusive of any GFA devoted solely to structured parking.
Individual Development Parcels may exceed the limitations set forth above, as
long as the limitations are satisfied, in the aggregate, within the PUD-7 District.
(2)
For the purpose of this Section, residential uses shall mean the
residential uses listed in Section 4.31 d. and g. of this Zoning Ordinance. In
addition, hotel or motel uses (Section 4.31, i-2), up to a maximum of one hundred
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 8 of 20
thousand (100,000) square feet, may be used to partially satisfy the required
residential development.
(3)
Final Development Plans for Development Parcels shall include a
Phasing Plan providing a general sequence for the construction of residential and
non-residential uses. The Planning Board shall approve such a Phasing Plan if it is
found to ensure that residential uses will be completed on a schedule that meets
the objectives of the City and ensures compliance with the requirement set forth
in Paragraph (1) above. In general, exclusive of Other Government Facility
Uses on Government Owned Lots, non-residential development on
Development Parcels shall not be authorized to exceed, in the aggregate, sixty
percent (60%) of the total non-exempt GFA permitted for non-residential uses
until substantial construction activity of a significant portion of the required
residential GFA within the Final Development Plan has commenced. Full
completion of all of the permitted non-residential GFA shall not be allowed
before substantial construction activity has commenced on all of the required
residential development. The Planning Board may approve variations to the
standards in this Paragraph if the Phasing Plan is found to be in general
conformance with the intent of this Paragraph.
(4)
Residential GFA shall be subject to the Inclusionary Housing
Provisions of Section 11.203 of this Zoning Ordinance, but in no case shall the
Inclusionary Housing Requirement be less than twenty percent (20%). However,
notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.203.5, no further increase in Floor
Area Ratio or Gross Floor Area beyond the limitations set forth in this Section
13.93.1 shall be provided.
(5)
In the event that a Final Development Plan contains hotel or motel
uses in partial satisfaction of the housing requirements as set forth in Paragraph
(2) above, the Final Development Plan shall also include Affordable Dwelling
Units containing an aggregate Net Dwelling Unit Floor Area equal to twenty
percent (20%) (or such larger percentage as may be specified in Section 11.203.2
of this Zoning Ordinance) of the aggregate GFA of any hotel or motel uses to the
extent such uses are being counted toward satisfaction of the minimum residential
use requirement set forth above in Section 13.93.1(c)(1), in addition to the
Affordable Dwelling Units required in the non-hotel residential portions of the
Final Development Plan. No hotel uses shall receive a certificate of occupancy
until the City has issued certificates of occupancy for the Affordable Dwelling
Units comprising the Net Dwelling Unit Floor Area required by this Paragraph.
13.93.2
Minimum Development Parcel Size.
(a)
A Development Parcel within the PUD-7 District shall include all lots that
are in existence as of July 6, 2017, and held in common ownership where it is
proposed to incorporate any portion of such lot or lots within the Development
Parcel. A portion of a Development Parcel may be designated as a Government
Owned Lot subject to the provisions set forth in Section 13.97 below. Where
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 9 of 20
circumstances related to the transfer of property from the federal government to
other governmental or private entities (for the purpose of private development on
a portion or all of the land in the control of the federal government) limit the
feasibility of creating a Development Parcel meeting the size requirements of this
Section 13.93.2, the Planning Board may in its discretion approve a PUD
application having a smaller Development Parcel size. However, in no case shall
a Development Parcel contain less than twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet
of total lot area.
(b)
A Development Parcel within the PUD-7 District may also contain
contiguous or noncontiguous lots elsewhere in the PUD-7 District or within
another PUD District that are situated within three hundred (300) feet of the
boundaries of the PUD-7 District. There shall be no specified minimum lot size
for lots located within a Development Parcel.
13.93.3
Residential Density. There shall be no required minimum Lot Area Per Dwelling
Unit in the PUD-7 District.
