THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2026 ON A ZONING PETITION BY THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL. THE PETITION PROPOSES CHANGES TO SECTION 4.50 OF THE CAMBRIDGE ZONING ORDINANCE TO ALLOW AS OF RIGHT IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS, RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL USES, AND CHILDCARE USES. CMA 2025 #288 THE COMMITTEE VOTED FAVORABLY TO FORWARD THE PETITION TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO PASS TO A SECOND READING.

1 MINUTES OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE COMMITTEE Tuesday, February 10, 2026 ORDINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Councillor McGovern, Chair Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Chair Councillor Al-Zubi Vice Mayor Azeem Councillor Flaherty Councillor Nolan Councillor Simmons Councillor Zusy Mayor Siddiqui A public meeting of the Cambridge City Council’s Ordinance Committee was held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The meeting was Called to Order at 11:00 a.m. by the Co-Chair, Sobrinho- Wheeler. Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025 adopted by Massachusetts General Court and approved by the Governor, the City is authorized to use remote participation. This public meeting was hybrid, allowing participation in person, in the Sullivan Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA and by remote participation via Zoom. At the request of Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler Clerk of Committees Erwin called the roll. Councillor Al-Zubi – Present/In Sullivan Chamber Vice Mayor Azeem – Present/Remote Councillor Flaherty – Present/In Sullivan Chamber Councillor McGovern – Absent Councillor Nolan – Absent Councillor Simmons – Present/Remote Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler – Present/In Sullivan Chamber Councillor Zusy – Present/Remote Mayor Siddiqui – Present/In Sullivan Chamber Present – 7, Absent – 2. Quorum established. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler offered opening remarks and noted that the Call of the meeting was to discuss a Zoning Petition by the Cambridge City Council. The Petition proposes changes to Section 4.50 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance to allow as of right in all zoning districts, religious and educational uses, and childcare uses, CMA 2025 #288. Present at the meeting were Assistant City Manager for Community Development, Melissa Peters, Director of Zoning and Development, Jeff Roberts, and City Solicitor, Megan Bayer. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler recognized Melissa Peters who explained that this Zoning Petition is addressing updates to Institutional Use zoning which would make the City be aligned and in compliance with State law.

2 Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler recognized Jeff Roberts who gave a presentation titled “Institutional Use Zoning”. The presentation was provided in advance of the meeting and included in the Agenda Packet. Also included in the Agenda Packet was a memo from the Planning Board related to the Zoning Petition. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler thanked CDD for their presentation and asked if there is anything staff would need from the City Council to move forward and draft language to the State Legislature. Megan Bayer explained that if that City Council would like to pursue a Home Rule Petition, a Policy Order would be needed and staff would also need guidance from the City Council related to the threshold of the exemption. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler asked why the original exemption was tied to a dwelling unit and if there was any documentation found around the time it was adopted. Megan Bayer shared that it dates back to 1979-1980 and there was no documentation explaining the rationale for that threshold. Jeff Roberts added that staff could not locate any documentation around the original thought process. Jeff Roberts emphasized that any new legislation would require clear justification for selecting districts for exemption and shared that further research and review could be done if necessary. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler recognized Vice Mayor Azeem who spoke in support of moving the language forward to the full City Council. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler recognized Mayor Siddiqui who shared her support for moving the proposal forward but also shared concerns from the communities in residential areas and staying aligned with the 2019 Envision goals. Mayor Siddiqui asked for clarification on previous discussions with institutions in Cambridge. Melissa Peters explained that in prior Committee discussions, there were representatives from MIT and Lesley University, who shared that they did not see risks related to expansion. Melissa Peters added that institutional growth has changed a lot since 1979, adding that much of Harvard’s growth is happening outside of Cambridge. Melissa Peters noted that there could be a broader discussion if the City Council would like to create language and modifications to Dover related framework to align better with the City Councils zoning goals. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler recognized Councillor Zusy who shared her support for the proposal and emphasized the importance of long-term planning and ongoing discussions with universities related to institutional growth. Councillor Zusy suggested having additional Committee meetings related to housing development and relationships with universities to improve coordination. Councillor Zusy added that it will be important to have more conversations to ensure long-term plans align with community goals. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler recognized Councillor Flaherty who had clarifying questions related to the legal requirements and dimensional regulations and if the proposed language would effectively allow institutional uses citywide by a special permit. Megan Bayer confirmed that dimensional regulations would stay permissible and explained that nonprofit religious and educational uses would require special permits. Councillor Flaherty had additional questions

3 related to tax exemption eligibility and federal protections. Megan Bayer responded and briefly reviewed determinations for tax exemptions and how federal protections would be evaluated. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler recognized Councillor Al-Zubi who had clarifying questions related to areas in white on the map on page 14 of the presentation. Jeff Roberts provided a brief overview, explaining that the areas in white were not subject to special legislation. Jeff Roberts shared options that the City Council could consider, such as reestablishing dwelling units or pursuing new legislation. Councillor Al-Zubi spoke in support of moving forward with the proposal to be in compliance, but suggested that there be more conversations with universities, especially related to the housing developments for students. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler recognized Vice Mayor Azeem who pointed out that Cambridge is unique compared to other municipalities with having the exemption, and that other communities do operate under the Dover Amendment without similar requirements. Vice Mayor Azeem added that the City has stronger regulatory tools now than in 1979 and shared that it could also provide benefits towards daycares and nonprofit educational uses. Vice Mayor Azeem moved to forward the proposed zoning to the full City Council. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler noted that this zoning is needed to be in compliance with state law and provided a brief history of the 1979 planning on the City’s institutional exemption under the Dover Amendment to minimum lot sizes. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler shared that the City Council had previously reviewed that policy and lot sizes and felt that it would not be in the best interest of the City to keep exclusionary zoning to preserve the exemption and would hold back the City from moving forward. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler recognized Vice Mayor McGovern who made a motion to forward the proposed recommendations from the Community Development Department to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation to pass to a second reading. Clerk of Committees Erwin called the roll. Councillor Al-Zubi - Yes Vice Mayor McGovern – Yes Councillor Flaherty – Yes Councillor McGovern – Absent Councillor Nolan – Absent Councillor Simmons – Yes Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler – Yes Councillor Zusy – Yes Mayor Siddiqui – Yes Yes – 7, No – 0, Absent – 2. Motion passed. Co-Chair Sobrinho-Wheeler recognized Councillor Flaherty who made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Clerk of Committees Erwin called the roll. Councillor Al-Zubi - Yes Vice Mayor McGovern – Yes

4 Councillor Flaherty – Yes Councillor McGovern – Absent Councillor Nolan – Absent Councillor Simmons – Yes Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler – Yes Councillor Zusy – Yes Mayor Siddiqui – Yes Yes -7, No – 0, Absent -2. Motion passed. The Ordinance Committee adjourned at approximately 11:57a.m. Attachment A – Communications from the public. Clerk’s Note: The City of Cambridge/22 City View records every City Council meeting and every City Council Committee meeting. The video for this meeting can be viewed at: https://cambridgema.v3.swagit.com/videos/374630