TheCambridge Record
Agenda ItemsPolicy Orders

POR 2016-49

Asked the City Manager to consult with the Inspectional Services Commissioner regarding the issues raised (as attached) concerning the curb cut application for 41 Gibson Street and report back to the City Council

How it started
Feb 22, 2016 · Proposed by Councillor David P. Maher: a formal request from the Council to the administration.
What happened
Feb 22, 2016 · ✅ Order adopted. The Council's request went to the City Manager.

Present and voting at this meeting (9)

  • Craig A. Kelley
  • David Maher
  • Dennis Carlone
  • E. Denise Simmons
  • Jan Devereux
  • Leland Cheung
  • Marc McGovern
  • Nadeem Mazen
  • Timothy J. Toomey
Adopted by voice vote. A voice vote records the outcome, not individual positions. No member's yes or no is on the record (though a member can ask to be recorded in the negative in the minutes). Showing the members who cast recorded votes at this meeting. Rule 6 requires a roll call for spending over $50 or on any member's request; state law requires one for every vote when a member participates remotely. · photos: City of Cambridge
What’s next
📨 Answered: the report came back as CMA 2016 #62 (Mar 21, 2016).
Order adoptedFeb 22, 2016
Referred for reportAR 2016-15Feb 29, 2016
Administration answeredCMA 2016-62Mar 21, 2016 · answered in 21 days

The item's path through the council, every recorded step. How the request pipeline works

The document Agenda item attachment · 2 pages

Ted. wAgenhnecht I am here to request the dewal of AlP 20i6 #10 - a curb cut at 4lCldson Street. The proposed curb cut will create a driveway in between my house and the subject property, 41 gibson street.

The proposed parking spot violates a number of zoning ordinances: 6.43.4(c) states that any driveway providing access to an off-street parking facility shall permit a clear view to the driver of any car exiting the facility of traffic on the street and of pedestrians-this does not because of its proximity to my house 6.43 also states that there be maneuvering area-there is none; it states that parking spaces are to be designed so as not to create a nuisance-this eliminates crucial parking spaces on street for the neighborhood; hazard —this does not have a line of sight for pedestrians or traffic; or create an unreasonable impediment to traffic—this spot would put out into a two-way street with one lane worth of room It violates6.44.1 (d)as there is no room for the landscaping required by article 6.48 And most importantly to me and my family, it violates article 6.44.1 (a)—that is, no parking space is to lie within 10 feet of a building wall containing windows of habitable or occupiable rooms at basement or first story, this proposed spot would put car fumes right in my kitchen and living room-the two rooms

My sindows

ave less than off. formy family uses the most.

Further, this proposed spot violates the stated intent of the artro e 6 in the zoning ordinance-it does not This pused deten léssen congestion in the streets, it does not conserve health, and it does not conserve the value of land and buildings this would be detrimental to the-vatue or our home and the health of my famit tus proposed spot wolates the stated purpese of section Gil of the indrance - Further, it does not cheater kentr, safety at withou health tames, sorely (holmeat sight, no maneuvery reem, an welfare (home value) issues, There are other, non-zoning issues here as well.

2. The property was bought without a curb cut. That was no surprise to anyone.

There is no legal requirement for the Council to grant a curb cut application and, honestly, you'd much rather continue to have youf property overlook the pleasant landscaping that is there now than a parking spot-our basement already takes on water in periods of inclement weather «the grass and trees and bushes there now absorb that-these would go away with even the most friendly of materials and cause water run-off again to my detriment not to mention the aesthetic loss.

Further, there are 2 other potential locations for this parking spot that do not pose these same zoning issues and impact issues-one of which already had a curb cutsh the past. 3- this side of the houses is the most exposed to sun—it is brutal in the summer time. Having a car deflect that sun further into our house will cause light and heat issues that cannot be measured 3.

Maybe a throw away point that the heat island impact of climate change is going to gat worse in the immediate future and having a parking spot here instead of the current landscaping is going to akevit all that much worse, leven if only in this onelsmall place. In 2006 councilors Kelley and Toomey were part of a hearing on the curb cut policy and that meeting affirmed that the city council retains authority ont eh approval process of city departments.

In that hearmy, fewer cutier Daws and counselor Kelley beth noted the need to pretect abutter frem the exhaust of abutthy lets apotion Feash you to uphet it further - in that hearing then head of Trottic / Banky Sue Ciplen Stated quite parting spaces am never, ever talente then the then side of a curt ant, steth that wand can use. happen heve as prepared, laut not on the other a potential siles. application on these greunds.

🗓 The meeting where this was taken up: Feb 22, 2016