13.93.4
Maximum Building Height.
(a)
The maximum height permitted in the PUD-7 District shall be two
hundred fifty (250) feet, except as it may be further limited or increased in this
Section 13.93.4. The permitted heights are further illustrated on the Building
Height Regulation Map for the PUD-7 District, Map 13.91.
(b)
Reduced Building Height to One Hundred Seventy Feet. The maximum
height for non-residential buildings shall be reduced to one hundred seventy (170)
feet in the portion of the PUD-7 District bounded by the centerline of Binney
Street, the centerline of Third Street, the southerly line of Monroe Street and a
line that is the extension of the easterly line of Fifth Street running from the
northerly line of Fifth Street to centerline of Binney Street. In such portion of the
District, any part of a building exceeding one hundred seventy (170) feet in height
shall (i) be limited to residential and/or institutional dormitory uses (and may
include related amenity space), and (ii) have floor plates measuring no more than
fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet.
(c)
Increased Building Height. In the portion of the PUD-7 District bounded
by the centerline of Third Street, the centerline of Broadway, the westerly
boundary of the PUD-7 District and the northerly line of Potter Street and its
extension from the centerline of Third Street to the westerly boundary of the
PUD-7 District, building heights can be increased above two hundred fifty (250)
feet, subject to the limitations set forth below:
(1)
The use of any occupiable space situated above three hundred
(300) two hundred fifty (250) feet in height shall (i) be limited to residential
and/or institutional dormitory uses (and may include related amenity space). , and
(ii)
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 10 of 20
(2)
Portions of buildings situated above two hundred fifty (250)
feet in height shall have floor plates measuring no more than fifteen thousand
(15,000) square feet of GFA. No non-residential building shall have a height
exceeding 250 feet.
(23)
No more than ten percent (10%) of the aggregate land area of the
PUD-7 District (including any private rights of way situated on or constructed
within parcels owned by the Developer or public streets created after the adoption
of this Article 13.90) may be covered by portions of buildings in excess of two
hundred fifty (250) feet in height, excluding the height of any buildings
containing Other Governmental Uses. In approving a Final Development Plan, the
Planning Board may increase such coverage upon finding that it would facilitate
the accommodation of residential uses in accordance with the requirements of this
Section 13.90 and the PUD-7 Guidelines and Principles.
(34)
No more than one building shall be allowed to exceed three
hundred fifty (350) feet in height. In reviewing a Development Proposal or Final
Development Plan including a building that exceeds three hundred fifty (350) feet
in height, the Planning Board shall give consideration to a building that is
designed to be an iconic or a distinctive architectural landmark. In no event shall
any building having a height in excess of five hundred (500) feet be permitted.
(d)
Notwithstanding the non-residential height limits contained above,
publicly accessible areas of a building located at or above a height of three
hundred (300) feet shall be permitted, subject to approval by the Planning Board.
Such public access shall be subject to such reasonable hours of operation and
rules and regulations as the owner of the building containing such uses may from
time to time adopt; however, the Planning Board must approve any proposal to
significantly limit public access to such uses.
13.93.5
Other Dimensional Requirements. There shall be no minimum width for a
Development Parcel and no minimum width for lots located within a
Development Parcel. There shall be no minimum required front, rear and side
yard requirements for a Development Parcel or for lots located within a
Development Parcel, except that no building shall be constructed within ten (10)
feet of the westerly boundary of a development parcel abutting the existing
open space parcel that connects the corner of Binney Street and Sixth Street
to the corner of Broadway and Ames Streetthe PUD-7 District. There shall be
no minimum required distance between buildings situated on the same lot within a
Development Parcel. The Planning Board shall approve all such lot sizes and
building setbacks.
13.94
Open Space.
