Cambridge City Council Asks for Report on Amended Upzoning Proposal

The Cambridge City Council requested on Monday that City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 prepare a report on amendments that pare back the scope of Cambridge’s multifamily zoning proposal, setting it up to move forward despite some residents’ claims the process has been rushed.

In December, the Council unanimously approved amendments to the proposal, which would eliminate single-family zoning citywide. Under the amended proposal, the height of most new developments in residential neighborhoods would be capped at four — rather than six — stories.

Councilor Catherine “Cathie” Zusy championed rezoning opponents’ concerns in the Council’s Jan. 6 meeting, arguing for a slower process with additional input from the Planning Board. Zusy was the only Councilor who opposed the resolution requesting the report from Huang.

“I think it would be very helpful to have the Planning Board review the updated proposal. They are design professionals — we are not,” Zusy said. “What is the rush?”

The Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee is set to meet with urban planning experts from Harvard and MIT on Wednesday to discuss the proposed zoning legislation.

Zusy’s comments echoed the worries residents shared during the public comment period. Some said the proposed legislation is moving too fast and raised questions about its potential impact on affordability, equity, and the environment.

Mary Jane Kornacki, who lives in Cambridge’s Avon Hill neighborhood, said she worried the mid-February deadline to approve the zoning proposal does not allow enough time to answer key questions.

“How will land values change? How many units would this zoning actually produce? How many affordable ones? Who will benefit? Where will residents be displaced?” Kornacki said.

“Taxpayers are owed answers to these questions,” she added.

Mayor E. Denise Simmons was quick to counter Zusy’s concerns and said the legislation was not being rushed.

“I’ve heard this thing about rushing, and I guess I don’t agree with that because it’s going through its normal stages — not any faster, not any slower, but through the normal stages,” she said.

“I just want to be careful how we shape that picture,” she added. “I don’t want people to walk away thinking we’re cheating them out of due process.”

In Monday’s meeting, the Council frequently struck a tone of compromise. Councilor Burhan Azeem said the Council is doing its best to reach a “strong, durable middle ground.”

Vice Mayor Marc C. McGovern sought to clarify what he said were common misunderstandings about the proposal.

“I keep seeing people say that we’re eliminating zoning,” he said. “We’re not eliminating zoning, we’re changing zoning.”

Throughout the meeting, councilors repeatedly told residents they were paying attention to feedback and concerns.

“I just want people in the community to know I’m listening, and obviously a majority of the Council is listening,” said Councilor Paul F. Toner.