Cambridge
Upcoming
The Ordinance Committee
The Ordinance Committee holds a public hearing to continue discussion from April 16 on two zoning petitions to amend active use requirements on North Massachusetts Avenue and Cambridge Street, and to require special permits for formula businesses on Cambridge Street. No public comment will be taken. The City Manager has submitted Planning Board reports on both petitions.
- Planning Board report on Mass Ave active use zoning petition
- Planning Board report on Cambridge Street active use zoning petition
- City Manager's transmittal of Mass Ave active use zoning petition
- City Manager's transmittal of Cambridge Street active use zoning petition
Board of Zoning Appeal
The Board of Zoning Appeal will consider two special permit applications for home additions. One project involves a rear addition at 51 Stearns Street, while the other concerns a third-floor addition at 63 Magee Street.
- Special Permit: Rear addition at 51 Stearns Street
- Special Permit: Third-floor addition within front yard setback at 63 Magee Street
The Ordinance Committee
The Ordinance Committee holds a public hearing on a zoning petition by Douglas P. Brown. The petition proposes changes to height, setback, parking, and open space requirements for Residence C-1 districts, including the Affordable Housing Overlay. It also seeks to lower the Project Review Special Permit threshold from 75,000 to 20,000 square feet for residential uses in these districts.
- Public hearing on zoning petition by Douglas P. Brown
- Amendment to height, setback, and open space requirements in Residence C-1
- Addition of step back and building depth/width requirements
- Minimum off-street parking requirements for residential uses
- Reduction of Project Review Special Permit threshold from 75,000 to 20,000 sq ft
Regular City Council Meeting
The provided text is a notice for a regular City Council meeting on August 3, 2026. No specific topics, discussions, or actions are listed in the document.
Last 30 days
Planning Board Meeting
The Planning Board will receive updates from the Community Development Department and hear annual utility reports from Cambridge DPW, Water Department, Vicinity Energy, and Eversource. This meeting is largely procedural with no votes on significant zoning or development items.
- Update from Community Development Department
- Annual utility reports from Cambridge DPW and Water Department
- Annual utility reports from Vicinity Energy and Eversource
Joint Roundtable/Working Meeting with the City Council and School Committee
The City Council and School Committee will hold a joint working session to discuss the Cambridge Preschool Program, specifically focusing on means testing and program expansion. The meeting includes a presentation from the Office of Early Childhood and a discussion session.
- Joint working session with the School Committee
- Presentation on Cambridge Preschool Program
- Discussion on means testing for preschool
- Discussion on program expansion
- Communication from the Office of Early Childhood
Board of Zoning Appeal
The Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal will hear variances and special permits for five properties, including a rear addition at 162 Otis Street, a change of use at 3 Phillips Place, a lot subdivision at 71 Cherry Street, a roof deck at 55 Mt. Pleasant Street, and a telecom facility modification at 402 Rindge Avenue. A continued case for an addition at 60-64 Winter Street will also be heard.
- 162 Otis Street: variance for rear addition violating side setbacks
- 3 Phillips Place: variance to change use from university offices to non-institutional office
- 71 Cherry Street: variance to subdivide lot into two
- 55 Mt. Pleasant Street: special permit for second-floor roof deck in front setback
- 402 Rindge Avenue: special permit to add panel antennas and RRUs for T-Mobile
Joint Housing and Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee Meeting
The joint committee will hold a public hearing to continue discussing the 2025 Multifamily Zoning Amendments and consider modifications. They will also review POR 2026-123, which proposes amendments to the Multifamily Zoning Ordinance. The director of zoning will present a citywide multifamily housing zoning update. A policy order requests a feasibility analysis on additional zoning changes.
- Public hearing on 2025 Multifamily Zoning Amendments
- Review of POR 2026-123: proposed amendments to Multifamily Zoning Ordinance
- Presentation: 'Citywide Multifamily Housing Zoning Update' from Director Jeff Roberts
- Policy order requesting feasibility analysis on zoning amendments
- Joint committee of Housing/Neighborhood, Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebration
Transportation and Public Utilities
The Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will meet to discuss micromobility in Cambridge, including current safety trends, the recently filed state 'Ride Safe Act,' and next steps for education and enforcement. The agenda includes a presentation from a Transportation Planning intern and a communication about the state legislation.