(a)
At a minimum, twenty-five percent (25%) of the land area within the
PUD-7 District, excluding any land designated as a Government Owned Lot, shall
be Public Open Space or Publicly Beneficial Open Space, subject to the further
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 11 of 20
standards set forth below. Less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the land area of
an individual Development Parcel may be Public Open Space or Publicly
Beneficial Open Space, provided that the requirement of this Paragraph is
otherwise met within a combination of parcels in the PUD-7 District in
accordance with Paragraph (c) below.
(b)
For the purpose of this Section 13.90, the building footprint of any free-
standing structure devoted to Community Space, as defined in Section 13.96.5
below, shall be applied toward the minimum Open Space requirements set forth in
the preceding paragraph. Such free-standing structure must be used solely for
Community Space, with the exception that Active Space, as described in Section
13.96.1 below, is permitted on the ground floor but such Active Space shall not
apply toward the minimum Open Space requirements set forth in Paragraph (a)
above.
(c)
Owners of adjacent Development Parcels or non-adjacent parcels
contained within the PUD-7 District (with the exception of Government Owned
Lots) may collectively provide the required Open Space, provided that the parcels
are held in common ownership or the Planning Board finds that the owners of
each Development Parcel have provided written evidence of an agreement that the
total amount of open space required for both Development Parcels is provided and
that the Open Space Plans for each Development Parcel meet the standards for
approval. In that event, the Planning Board shall identify in the Special Permits
for each PUD the amount of open space required on each parcel.
(d)
The required Open Space shall contain, in the aggregate, at least two (2)
acres of such Open Space that is permanently guaranteed for public use by means
of a recorded covenant, easement, conservation restriction, or other similar legal
instrument acceptable to the City. Such public use may include active or passive
recreation, pedestrian and bicycle connections, enjoyment of natural
environments, spillover activity from publicly accessible ground floor uses, public
performances, or other programming opportunities. All such open space shall be
generally accessible to the public for the purposes for which the open space is
designed and approved by the Planning Board.
13.95
Parking and Loading Requirements. Development in the PUD-7 District shall
conform to the off-street Parking and Loading Requirements set forth in Article
6.000, and in the Schedule of Parking and Loading Requirements applicable to the
Residence C-3, Office 3, Business B and Industry B districts, except as modified
by this Section 13.95.
13.95.1
With regard to uses contained within new commercial buildings, provided that the
requirements of Section 6.23 of the Ordinance are met, the parking requirements
of this Section 13.95 may be satisfied (a) anywhere in the PUD-7 District or, if
located outside of the PUD-7 District, within 2,000 feet of the use being served,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Article 6.000; and (b) in
total or in part by a lease agreement, occupancy agreement, license or other
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 12 of 20
comparable legal instrument between the Developer and the City, other public
entity or private owner or consortium for use of parking spaces in the public or
pooled private parking facilities within said area.
13.95.2
All parking provided within an approved PUD shall be considered collectively
accessory to all approved uses within the PUD and the PUD-7 District.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article 6.000, this Ordinance shall
not restrict the management and assignment of parking spaces in a way that will
most efficiently utilize the existing and proposed parking spaces to serve all
approved uses. As an exception to these rules, all parking spaces (whether
existing or proposed) that are accessory to an Other Government Facility use as
listed in Section 4.33, paragraph (g) of the Table of Use Regulations shall be
distinctly identified and shall not be accessory to any other uses.
13.95.3
Minimum Parking. In approving a Final Development Plan for a Development
Parcel, the Planning Board may waive any minimum parking requirements
applicable in the PUD-7 District and the underlying Zoning District, with the
exception that parking for residential uses shall not be less than 0.4 parking
spaces per dwelling unit. The Planning Board may approve arrangements for
shared parking of such residential parking spaces with commercial spaces. The
Planning Board shall specify a minimum parking requirement for a PUD Final
Development Plan based on review and analysis of Transportation Impact Studies
and other relevant information on parking demand provided in application
documents, including the Shared Parking Study as required below and with the
guidance of City agencies.
