Massachusetts Avenue Active Use Zoning petition

Mass Ave Active Use Amendments – CLEAN August 3, 2026 Page 1 Petition: To amend the Zoning Map and Article 17.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of strengthening active use requirements on North Mass Ave. Amendments to the Zoning Map. See attached Zoning Map and descriptive text. Amendments to Article 17.000. Amend Section 17.804.2.1 to read as follows: 17.804.2.1 Ground Story Active Uses. The following limitations shall apply in addition to the Table of Height Limitations below: (a) On lots abutting one or more Primary Streets in a MAS-12A or MAS-18 district, residential uses shall be limited to 4 stories above grade and 45 feet above grade if the Ground Story is not occupied by one or more Active Uses, as defined in Section 17.803.3, comprising at least 60% of the interior portion of the Ground Story that is within 50 feet of a Primary Street. (b) On lots abutting one or more Primary Streets in a MAS-12 district, residential uses shall be limited to 8 stories above grade and 100 feet above grade if the Ground Story is not occupied by one or more Active Uses, as defined in Section 17.803.3, comprising at least 60% of the interior portion of the Ground Story that is within 50 feet of a Primary Street. (c) Upon granting a special permit, the Planning Board may approve modifications to the Active Use floor area and location standards in paragraphs (a) and (b) above to permit residential heights up to those set forth in the Table of Height Limitations if the Board finds that all of the following criteria are met in addition to those in Section 17.807.2 and may impose conditions to ensure ongoing conformance: (i) Active Uses shall be provided in a manner that generally meets the intent of the requirement to provide for reasonably continuous active ground floor frontage along the Primary Street, and (ii) the total floor area of required Active Uses is not substantially reduced, and (iii) the modifications directly respond to unique site-specific conditions that make the application of paragraphs (a) or (b) infeasible. (d) Lots that do not directly abut a Primary Street shall not be subject to the additional limitations of paragraphs (a) and (b) above; however, (i) within 50 feet of the street line of a Primary Street, the permitted residential heights shall not exceed the applicable limitations set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, and (ii) the limitations set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) above shall apply to the entire area of any lot that abuts a Primary Street on April 27, 2026, including any lots or portions of lots that are later subdivided so that they no longer abut a Primary Street. (e) The additional limitations of this Section shall not apply to an AHO Project.

Mass Ave Active Use Amendments – CLEAN August 3, 2026 Page 2 Amend Section 17.804.3 to read as follows: 17.804.3 Table of Height Limitations MAS-6 MAS-12 MAS-12A MAS-18 Non-Residential Uses (Section 4.30 except 4.31 a-j. & 4.33.a) 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 Non-Residential Uses (Section 4.30 except 4.31 a-j. & 4.33.a) within the PUD-POR District 55 feet and 5 stories above grade 55 feet and 5 stories above grade 55 feet and 5 stories above grade 55 feet and 5 stories above grade Institutional Uses (Section 4.33) except Religious Purposes (Section 4.33.a) within an Institutional Use Overlay District 60 feet and 6 stories above grade 60 feet and 6 stories above grade 60 feet and 6 stories above grade 60 feet and 6 stories above grade Religious Purposes Uses (Section 4.33.a) 75 feet and 6 stories above grade 100 feet and 8 stories above grade 100 feet and 8 stories above grade 100 feet and 8 stories above grade Residential Uses (Section 4.31 a-j.) 75 feet and 6 stories above grade 145 feet and 12 stories above grade 145 feet and 12 stories above grade 145 feet and 12 stories above grade Residential Uses with a Porter Square PUD Special Permit (Section 17.808) 75 feet and 6 stories above grade 145 feet and 12 stories above grade 145 feet and 12 stories above grade 220 feet and 18 stories above grade