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March 30 GAC Update
March 28 City Council Roundtable with Planning Board
The City Council and the Planning Board met in a Roundtable meeting on Monday. The discussion had three main pieces, a discussion of North Point, a general discussion about issues facing the Planning Board, and a discussion about the Town-Gown reports. City Manager Robert Healy, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Beth Rubenstein, and other city staff also participated in this discussion.
The North Point project is a joint development venture between Spaulding & Slye Colliers and Guilford Transportation. The project will develop a 45-acre site primarily located in the City of Cambridge, with smaller portions in Boston and Somerville. Council members asked the city manager about the impact of this project on City property taxes. The Manager reported that build-out of North Point, which is expected to take 15 to 20 years, will soften the residential property tax burden.
The Council was very interested in transportation connections to and within the North Point development and open space within the development. City staff reported that the development of North Point is part of a larger link of open space that includes a number of parks being developed as part of Big Dig mitigation efforts. The first park built under the mitigation program, and managed by the State, is expected to open this spring. City staff noted that the development is being guided by the work of the East Cambridge Planning Study (ECaPs) which established zoning and land-use regulations for this site.
The discussion about general planning issues focused on the controversy that sometimes follows some developments. A number of Councillors asked for more real planning to avoid these problems. Planning Board members noted that these issues usually arise when a property owner decides to develop a property within the limits of the current zoning. Because the zoning code is developed as part of the City planning process the issue is usually not that no planning has taken place but that residents are concerned about what is being proposed under the current zoning. It was pointed out that a number of planning processes, such as East Cambridge and Alewife have resulted in developments that conform to the vision developed through those planning processes.
Other issues raised included incentives for more family housing, units of three or more bedrooms, the Concord-Alewife planning process and the need for more activity in Kendall Square. City staff and the Planning Board agreed that the City should look at as to encourage the building of more family-sized housing units. City staff reported that the Concord-Alewife study should be ready in late April. Kendall Square has been rezoned to encourage more activity and that new developments will bring the desired activity.
The meeting then moved to the annual Town-Gown reports that Harvard, MIT, Lesley, and Cambridge College submit to the Planning Board that are then passed on to the Council. It was suggested that the process for handing those reports off to the Council be improved. Councillors had questions about Harvard’s Allston development plans and City staff noted that, while this was the focus of Harvard’s Town-Gown report to the Planning Board, Harvard is still early in its planning for this site. Planning Board members noted that Harvard comes before the Board more often than once a year for the Town-Gown reports and that this has been valuable.
Several Planning Board members noted the effort Lesley University is making to integrate its existing and planned development in Porter Square and in the Agassiz neighborhood. Councillors and Planning Board members noted that Lesley’s plans appear to focus on adding value to the larger community.
The meeting ended with a suggestion that these roundtable meetings be held more often between the Council and the Planning Board. City Council roundtable meetings, which do not include public comment and which no votes or motions are taken, are designed to allow for open discussion on issues between elected officials and various City boards and departments.
Win an Award for your Business's Environmental Stewardship!
The City of Cambridge is seeking candidates for its annual GoGreen business awards. This year, awards will be given for outstanding environmental efforts in energy conservation, recycling, and transportation. One small business or institution (fewer than 50 employees) and one large (50 employees or more) will be recognized in each category. The recycling awards are for leadership in recycling and preventing waste, while the transportation awards will go to institutions that are leaders in providing services such as subsidized MBTA passes, shuttle buses, and employee telecommuting programs. The energy awards will go to institutions that have taken on measures such as energy conservation, energy efficient purchasing, and buying green power. Nomination forms are available on the web at www.cambridgema.gov/~GoGreen. For further questions, contact Stephanie Anderberg at (617) 349-4671.
City Kicks-Off Energy Star® Recruitment Program
The City kicked off its ENERGY STAR® recruitment campaign this week targeting businesses to join Cambridge in becoming energy smart, while helping to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Partnering with ENERGY STAR and local businesses, this City of Cambridge program addresses the local contribution to climate change and is the first of its kind in the Commonwealth.
The City’s goal is to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. Cambridge is one of 152 communities in the U.S. and 21 in Massachusetts that participate in Cities for Climate Protection, a worldwide network of local governments working to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing global climate change.
ENERGY STAR® provides resources to help businesses reduce their overall energy use, which results in lower utility bills. The City has hired an energy consultant to provide additional energy management assistance to participating organizations. The local utility, NSTAR, offers financial incentives that can help with efficiency upgrades.
To join in the citywide effort, local businesses are encouraged to call John Bolduc, Environmental Planner, at (617) 349-4628.