13.95.4
Maximum Parking. Maximum allowed parking for a PUD shall be limited by
applying the rates set forth below to each use within the PUD and taking the
summation of the result for all uses. For any use not listed below, the maximum
parking ratio set forth in Article 6.000 shall apply. Exceeding the maximum
allowed parking shall require a waiver of maximum parking required under the
general provisions of Article 6.000.
(a)
Maximum of 0.8 spaces per 1,000 square feet of GFA for office and
laboratory uses.
(b)
Maximum of 0.75 spaces per residential dwelling unit.
(c)
Maximum of 0.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of retail space.
(d)
Maximum of 1 space per 4 sleeping rooms for hotel use.
13.95.5
Shared Parking Study. A Development Proposal for development in the PUD-7
District shall include an analysis of anticipated parking demand for all uses in the
development throughout the course of a typical day and week. This analysis may
identify opportunities for reducing the total amount of parking required to serve
all uses through the sharing of parking spaces by multiple uses. Based on this
analysis, the Planning Board may approve a reduced minimum or maximum
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 13 of 20
parking requirement upon finding that the approved amount of parking will be
sufficient to serve all permitted uses.
13.95.6
Surface Parking. All parking within the PUD-7 District shall be provided
underground, as defined in Section 5.25.22 of this Zoning Ordinance, with the
following exceptions that may be approved by the Planning Board in a Final
Development Plan:
(a)
Surface Parking on Private Roadways. On-grade parking shall be allowed
along private ways to be constructed within the PUD-7 District, provided that the
location and amount of said on-grade parking shall be depicted in the Final
Development Plan.
(b)
Interim Use of Surface Parking. On an interim basis, in anticipation of
later construction of structured parking sufficient to meet all parking
requirements, on grade open parking shall be allowed in a Development Parcel
subject to the following conditions:
(1)
The future parking structure will be constructed within the
Development Parcel or on an adjacent Development Parcel or outside of the PUD-
7 District in a location that complies with the provisions of Section 13.95.1, but it
may be located either on or off of the lot which it will serve;
(2)
Construction of the replacement parking structure will commence
within five years of the date of certificate of occupancy for the building initially
served by on grade parking;
(3)
The future parking structure will contain sufficient spaces for users
of the building initially served by on grade open parking so as to meet the parking
requirements for such building; and
(4)
Binding commitments exist to establish, to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Planning Board, that requirements (1) through (3) above shall
be satisfied. Such commitments shall be made by negotiated lease agreement,
deed restriction, covenant, license, occupancy agreement or comparable legal
instrument.
(c)
Where required, parking spaces for persons with disabilities may be
located on-grade.
(d)
Nothing in this Section 13.95 shall prohibit the use of the surface parking
spaces on Government Owned Lots.
13.95.7
Ground Floor Retail and Customer Service Uses. Retail and customer service
uses not exceeding ten thousand (10,000) square feet of space for each separately
leased establishment shall not be required to provide any accessory parking.
Where parking is provided, it shall be subject to the other provisions of this
Section 13.95.
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 14 of 20
13.95.8
Loading. The Planning Board, in its approval of a Final Development Plan, may
waive any requirements for the amount, location and design of loading facilities
within a Development Parcel, and may permit loading facilities to be shared
across various uses and lots within the PUD-7 District, upon finding that such
waiver would reduce the negative impacts of loading activities on the public
realm.
13.95.9
Bicycle parking shall be provided in accordance with Section 6.100 of this Zoning
Ordinance.
13.96
Special Requirements, Conditions and Standards Applicable to Certain
Development Authorized by the Planning Board in Kendall Square. The Planning
Board shall approve a Final Development Plan in the PUD-7 District only after
finding that in addition to all other applicable requirements the following
requirements have been met. The Planning Board shall, in addition, include
conditions in the approval of a Final Development Plan that will ensure ongoing
compliance with these requirements.
