The Planning Board's recommendation on the Henkeeping Zoning Petition and amended zoning text

The Planning Board recommends ADOPTION

To the Honorable, the City Council, On October 24, 2023, the Planning Board (the "Board") held a public hearing to discuss a Zoning Petition by the Cambridge City Council to amend Articles 2.000, 4.000, 5.000, and 23.000 of the Zoning Ordinance for the purpose of allowing henkeeping as a permitted accessory use to principal residential (excluding transient accommodations as defined in Section 4.31.i), religious, and educational uses; with limitations and subject to regulation and permitting by the

Cambridge Public Health Department

The Board heard a presentation from City Councillor Quinton Zondervan and received written materials prior to the hearing from staff in the City's Community Development Department (CDD). Following the presentation, public comment, and discussion among Board members, the Planning Board voted unanimously to forward a positive recommendation to City Council.

Board members expressed enthusiasm for the proposed change, noting the environmental and community-building benefits of henkeeping and urban agriculture more broadly. The Board acknowledged the overlapping authority of zoning and public health regulations over the design of henhouses and runs and recommended that CDD and the Law Department review the final proposed petition text to confirm the validity of the amendments and to make any clarifying suggestions before adoption.

The Planning Board voted 7-0 in favor of transmitting the above report. Two members were absent. Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board, #Theadore Cole- H Theodore Cohen, Acting Chair.