Rethink Approach to Envision Cambridge

City of Cambridge O-4 IN CITY COUNCIL November 5, 2018 COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN VICE MAYOR DEVEREUX WHEREAS: Envision Cambridge’s six Working Groups released draft goals and recommendations to the public in June 2018; and WHEREAS: In their community presentations on Envision since that time, CDD and Utile have focused on an analysis of three specific zoning ideas included in the 175 total recommendations: a 100% affordable housing overlay, a “super inclusionary” overlay, and an environmental performance incentive overlay; and WHEREAS: This approach has caused considerable and unfortunate confusion among many members of the community, some of whom do not seem to realize that Envision Cambridge is much more than this trio of specific zoning ideas, a conclusion that makes it difficult for them to engage with Envision as a whole, despite the many good ideas and goals contained within it; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct CDD to de-emphasize the three zoning analyses during presentations to the community on Envision Cambridge, and to focus those presentations instead on getting feedback and buy-in on the goals of all six Envision Cambridge Working Groups; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct CDD and Utile to also analyze Envision recommendations for strengthening tenant protections and increasing revenues and expenditures for city-subsidized affordable housing; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council as soon as possible on this matter.