The ORDINANCE 2025 #2 Multi Family Zoning Petition-Part 2

Page 1 of 21 Petition: To amend Articles 1.000, 5.000, 11.000, 15.000, 17.000, 19.000, and 20.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of: (1) revising open space standards to provide greater flexibility by allowing all types of open space to contribute to meeting requirements; (2) revising certain standards of the Affordable Housing Overlay so they are not more restrictive than comparable standards for residences in base zoning; (3) making project review special permit requirements applicable in all zoning districts and applicable to residential development of 75,000 square feet or more; (4) updating advisory development review procedures and introducing a new Planning Board Advisory Consultation for some larger development not subject to a special permit, similar to what is currently required in the Affordable Housing Overlay; (5) establishing a process for ongoing review and reporting on housing production throughout the city; and (6) revising other parts of the Zoning Ordinance for internal consistency. Amendments to Article 1.000. Create a new Section 1.80 and subsequent subsections to read as follows: 1.80

ANNUAL AND FIVE-YEAR HOUSING REVIEW

1.81 To further the purpose of encouraging housing for persons of all income levels, and the specific objecƟve of encouraging the construcƟon of mulƟfamily housing, including income-restricted affordable housing, in every neighborhood of Cambridge, the City Manager shall provide updates to the City Council on the state of housing producƟon in the city generally as follows. 1.82 Annual Housing Report.

Beginning in 2026, an annual housing report will summarize changes to the housing stock that have occurred within the previous year, including both market-rate housing and housing with affordability restricƟons. 1.83 Five-Year Housing EvaluaƟon.

Beginning in 2030, a five-year housing evaluaƟon will analyze longer-term trends in the city’s housing stock, including overall growth and changes in affordability, as well as other public planning objecƟves that may be impacted by housing growth such as open space, tree canopy, public infrastructure, and resident services, and will recommend potenƟal changes to zoning policy that would further the purpose of this Zoning Ordinance. Amendments to Article 5.000.

Amend Section 5.22 and subsequent subsections to read as follows: 5.22Open Space. Where a new building is constructed on a lot or where the footprint of an existing building is enlarged, the lot shall conform to the Open Space Ratio required in the zoning district. The total Open Space on the lot shall be the sum of all areas that meet the definition and standards for at least one of the following types of Open Space: Private, Public, Publicly Beneficial, Green Area, or Permeable Open Space.

All five terms are defined in Article 2.000 and additional standards are set forth below. Areas that meet the definition of more than one type of Open Space shall only be counted once when calculating the total Open Space on the lot. The Open Space Ratio on a lot shall be the total Open Space area divided by the lot area, expressed as a percentage.

Page 2 of 21 5.22.1Private Open Space. Private Open Space shall be open and unobstructed to the sky, except that up to fifty (50) percent of the total Private Open Space may be Shaded Area. Trees, plantings, arbors, fences, flagpoles, sculpture, fountains and recreational and drying apparatus and similar objects shall not be considered obstructions when located within a private open space. Objects or structures intended exclusively for bicycle parking, designed and located in accordance with Section 6.100, which may be uncovered, partially covered or fully enclosed, shall not be considered obstructions provided that such objects or structures are not used for motor vehicle parking, general storage or any other use, and further provided that any such structure exceeding six feet (6') in height conforms to the requirements for an accessory building in Section 4.21. Beehives and apiaries conforming to the Standards for Urban Agriculture in Article 23.000 of this Zoning Ordinance shall not be considered obstructions provided that they are no more than six (6) feet in height. Structures or features that are necessary for a building to comply with the Flood Resilience Standards in Section 22.80, such as stairs, ramps, or window wells, shall not be considered obstructions. To the extent permitted in this Ordinance, balconies and roof areas may also be considered as Private Open Space. Private Open Space shall include areas that are shared by all building occupants or available to occupants of separately tenanted areas of a building, such as dwelling units. Private Open Space may include either hardscaped or permeable areas but may not have a slope greater than ten percent (10%). Private Open Space must meet the following other dimensional characteristics: If located at grade, Private Open Space must have both a width and a length of at least fifteen (15) feet and may be shared by all occupants of a building or divided into areas that are accessed separately. If located above grade, such as balconies, decks, and roofs of garages and buildings, and shared by all occupants of a building, Private Open Space must have both a width and a length of at least six (6) feet and have a minimum area of seventy-two (72) square feet. If located above grade or partially below grade and accessible to separately tenanted spaces, such as balconies and decks or lower-level patios, Private Open Space must have a width and length of at least three (3) feet and have a minimum area of twenty (20) square feet.

5.22.2Public Open Space. Public Open Space shall be open and unobstructed to the sky, except that up to fifty (50) percent of the total Public Open Space may be Shaded Area. Public Open Space may include but is not limited to lawns, decorative plantings, interior walkways, abutting sidewalks, active and passive recreation areas, playgrounds, fountains, and public performance areas. Public Open Space shall not include rooftop areas, patios, balconies, parking lots, or driveways.

Limited paved surfaces may be designed to accommodate occasional use by motor vehicles servicing the park facility. If the facility is not held in fee simple by the City of Cambridge or other public entity, the Public Open Space may be land remaining in private ownership but protected for public use by means of a permanent easement, conservation restriction, or other similar legal device acceptable to the City. 5.22.3Publicly Beneficial Open Space.

Such space shall be customarily available or shall be readily visible to such occupants and visitors, though physically inaccessible, by being located and treated to enhance the amenity of the development through a general appearance of openness. Publicly beneficial open space shall include parks, plazas, lawns, landscaped areas, decorative plantings, and active and passive recreational areas.