13.96.1
Active Space. Final Development Plans shall enhance the public pedestrian usage
of the sidewalks and create a sense of neighborhood continuity by providing an
interesting, lively and active presence at street level. Accordingly, with the
exception of buildings containing Other Government Facility uses on Government
Owned Lots, the ground floors of buildings in the PUD-7 District immediately
fronting on Third Street or Broadway shall be planned, designed, and constructed
to contain Active Space as required below, and the ground floors of buildings
facing public parks and public streets in the PUD-7 District shall be designed to
be inviting to the public and to accommodate Active Space in the future where
feasible.
(a)
Characteristics of Active Space. For purposes of this Section, “Active
Space” shall include any interior floor area meeting the following standards:
(1)
Use Limitations. Active Space shall include retail business and
consumer service establishments permitted in Section 13.92.4, institutional uses
that are generally open to the public such as museums and exhibition spaces, child
care, education or recreation uses serving families with children, Community
Space as required in Section 13.96.5 below, and other uses that are generally open
to the public and that the Planning Board determines meet the goals of this
Section. Space occupied by office uses, specifically including lobbies for office or
laboratory tenants, as well as banks, trusts, and other financial institutions, shall
not be considered Active Space. Portions of hotel and other lobbies containing
retail uses that are open to the general public, and not reserved exclusively for
hotel guests or tenants, may be considered Active Space with written Planning
Board approval.
(2)
Location. Active Space shall be located at the ground floor of a
building, adjacent to and at the grade of a public sidewalk or Open Space, and
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 15 of 20
with one or more entrance(s) providing direct access from such sidewalk or Open
Space and not requiring passage through any non-Active Space, provided that
access through lobbies constituting Active Space as set forth above in Section
13.96(a)(1) shall be permitted. In addition, with Planning Board approval, Active
Space may be located either below grade or above the ground floor if such space
is combined with or accessory to Active Space with entrances at the ground floor,
provided the Board finds that such location is appropriate for the intended use and
is generally consistent with the purpose and objectives of the District.
(3)
Establishment Size Limitations for GFA Exemption. Active Space
shall be exempt from the GFA requirements of this Section 13.90, up to the
maximum exemption set forth above in Section 13.93.1(b)(2), only to the extent
that it is leased or otherwise occupied by individual commercial establishments or
uses occupying no more than three thousand (3,000) square feet, which may
include vendor stalls or kiosks located within larger public spaces. Grocery,
market or pharmacy uses of up to ten thousand (10,000) square feet shall also be
exempt. The Planning Board may also exclude other Active Space from the
calculation of GFA to facilitate the inclusion of specific larger-scale active uses
that are consistent with the purpose and objectives of the District and the PUD-7
Guidelines and Principles. The GFA and approximate location of all such exempt
Active Space shall be depicted in a Final Development Plan.
(b)
Required Active Space.
(1)
At a minimum, a total of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of those
portions of the interior ground floors of buildings that are within a minimum
depth of twenty (20) feet from a Principal Front Wall Plane directly fronting
Broadway or Third Street shall be Active Space. Active Space is also encouraged
to activate new major streets and open spaces created within a PUD.
(2)
At least twenty-five percent (25%) of the floor area of the
Required Active Space in the Final Development Plan shall be devoted to
Independent Retail Operators each occupying no more than three thousand
(3,000) square feet of floor area. Such space requirements may be satisfied as
larger public atrium spaces containing smaller vendor stalls or kiosks. For the
purposes of this Section 13.90, “Independent Retail Operators” shall mean any
retail operator that does not own and operate more than ten (10) retail locations in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with same name and the same retail concept
on the date that the first lease is initially executed for such retail space.
(c)
Notwithstanding the provisions set forth above, the Planning Board, in
approving a Final Development Plan, may grant minor modifications to the
requirements set forth in this Section 13.96.1, upon finding that the proposed
Ground Floor and Activation Plan meets the purpose of the PUD-7 District.
