June 14, 2006 GAC Update

The Council met on Monday and topics up for discussion included use of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds, flood control, the Charles River Skatepark, criteria for naming corners and squares, and establishing municipal power company.

The Ordinance Committee met yesterday and will meet again tonight on the Concord-Alewife Rezoning Petition.  Last night’s meeting focused on the Shopping Center and transportation and environmental issues.  Tonight’s is a working meeting to finalize zoning language.

June 12, 2006 City Council Meeting

The Council met on Monday and received reports on the use of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds and success of flood control efforts, appropriated $25,000 for the Charles River Skatepark, asked the City Manager to appoint a committee to establish guidelines for naming street corners and squares and received a committee report on establishing a municipal power company.

Use of CPA Funds
The City Manager forwarded the State law establishing the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in response to a request for information regarding the limitation of the use of these funds.  In discussion City staff said that in they work closely with State officials when considering projects for use of these funds.  Staff said that because the law is relatively new and Cambridge is the single largest recipient of these funds Cambridge is often asking questions first about how funds can be used within the limits of the law.  A copy of the response

The Manager’s transmittal letter is available at City Manager’s Agenda Item 3 and the accompanying report is available at View Attached Letter.

City Investment Improves Flood Control
Following the major rain events in May the City Council asked the Manager for a report on the extent of flooding.  The Manager reported that except for a blocked catch basin on River Street there was no flooding and that the systems put in place over the last several years worked as designed.  The City has made significant investments in both separating waste and storm sewers and in flood control at those areas historically susceptible to flooding.  The Manager’s report is available at City Manager’s Agenda Item 7.

$25,000 for Charles River Skatepark
The City approved the appropriation of $25,000 in Free Cash to fund the planned Charles River Skatepark being developed in collaboration with the Charles River Conservancy (CRC).  The CRC gave a presentation to the GAC in February 2005.  The Skatepark is being developed in East Cambridge in the vicinity of the Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge and will be a state of the art facility.  The total budget is $2 million of which $1 million needs to be raised.  If you would like more information on the Charles River Skatepark go to Skatepark.

Criteria for Naming Street Corners and Squares
The Council asked the City Manager to form a Committee to establish criteria for naming street corners and squares.  Currently any Councillor can submit a policy order requesting naming either a specific corner or identifying and naming an appropriate corner.  A copy of the order is available at City Council Policy Order 5.

Committee Report on Establishing a Municipal Power Company
The Council received a report from a joint meeting of the Finance Committee and the Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities Committee held on April 6 to discuss Cambridge owning and operating its own municipal power company.  At the meeting the Manager reported that the cost to purchase the system from NSTAR and to establish operations would be significant for the City.  The Committee report includes a report written by the City’s consultants, Camp Dresser and McKee, summarizing costs.  The study uses public records and is based on a methodology required by the State Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE).

A copy of the Committee Report is available at Committee Report 1.  A copy of the consultants report is available at CDM Cambridge Electric Evaluation.

June 13, 2006 Ordinance Committee Hearing on Concord-Alewife

The Council’s Ordinance Committee met yesterday and will meet again this evening on the proposed zoning changes in the Concord-Alewife area.  The focus of last night’s meeting was development of the Shopping Center and environmental and transportation issues.

City staff reported that the traffic analysis of the proposed zoning changes show a reduction in growth of peak hour evening traffic against what would occur under current zoning.  Staff also reported that two-thirds of the traffic in this area is pass-through; that is it neither begins nor ends in Cambridge.  City staff also reported that investment in storm water management in this area has reduced flooding and that requirements for water retention included in the ordinance would lead to continuous improvements as the area is redeveloped.

The planned redevelopment of the Shopping Center area, which includes both sides of Alewife Brook Parkway between Concord Avenue and the railroad tracks, was the major topic of discussion.  The vision in the plan for the shopping center area is a mixed use area with smaller blocks and an internal street system.  Retail, residential and commercial buildings would be developed in the area as well as open space.  The vision is to replace a shopping center with a distinct community.

The owners of the area have, according to Community Development staff, had preliminary discussions with the City on their plans for the site and that their plans are in a very early stage of development.  City staff reported that for this reason the owners decided not to make a presentation at this meeting.

The issue of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) was also raised.  The zoning changes would allow owners of property in the Quadrangle to sell development rights to the owner of property in the Shopping Center area which would allow larger buildings in the shopping center than allowed by the new zoning.  Staff noted that this would require both he sale of rights and would require approval of Special Permits by the Planning Board for both the seller and buyer.

At the close of the meeting Councillor Sullivan, who co-Chairs the Committee, stated that the hope is to have the zoning changes ready for ordination at the June 26^th City Council meeting.

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