- Presentation on micromobility safety trends and written testimony on Bill S.3077
- Discussion of the 'Ride Safe Act' to enhance safe use of micromobility devices
- Consideration of education and enforcement strategies for micromobility
Cambridge Social Housing Joint Task Force
The Cambridge Social Housing Joint Task Force is convening for its first meeting to establish group agreements, review the process, and receive an overview of social housing models from the NYU Furman Center. There will be no public comment.
- Introduction of co-chairs and task force members
- Overview of process and expected outcomes
- Presentation on social housing models in the U.S.
- Next steps and meeting date announced
- No public comment period
Special Meeting of the City Council
The City Council is holding a special meeting to conduct a mid-year check-in on City Manager Yi-An Huang's 2026 performance review. The session focuses on evaluating progress toward established annual goals.
- City Manager Performance Review Process update
Regular City Council Meeting
The City Council will consider a home rule petition to increase the personal property tax exemption threshold to $30,000 for FY2027 and onward. They will also appropriate multiple grants totaling over $800,000 for human services, police, and other programs, and discuss policy orders on algorithmic price fixing in rentals, traffic enforcement, and a neighborhood safety plan to replace ShotSpotter.
- Home rule petition to raise personal property tax exemption to $30,000
- Appropriation of $625,000 federal grant for human service programs
- Policy order to explore regulating algorithmic price fixing in rental housing
- Reports on Massachusetts Ave and Cambridge Street Active Use Zoning petitions
- Policy order for a Neighborhood Safety Additions Plan replacing ShotSpotter
The Health and Environment Committee
The Health and Environment Committee will hold a public hearing to review the 5-year update to the Urban Forest Master Plan, including recommendations from analysis and community feedback. The committee will also receive a presentation from the Superintendent of Urban Forestry.
- Public hearing on Urban Forest Master Plan 5-year update
- Presentation from Superintendent of Urban Forestry on UFMP
Planning Board Meeting
The Cambridge Planning Board will hold a public hearing on a special permit for a six-story, 23-unit residential building at 8 Winter Street. The board will also conduct a five-year progress review of the city's Affordable Housing Overlay. Routine administrative items include adopting past meeting transcripts and receiving a community development update.
- Public hearing for PB-411: 8 Winter Street special permit for a 6-story, 23-unit residential building
- Five-year progress review of the Affordable Housing Overlay
- Adoption of Planning Board meeting transcripts from April and May 2026
- Community Development Department update
The Ordinance Committee
The Ordinance Committee will consider two zoning petitions to amend Article 17.000 of the city's zoning ordinance. The discussion includes establishing active use requirements and a special permit requirement for formula businesses on Cambridge Street.
- North Massachusetts Avenue active use zoning petition
- Cambridge Street active use zoning petition
- Special permit requirement for Formula Businesses on Cambridge Street
Economic Development and University Relations
The Economic Development and University Relations Committee convenes a roundtable with startup ecosystem representatives to discuss current conditions and ways the City can strengthen support for startups. The agenda includes a communication from the Director of Economic Opportunity and Development providing an overview of innovation spaces. No votes or formal decisions are scheduled.
- Roundtable discussion with Cambridge startup ecosystem representatives
- Communication from Director Pardis Saffari on innovation spaces overview
Regular City Council Meeting
The City Council will discuss the five-year review of the Affordable Housing Overlay, a key policy for increasing housing affordability. Other items include reauthorizing a $3.8 million renewable energy revolving fund, a $240,000 golf course fund, and accepting an $18,970 HOME grant. Policy orders address preserving the Old Stone Wall, a neighborhood safety plan after ShotSpotter, and stabilizing nonprofits affected by state cuts.
- Five-year progress review of the Affordable Housing Overlay
- Reauthorization of $3,800,000 spending limit for Renewable Energy and GHG Reduction revolving fund (FY2027)
- Authorization of $240,000 spending limit for Fresh Pond Golf Course Pro Shop revolving fund (FY2027)
- Appropriation of $18,970.32 from the HOME Grant Program
- Policy order to develop a Neighborhood Safety Additions Plan for areas formerly served by ShotSpotter