(d)
Prior to submitting an application for a special permit in the PUD-7
District, the Developer shall have either hired or engaged, respectively, an
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 16 of 20
employee with substantial retail experience or the services of a consultant or other
party with retail expertise in order to advise the Developer in connection with
tenanting and programming of retail and other Active Space to be included in the
applicable Development Parcel. The recommendations of that consultant shall be
included in the Development Proposal.
13.96.2
Rooftop Mechanical Equipment Noise Mitigation. Sound emanating from rooftop
mechanical equipment on all new or substantially altered structures in an
approved Final Development Plan shall be minimized by the adoption of best
available and feasible practices regarding the location and sizing of equipment,
the selection of equipment and sound attenuation measures.
At a minimum, any noise or vibration emanating from new commercial or
substantially altered commercial buildings shall not be normally perceptible at
ground level without instruments at a distance of one hundred (100) feet from the
source lot line and shall comply with the provisions of the City of Cambridge
Noise Ordinance applicable to Commercial Areas (as such term is defined in the
Noise Ordinance).
In order to enforce these requirements, the Developer shall provide, in addition to
a Noise Mitigation narrative required as part of Article 19.000 review, acoustical
reports prepared by a professional acoustical engineer as described below:
(a)
Prior to and as a condition of the issuance of the first certificate of
occupancy for a new or substantially altered commercial building, an acoustical
report, including field measurements, demonstrating compliance of such building
with all applicable noise requirements; and
(b)
Prior to obtaining any building permit to add any new equipment having a
capacity greater than five (5) horsepower to the rooftop, a narrative report
demonstrating that there will be continued compliance with all applicable noise
requirements after such addition, and upon completion of such addition and as a
condition thereof, an acoustical report, including field measurements,
demonstrating such compliance.
13.96.3
Innovation Space. A Development Proposal containing at least two hundred
thousand (200,000) square feet of new GFA for Office Uses identified in Section
4.34, and specifically excluding any office space designated as Other Government
Facility on a Government Owned Lot, shall include a plan for Innovation Space
meeting the requirements set forth below.
(a)
Required Space.
(1)
The Development Proposal must identify Innovation Space that
has a GFA equal to, or in excess of, five percent (5%) of the new GFA approved
in the Final Development Plan for Office Uses other than the office space
designated as an Other Government Facility on a Government Owned Lot. GFA,
including, without limitation, existing GFA, within the PUD-7 District or other
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 17 of 20
Zoning and/or PUD Districts situated within one and one-half (1.50) miles from
the PUD-7 District may be used to meet this requirement.
(2)
Where at least 40,000 square feet of Innovation Space is required,
Innovation Space may be distributed in separate buildings, provided, however,
that each separate “unit” of Innovation Space contains at least 20,000 square feet.
If less than 40,000 square feet of Innovation Space is required, the Innovation
Space must be contained in a single building.
(3)
Developers of properties within the PUD-7 District may
collaborate with one or more property owners in Zoning and/or PUD Districts
located within one and one-half (1.50) miles from the PUD-7 District to develop
or designate joint Innovation Space. In such a case, the total square footage of
Innovation Space must be large enough to satisfy the sum of the requirements, if
any, for such participating Developers and their Zoning and/or PUD Districts.
(4)
A developer may enter into a lease, license or other contract or
occupancy agreement with a third party, whereby the third party provides (via
sublease or other occupancy agreement), administers, and manages the required
Innovation Space within a building (or buildings) without violating the
requirements of this Section 13.96.3, provided that such third party complies with
the requirements of this Section as the same may be varied by the Planning Board.
(b)
Characteristics. For the purposes of this Section, Innovation Space shall
have the following characteristics:
(1)
Durations of lease agreements (or other similar occupancy
agreements) with individual business entities shall be for periods of
approximately one (1) month.
