A Planning Board report with no positive or negative recommendation on the Craig Kelley, et. al. Zoning Petition

Petition Summary:

Craig Kelley/ et al., (group of at least 10 registered voters) 4.000 (Use Regulations), 6.000 (Parking and Loading Requirements) To amend Article 4.000 of the Zoning Ordinance by adding the following new use categories: "M. Shared Vehicle/' "N. Publicly- accessible, Privately-owned Electric Vehicle Charging System/' and "0. Shared Mobility Device/' with definitions included for "Shared Vehicle", "Pubficty-accessible, Privately-owned Electric

Vehicie Charging System", "Shared Mobility Device", "Electric

vehicie", and "Shared Mobility Platform"; and to insert "Yes" next to all such uses in all zoning districts except Open Space, with the added provision that in Residence Districts, "Properties of iess than 10/000 SF are limited to 4 Shared Mobility Devices on the property at a time; and to amend Section 6,20 "Offstreet Parking Regulations" to add as follows: "6.21 (a).

Pubiicly-accessibie, Privateiy-owned Electric Vehicle Charging

Systems may be installed in any parking space conforming to the dimensional and other requirements of Article 6.000, or, if not/ are lawfuliy nonconforming."

Planning Board Action: Recommendation to City Council

Memo Contents:

Summary of the proposed zoning, background information on the topic of the Petition, and considerations and comments from staff. 344 Broadway

Cambridge, MA 02139

Voice: [phone removed] Fax:617349-4669 TTY: [phone removed] www.cambridgema.gov Kelley/ et al.. Zoning Petition - Memo to Planning Board

Summary of Petition

The Petition proposes to create three new land use categories in Article 4, all of which would be permitted by-right in a!! zoning districts except for Open Space districts: a. Shared Vehicle b. Publicly-accessible, Pnvately-owned Eiectric Vehide Charging System c.

Shared Mobility Device In Residence districts/ properties of less than 10/000 square feet would be limited to four (4) Shared Mobility Devices on the property at a time. in addition, the Petition proposes to amend Section 6.20 Of f Street Parking Regulations by inserting a new Section 6.21(a) which states that "Electric Vehicle Charging Systems may be installed in any parking space conforming to the dimensiona! and other requirements of Article 6.000, or if not, are lawfully non- conforming." Definitions for the proposed use categories as well as "Electric vehicle" and "Shared Mobility Platform" are included in the Petition.

Planning for Mobility

Envision Cambridge (2019)

The City's comprehensive plan, Envision Cambridge, establishes several policy goals related to transportation, mobility, and sustainabiiity: • Reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions • Expand access to sustainable transportation choices and the physical reach of sustainable transportation infrastructure • Enhance existing sustainable transportation infrastructure to be more convenient/ reliable and resilient • Adjust land use policy to support sustainable transportation choices * Establish new regulatory frameworks to prepare for tech-driven disruptions in mobility systems

New Mobility Planning

As an outgrowth of the Envision Cambridge process, the CEty began a technical research effort intended to learn about and plan for New Mobility options in a way that aligns with and advances existing values and policies. A technical advisory group was appointed to guide the New Mobility planning and to help the City understand New Mobility from a market, technical, and poiicy perspective. The New Mobility planning process did not change existing transportation pians or current priorities for active mobility, except to strengthen sustainable transportation and shape strategies to support diverse transportation options, including micromobility devices, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, ride-hail/ mlcrotransit/ Mobility as a Service, delivery, and more. May 17, 2022 Page 2 of 7

Kelley/ et al./ Zoning Petition - Memo to Planning Board

The New Mobility planning process completed a transportation trend analysis to understand conditions leading up to the pandemic and performed projections of future mobility trends based on 2019 trends. The process also included implementing a pilot to provide electric vehicle charging options for residents who own electric vehicles, but do not have a private garage or driveway in which to charge their vehicle.

The Technical Advisory Group discussed desired outcomes for new mobility, and five potential strategies related to curb management, mobility data, prioritization of space-efficient hlgh-occupancy modes, automated vehicle deployment, and transportation electrification. The City will conduct additional community engagement before further advancing this planning effort.

Shared Mobility Zoning Petition (2019)

The Planning Board previously discussed a zoning petition related to shared mobility in 2019. This petition/ similar in scope, proposed adding definitions and regulations for a new land use category called "Shared Mobility." At that time/ the Planning Board made no recommendation on the petition to City Council and expressed concern that the language in the Petition would create conflicts with existing provisions for Public Bicyde-Sharing. The Council did not take action on that petition.

Electric Vehicle Charging

CDD has devoted attention to how the city will need to adapt in order to adequately accommodate increasing demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging. Unlike fueling stations for automobiles that run on petroleum, EV charging stations or "EVSE" (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) tend to be installed as ancillary fixtures in parking lots and garages or on public property along the curb.

EV charging is less noxious or hazardous than petroleum fueling, and it tends to take a longer amount of time to recharge than to refuel. The City is currently taking steps to expand the EV charging network within the City.

Beyond increasing the number of City-owned public charging station locations, the City has worked with developers of parking facilities subject to Planning Board Project Review Special Permits to provide a minimum of 25% of new spaces to have EVSE, with infrastructure in place to make 100% of spaces ready for future EV charging capabilities. The City also convened a working group which established a goal of significantly increasing the number of publicly-avaiiable EV charging stations within the City.

Current Zoning for Shared Transportation Systems

Public Bicycle-Sharing

"Public Bicycle-Sharing Service" gnd "Public Bicycle-Sharing Station" are approved uses in all zoning districts/ as a result of zoning amendments adopted by the City Council in 2011. The current regional bicycle-sharing system is Bluebikes, which is owned by the respective municipalities in which it operates (including Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, Brookline, and multiple others) and operated through separate contractual arrangements with a private vendor. It is a publicly-owned system. The City s May 17, 2022 Page 3 of 7