Government Affairs Archive: March 12, 2008

March 12, 2008 GAC Update

The Council did not meet this week. It met in a special roundtable meeting Wednesday March 5 to discuss the City’s housing policies. The Council meets next Monday.

The City Council’s Health and Environment Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss the matter of presenting a status report on the Cambridge Energy Alliance on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Avenue.

The Cambridge Department of Public Works is seeking members for a Sidewalk Snow and Ice Clearance Task Force.

A reminder that the GAC Executive Speaker Luncheon with Suzanne M. Bump, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, has been moved to Wednesday March 26, 2008 at the Cambridge Hyatt.

Upcoming GAC Events

The 2008 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Genzyme.

March GAC/Executive Speaker Luncheon
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Note Date Change
Guest: Suzanne M. Bump, Secretary, Labor and Workforce Development of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Cambridge Hyatt
Members: $40.00, Non-members: $80.00
More information and registration

April GAC Meeting and Luncheon
Tuesday April 29, 2008
James Scafide, Chief of the Business Technology and Economic Development Division of the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General, will be our guest at the April GAC meeting and luncheon. He will discuss Attorney General Martha Coakley’s initiatives around job creation and economic development and is interested in learning what issues are of importance to the Cambridge business community. If you plan to attend please RSVP to Terrence Smith, Director of Government Affairs at tsmith@cambridgechamber.org or by phone at 617-876-4213. (Note that for this month we will be meeting the last Tuesday rather than the fourth Tuesday of the month.)

May GAC Meeting and Luncheon
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Guest TBA

Special City Council Meeting Round Table on Housing Policy on March 5, 2008

The Council met on Wednesday, March 5 to discuss the City’s housing policy. The Council was joined by the City Manager and Community Development Department staff, members of the City’s Affordable housing Trust and members of the Planning Board. Assistant City Manager for Community Development Beth Rubenstein and Director of the Department’s Housing Division Chris Cotter gave a brief presentation on production of housing in the City, both market-rate and affordable, and the City’s housing programs.

According to City staff 2,400 housing units have been added to the City’s housing stock since 2001 and 3,000 units are permitted. The majority of permitted units, 2,300, are at North Point. The City currently has about 44,000 housing units. Current zoning, which allows housing development in all areas of the City, was enacted to better balance housing and commercial space. The large amount of commercial development in the 1980s and 1990s created additional demand for housing that could not be met under the zoning that existed at that time.

Council members expressed a number of concerns and questions during the meeting. Several expressed concern about the large number of one and two bedroom units being built in the City. Councillors also discussed the continued development of affordable units in several high density neighborhoods. The idea of allowing ancillary units, so-called in-law apartment, in areas zoned for low density housing was also raised by several Councillors.

Members of the Council also asked about the maintenance of buildings owned by the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA). CHA staff said that this is a challenge as funding from state and federal sources to maintain developments built using federal and state money has not kept-up with the maintenance needs of CHA properties. Several properties require major renovations due to their age.

Councillors discussed changing the inclusionary zoning regulations which require like-units being built at the same site as market units. Two ideas were raised. One would allow developers to make cash payments which the City would use to develop affordable units at different sites around the City. The second idea was to use square footage rather than units as the measure for required inclusionary affordable units and encourage development of three or more bedroom affordable units.

Members of the Affordable Housing Trust and the Planning Board were asked to address some of these issues. Several members of both bodies noted that the market determines what types of units are built. CHA staff noted that the waiting list for one and two bedroom units is much larger than the list for three or more bedroom units. Members of these bodies also noted that Cambridge’s housing programs and policies have won awards for their thoroughness and that Cambridge is well ahead of most communities in Massachusetts in attempting to meet the continued demand for housing.

The issue of building energy efficient buildings was discussed and members of the Affordable Housing trust who develop housing noted that the costs of energy have made developing “Green Buildings” a priority. It was also noted that high density development in areas served by public transit has both energy and environmental benefits.
Councillors said that they will continue to discuss the ideas and issues raised during this meeting during this Council term.

Members Sought for Sidewalk Snow and Ice Clearance Task Force

The Cambridge Department of Public Works (DPW) is currently seeking members to serve on a Sidewalk Snow and Ice Clearance Task Force. This group will work with City staff to make recommendations to help increase compliance with Cambridge's Sidewalk Clearance Ordinance, particularly through public education and outreach.

Cambridge residents, property owners, business operators, institutional representatives, and community organization members are encouraged to apply. Various City Departments (including DPW and Traffic), the Cambridge Disabilities Commission, and the Cambridge Pedestrian Committee will also be represented on the Task Force.

Interested parties should send a brief letter of interest by March 21, 2008, via mail, fax or e-mail to:Rebecca Fuentes
Cambridge Department of Public Works
147 Hampshire St.
Cambridge, MA 02139
Fax 617-349-4824
E-mail: rfuentes@cambridgema.gov

View current GCA Update

For a listing of public meetings, visit the Public Meetings link or the Public Meeting Notices area of the City of Cambridge Web site.