(2)
No single business entity may occupy more than 2,000 square feet
or ten percent (10%) of the entire Innovation Space required to be provided in the
PUD-7 District, whichever is greater. The average size of separately contracted
private suites may not exceed 200 square feet of GFA.
(3)
Innovation Space shall include shared resources (i.e., co-working
areas, conference space, office equipment, supplies and kitchens) available to all
tenants occupying at least fifty percent (50%) of the Innovation Space.
(4)
Individual entities occupying Innovation Space may include small
business incubators and accelerators, small research laboratories, office space for
investors and entrepreneurs, facilities for teaching and for theoretical, basic and
applied research, product development and testing prototype fabrication, or
production of experimental products.
(c)
Variations. In approving a Final Development Plan or a Minor
Amendment to a Final Development Plan, the Planning Board may allow
variations in the specific standards and characteristics set forth in this Section
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 18 of 20
13.96.3, if the Planning Board finds that the Innovation Space, as proposed, will
be consistent with the purposes of these standards and characteristics.
13.96.4
Sustainability. New buildings constructed within the PUD-7 District shall comply
with the provisions of Section 22.20 of the Zoning Ordinance. For those
construction projects subject to Section 22.23, LEED certification at the Gold
level or better is required. In connection with the submission requirements of
Section 22.24.2.a., the Developer of such buildings shall submit a Statement of
Energy Design Intent produced through the EnergyStar Target Finder tool, or
comparable method. New institutional buildings will meet LEED Gold level
criteria, unless the technological specifications of a proposed specialized research
facility are such that the developer can demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction
of the Planning Board the impracticality of achieving the LEED Gold level
criteria or the inordinate impact achieving the LEED Gold level would have on
such specialized research facility. New buildings in the PUD-7 District must
incorporate an integrated design approach and incorporate the best practices for
meeting sustainability in the following five (5) areas:
(a)
Energy and Emissions; Steam. Each new building must conserve building
energy and, to the extent applicable, reduce carbon/GHG emissions. The
Developer, with each Development within the PUD-7 District, must evaluate the
potential for on-site energy generation or the construction of co-generation
facilities within the PUD-7 District. A Development Proposal for a commercial
building shall include a study, prepared by the Developer, considering the
feasibility of connecting the building(s) identified in the Development Proposal to
the existing district steam system.
(b)
Urban Site and Landscaping; Water Management. The Developer, for
each new building, must explore opportunities for (i) potable water use
reductions, (ii) storm water management using open spaces, (iii) the incorporation
of indigenous vegetation, and (iv) storm water for irrigation purposes. At a
minimum, all new buildings within the PUD-7 District must meet the Department
of Public Works’ standards for water quality management and the
retention/detention of the difference between the 2-year 24-hour pre-construction
runoff hydrograph and the post-construction 25-year 24-hour runoff hydrograph.
The design of buildings and outdoor spaces must also provide for vegetation such
as canopy trees, green walls and other measures to reduce urban heat gain.
(c)
Cool Roofs. All new buildings approved in the PUD-7 District, must
employ Functional Green Roofs (as such term is defined in Article 22.000 of this
Zoning Ordinance), high-albedo “white” roofs, or a functionally equivalent
roofing system. Where Functional Green Roofs are not employed, roofs shall be
constructed to facilitate the future installation of Solar Energy Systems.
(d)
Monitoring. All new buildings approved in the PUD-7 District shall be
required to conform to the requirements of the Cambridge Building Energy Use
Disclosure Ordinance, Chapter 8.67 of the Municipal Code.
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 19 of 20
(e)
In connection with the approval of a Final Development Plan or in
connection with the granting of a PUD or other special permit pursuant to this
Zoning Ordinance, the Planning Board may grant dimensional and other zoning
relief in order to permit the construction of a co-generation facility or other
energy systems that allow developments to develop shared solutions to minimize
energy usage.
