City Council Moves Forward with Multifamily Zoning Proposal, Despite Attempt to Amend

After dozens of Cambridge residents spoke in favor of preserving the city’s current multifamily zoning proposal, the Cambridge City Council voted to reject an amendment that would allow developers to build fewer stories without affordable housing units.

The amendment, which was brought before the council by Councilor Ayesha M. Wilson and co-sponsored by Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, reduced the number of stories that developers could build without providing affordable housing from four to three.

Wilson said the change would “create the most housing possible” for developments smaller than six stories — an idea that was also brought up in public comment.

“Cambridge Development Department numbers said that the three plus three, with no minimum lot size, will produce more units of inclusionary housing than four plus two with minimum lot size,” resident Gail Charpentier said.

Vice Mayor Marc C. McGovern was skeptical of the predictions — calling them “possible projections” — while Councilor Patty M. Nolan ’80 largely trusted the estimations.

“They’re the best estimate based on everything that we know about how development happens in the city,” Nolan said. “So I take that as a given.”

Despite these predictions, the council voted 4-5 against the amendment and then voted to pass the proposal to a second reading — leaving it just one vote away from passing the full city council.

The vote was in line with the majority of residents in the public comment period. The majority of the 99 residents who spoke said they wanted the proposal to pass without any amendments. Many residents said the current plan is the best way to ensure residents can find affordable housing in the city.

“I urge you to move the four plus two proposal forward with no further delays or amendments,” said resident Katie Blair. “When we have such a huge demand and an affordability crisis, the first step is to create more supply by building up. I think Cambridge is a great place to live, and I want other people to be able to live here too.”

“Bringing in more people, increasing diversity, helps make us stronger and more vibrant — and building up urban areas also helps the environment for all,” she added.

“Three plus three is the only way to protect the diversity of Cambridge,” resident Andy Nash said.

After the vote, McGovern — who voted against the amendment — said that the city can pursue alternate options to increase affordable housing.

“We can make up those numbers by building much taller on the corridors,” he said. We can make up those numbers by building more affordable housing in the city-owned lots in Central Square.”

— Staff writer Diego García Moreno can be reached at diego.garciamoreno@thecrimson.com.
— Staff Writer Summer E. Rose can be reached at summer.rose@thecrimson.com.