The Ordinance 2025 #1 Multi Family Zoning Petition-Part 1

Page 1 of 50 Petition: To amend the Zoning Map and Articles 2.000, 3.000, 4.000, 5.000, 6.000, 7.000, 8.000, 10.000, 11.000, 13.000, 14.000, 16.000, 17.000, 20.000, and 21.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of: (1) removing zoning districts that are intended to permit single-family or two-family but not multifamily residences; (2) permitting multifamily and townhouse residences as-of-right in all zoning districts except Open Space and removing special requirements applicable to multifamily and townhouse residences; (3) removing dimensional requirements including minimum lot width and area and minimum lot area per dwelling unit, removing floor area ratio (FAR) limitations for residences, reducing minimum yard requirements for residences, and increasing height limitations for residences to permit four stories above grade in Residence C-1 Districts, with allowable increases up to six stories for inclusionary housing projects subject to certain limitations, and at least six stories above grade in all other districts except Open Space to allow for additional housing units beyond what is permitted under current zoning; (4) removing remaining references to minimum parking requirements; and (5) revising other parts of the Zoning Ordinance for internal consistency. Amendments to the Zoning Map. Delete the designations “Residence A-1, Residence A-2, Residence B, and Residence C” and change all districts currently designated Residence A-1, Residence A-2, Residence B, and Residence C to a designation of Residence C-1. Amendments to Article 2.000. Amend the definition of “Dwelling, multifamily” to read as follows: Dwelling, multifamily. A building used as a residence containing three or more dwelling units that do not meet the definition of semi-detached dwellings or a townhouse development. Amend the definition of “Subdivided lot” to read as follows: Subdivided lot. A lot that has been created through the subdivision of a parcel of land on which a townhouse development is constructed. Said lot is created for the purpose of selling an individual semi-detached dwelling together with the land upon which it is constructed. Amendments to Article 3.000.

Page 2 of 50 Amend Section 3.11 to read as follows: 3.11For the purpose of this Ordinance, the City of Cambridge is hereby divided into fifty classes of districts listed below in order of decreasing restrictiveness as

Open Space District

Public parks and recreation facilities and other public facilities

Residence C-1 District

Residence C-1A District

Residence C-2 District

Residence C-2B District

6.

Residence C-2A District

7.

Residence C-3A District

Multifamily dwellings and limited office 8.

Residence C-3 District

9.

Residence C-3B District

10.

Office 1 District

Business and professional office and multifamily dwellings (Apartment house, hotel, dormitory) 11.

Office 2A District

Business, research and professional offices, limited research oriented manufacturing 12.

Office 2 District

Business, research and professional offices, limited research oriented manufacturing 13.

Office 3A District

Business and professional offices and multifamily dwellings 14.

Office 3 District

Business and professional offices and multifamily dwellings 15.

Business A-3 District

Neighborhood business

16.

Business A-1 District

17.

Business A-2 District

18.

Business A District

Local and drive in retail business offices and multifamily dwellings 19.

Business A-4 District

20.

Business A-5 District

Local business and multifamily dwellings 21.

Business C District

General business, professional offices, multifamily dwellings. 22.

Business B-1 District

General business, business and professional offices, and multifamily dwellings 23.

Business B-2 District

General business, business and professional offices and multifamily dwellings 24.

Business B District

General business

25.

Industry B-2 District

Office, warehouse and light manufacturing 26.

Industry A-1 District

Limited impact business and industry 27.

Industry B-1 District

Heavy manufacturing, warehouses, and offices 28.

Industry A-2 District

Limited impact business and industry 29.

Industry A District

Warehouse, storage and light manufacturing 30.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District 1

Page 3 of 50 31.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District 2

32.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District 3

33.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District 4

and 4A 34.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District 5

35.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District 6

36.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District 7

37.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District 8

38. Special Business, Office and Industrial District 8A Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000 39.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District 9

40.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District

10(F) 41.

Special Business, Office and Industrial District

10(H) 42. Special Business, Office and Industrial District 11 Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000 43. Special Business, Office and Industrial District 12 Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000 44. Special Business, Office and Industrial District 13 Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000 45. Special Business, Office and Industrial District 14 Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000 46. Special Business, Office and Industrial District 15 Various Uses governed by the requirements of Article 17.000 47.

Mixed Use Development (MXD) District: Kendall

Center Various uses governed by the requirements of Article 14.000 48.

Cambridgeport Revitalization Development

Various uses governed by the requirements of Article 15.000 49.

North Point Residence, Office and Business

Various uses governed by the requirements of Article 16.000 50.

Industry B District

Heavy Industry

Amend Sections 3.32.1 and 3.32.2 to read as follows: 3.32.1Where more than one-half the area of said lot is in a less restricted district (either in terms of the district's overall regulations or a single regulation), any of the less restrictive dimensional regulation(s) may be extended up to twenty-five (25) feet into the more restricted district as-of-right for buildings or portions of buildings containing residential uses listed in Section 4.31 a-j or upon issuance of a special permit by the Board of Zoning Appeal for buildings or portions of buildings containing other uses. Uses not allowed in the more restricted districts shall not extend into the more restricted districts.