13.96.5
Community Space. A Final Development Plan shall provide for the establishment
of a Community Space, which for the purpose of this Section shall mean a
freestanding building or a portion of a building containing other uses that is
occupied and programmed for one or more non-commercial service functions,
including but not limited to public recreation, social services, and educational
programs. The intent is for the Community Space to serve residents of nearby
neighborhoods, including East Cambridge, Wellington-Harrington, and the Port,
and to complement other public and community services available in those
neighborhoods.
13.96.6
Funding Contributions.
(a)
Contribution to Kendall Square Fund. Prior to issuance of a Certificate of
Occupancy for any building authorized by a PUD special permit in the PUD-7
District and containing non-residential uses not exempt from GFA pursuant to
Section 13.93.1, the permittee shall be required to contribute to a Kendall Square
Fund established by the City Manager. The contribution (referred to as a “Fund
Contribution Payment”) shall be calculated by multiplying ten dollars ($10.00) by
the number of square feet of new GFA for all non-residential uses in the subject
building not exempt from GFA pursuant to the provisions of Section 13.93.1,
excluding the GFA of any Other Government Facility uses. The City shall use any
Fund Contribution Payment made pursuant to this Section 13.96.6 for the
following uses in such allocations and amounts as the City Manager may
determine:
(1)
Transit Improvements. Fifty percent (50%) of any Fund
Contribution Payments shall be allocated for transportation improvements and
services to benefit the Kendall Square neighborhood and residents in adjacent
neighborhoods not already required by the City of Cambridge Parking and Traffic
Demand Management (PTDM) Ordinance. The transit improvement funds shall
be allocated at the direction of a committee appointed by the City Manager,
which committee shall contain representatives from Kendall Square,
adjacent neighborhoods and, at the written request of the developer of a
Development Parcel, a representative from the developer.
(2)
Community Benefits Fund. Fifty percent (50%) of any Fund
Contribution Payments shall be allocated to the Community Benefits Fund that
has been established by the City Manager.
PUD-7 Zoning Petition – Suggested Changes Following 10/17/2017 Ordinance Committee
September 27, 2017
Page 20 of 20
(b)
All development that meets the definition of an Incentive Project as set
forth in Article 2.000 of this Zoning Ordinance shall make a contribution in
accordance with the requirements of Section 11.202 of this Zoning Ordinance.
13.97
Special Requirements Related to Government Use on Government Owned Lots.
Where a Development Parcel or Master Plan Area in the PUD-7 District includes
a Government Owned Lot as it is defined below, the special provisions set forth in
this Section 13.97 shall apply notwithstanding any other regulations to the
contrary set forth in this Ordinance.
(a)
For the purpose of this Section 13.97, a Government Owned Lot shall
mean a lot owned by the federal government that may be developed in
conjunction with a transfer of land to a private entity, where such transferred land
is adjacent to the Government Owned Lot, and where the Government Owned Lot
is included as part of a Development Parcel or Master Plan Area. If so included,
such Government Owned Lot shall be clearly identified in a Development
Proposal and Final Development Plan.
(b)
Uses on a Government Owned Lot categorized as Other Government
Facility in Section 4.33 g. in in this Zoning Ordinance, if included within a Final
Development Plan, shall be exempt from the requirements set forth in this Section
13.90 and elsewhere in the Ordinance, except when calculating Permitted GFA in
the PUD-7 District as set forth in Section 13.93.1 above.
(c)
If a Special Permit has been granted authorizing development on a
Development Parcel or Master Plan Area containing a Government Owned Lot in
accordance with a Final Development Plan, and the controlling government
entity later separates the Government Owned Lot from the remainder of the
Development Parcel or Master Plan Area, then no future modification to
development on the Government Owned Lot shall affect the development
authorized in the approved Final Development Plan on the remainder of the
Development Parcel or Master Plan Area, and such development shall be allowed
to proceed in accordance with the Final Development Plan.