The Planning Board recommendation on the AHO Heights Zoning Petition

To the Honorable, the City Council, On April 15, 2025, the Planning Board (the “Board”) held a public hearing to discuss a Zoning Petition by the City Council to amend Article 11.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance. The Petition proposes to amend the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) to limit allowable height increases in Residence C-1 districts, remove references to provisions in the base zoning that are no longer applicable, and clarify references to departments responsible for enforcement.

The Board heard a presentation from staff in the City’s Community Development Department (CDD). Following the presentation, public comment, and discussion among Board members, the Planning Board voted to forward this report to the City Council with a positive recommendation. The Board supported the Petition’s removal of obsolete references in the Affordable Housing Overlay to avoid confusion and maintain consistency throughout the Zoning Ordinance.

Board members also agreed that AHO projects should be limited to 9 stories in Residence C-1 districts that are not on an AHO Corridor or in an AHO Square, which was the expected outcome of the recent Multifamily Zoning Amendment. Board members acknowledged that the height limits for AHO Corridors and Squares in Residence C-1 districts were not changed by the Multifamily Zoning Amendment. The Board agreed that the intent of the Petition is clear and had no recommended text changes.

The Planning Board voted 6-0 in favor of transmitting the above report. Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board,

Mary Flynn, Chair.