a report from Vice Mayor Jan Devereux, Co-Chair and Councillor Quinton Zondervan, Co-Chair of the Health and Environment Committee for a public hearing held on June 4, 2019 to discuss the proposed 100% Affordable Housing Overlay as it relates to the tree canopy, open space, green space and stormwater management

ATTACHMENTA Lopez, Donna From: Carol O'Hare < [email removed]>• Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2019 1:02 PM To: Lopez, Donna; Crane, Paula Health & Environment Committee: AHO - Devil in Details (just 2 examples re trees) Subject: Attachments: Zoning-AffordableHousing Overlay-ExcerptsApril2019AHOdraft- Health&EnvironmentCommitteeHearing190504.doc Dear Donna and Paula, I'm assuming that my 6/4/ email was filed with the Official Record even though I Cc'd Paula when Donna served as the hearing record/order keeper. If not, let me know what to do. Thanks. Carol O'Hare From: Carol O'Hare [mailto:[email removed]] Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2019 2:31 PM To: Cambridge City Council Cc: 'Crane, Paula'; 'Singanayagam, Ranjit'; 'O'Riordan, Owen'; 'dwebster@cambridgema.gov'; 'Lefcourt, David'; 'Maggie Booz'; '[email removed]'; 'Iram Farooq'; 'Roberts, Jeffrey' Subject: Health & Environment Committee: AHO - Devil in Details (just 2 examples re trees) THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS Dear Vice Mayor Devereux and Councillor Zondervan, Chairs, and Councillors Carlone, Kelley and Mallon: Here are just 2 examples of devil-in-the-details on how the AHO developments could nix existing and new trees. Example 1 - The AHO requires 30% of lot area to be Open Space, but (i) parking areas and driveways count towards half of the required Open Space and (ii) porches and decks that are no higher than 4 ft. above grade count as Open Space. How could trees thrive or even survive in such minimal, actual growing areas? Example 2 - Per Cambridge ISD Commissioner: Building setback requirements extend below ground in only 1 of the 12 types of residence zoning districts.* "In all other districts, below-ground construction can go to property lines." Ranjit Singanayagam, 6/3/19. How could trees thrive or even survive in "open space" areas where below-ground basements and living spaces extend to lot lines? (Yes, this is an existing problem, which could at least be cured for AHO developments, as it is in C- 2B Zoning Districts.*)

Thank you, as always, for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Carol O' Hare 172 Magazine St. *Table 5-1. Table of Dimensional Requirements - Residential Districts "Footnote (k) Yard Requirements in the Residence C-2B District [small areas scattered around in various parts of the city] 1) Setbacks - In the Residence C-2B District, buildings shall comply with these yard requirements by being set back above and below ground. 2) Green Area - general Two of the yards on a lot shall consist exclusively of green area as defined in section 2.000. Contrary to the provisions of said definition, hard surfaced walks and terraces shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the area of each yard. At a minimum, green area setback shall consist of permanently maintained densely planted trees and shrubs that may be expected to form within three (3) years after the time of planting a continuous unbroken, year round visual screen. Every effort shall be made to retain the best existing trees in said setbacks to meet the requirements this section in whole or in part. Plans for landscaping and maintenance shall be approved by the Committee on Public Planting as appointed by the City Manager. No Certificate of Occupancy may be granted until landscaping under the terms of this section is completed." Emphasis added. https://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/Files/CDD/ZoningDevel/Ordinance/zo_article5 1397.ashx Cc: Paula Crane, Interim City Clerk - Please file this with the Official Record. Virus-free. www.avg.com

For Easy Reference: Some Definitions and Other Excerpts from CDD's Revised Draft Text for Affordable Housing Zoning Overlay (April 2019) posted at CDD's website, highlighting added. Grade. The mean finished grade ground elevation of a lot measured either around the entire perimeter of the building or along any existing wall facing a public street, which grade ground elevation is maintained naturally without any structural support. Story. That portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above. Story Above Grade. A story whose highest point is more than 4 feet above the Grade. 5.2 Dimensional Standards for AHO Projects 5.2.1 Building Height and Stories Above Grade (a) Where the District Dimensional Standards allow a maximum building height of 40 feet or less, an AHO Project shall contain no more than four Stories Above Grade and shall have a maximum height of 45 feet, as measured from existing Grade. For AHO Projects containing active non- residential uses on the ground floor, the maximum height may be increased to 50 feet but the number of Stories Above Grade shall not exceed four stories. (b) Where the District Dimensional Standards allow a maximum building height of more than 40 feet, an AHO Project shall contain no more than seven Stories Above Grade and shall have a maximum height of 80 feet, as measured from existing Grade, except as further limited below. (i) Portions of buildings that are within 35 feet of a district whose District Dimensional Standards allow a maximum building height of 40 feet or less shall be reduced to a maximum of five Stories Above Grade and a maximum height of 60 feet, as measured from existing Grade, except where the building abuts a non-residential use. 5.2.2 Yard Setbacks (e) Projecting eaves, chimneys, bay windows, balconies, open fire escapes and like projections which do not project more than 3.5 feet from the principal exterior wall plane, and unenclosed steps, unroofed porches and the like which do not project more than ten (10) feet beyond the line of the foundation wall and which are not over four (4) feet above Grade, may extend beyond the minimum yard setback. (f) Bicycle parking spaces, whether short-term or long-term, and appurtenant structures such as coverings, sheds, or storage lockers may be located within a required yard setback. 5.2.3 Open Space (a) Except where the District Dimensional Standards establish a less restrictive requirement or as otherwise provided below, the minimum percentage of open space to lot area for an AHO Project shall be 30%. However, the minimum percentage of open space to lot area may be reduced to no less than 15% if at least one of the following criteria is met: (i) An area commensurate with such reduction is used to provide off-street surface parking spaces on the lot along with necessary driveways and access aisles.... (d) All of the required open space shall be located at Grade or on porches and decks that are no higher than the floor elevation of the lowest Story Above Grade. Open space may be located at higher levels, such as balconies and decks but shall not count toward meeting the required Private Open Space for the purpose of this Affordable Housing Overlay. C:lUsers\CarollDocuments|PublicPolitical\Zoning-AffordableHousingOverlay-ExcerptsApril2019AHOdraft- Health&EnvironmentCommitteeHearing190504.doc