A Planning Board report with a recommendation to adopt the Incentive Zoning Rate Study Petition, with clarifying changes

Zoning Petition

i by the City Council to amend Paragraph (d) of Section 11.202 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge. The City shall initiate a reevaluation of the Housing Contribution Rate and any other aspect of these Incentive Zoning Provisions at an interval of no less than three (3) years from the time of the previous reevaluation. Under current City Councillor Quinton Zondervan explained the purpose of the Petition. The Planning Board also received a memo from in advance.

Board members asked questions of Councillor Zondervan and CDD staff, and discussed the merits of the Petition. No members of the public offered comments. At the conclusion of the first hearing, the Board voted to send a positive recommendation. Board members were generally supportive of the proposal. Members noted that the affordable housing crisis is acute, and it is important to get up-to-date information on a regular basis.

Board members also noted that it provides the City Council with options on when to initiate a study but is not prescriptive. For clarity, Board members recommended that be amended to be more specific. The CDD memo suggests reevaluation was received by the City Council The Planning Board voted with seven members in favor of transmitting the above report. One member was absent. Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board, Catherine Preston Connolly, Chair.