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Newsletter #14
March 6, 2022 |
Contents:
- Planning Board met with IQHQ on March 1
- Petition Seeks Time to Align Alewife Development Rules with City Plans, Meeting Date Change
Planning Board met with IQHQ on March 1
The first City of Cambridge Planning Board (PB) hearing on IQHQ’s Special Permit application happened on March 1. See recent ASG Newsletters #12 and #13 for background information. At the March 1 meeting, the Planning Board expressed no major objections to the overall design. Thanks to community members who attended the meeting and to those who shared your thoughts regarding this important neighborhood project via public comment or email.
The PB will send a letter summarizing their questions and concerns to IQHQ in the next week or two. IQHQ will then send the PB a written response, as well as written responses to the City of Cambridge memos. See Newsletter #13 for links to the City memos. After IQHQ summits all of these responses, the PB will schedule a second meeting on IQHQ’s Special Permit. The next ASG Newsletter will provide updates as this process moves forward, including the date and time of the second PB meeting.
Petition Seeks Time to Align Alewife Development Rules with City Plans, Meeting Date Change
Save these dates: City Council Ordinance Committee Meeting on Wed, March 9, 5:30pm (links to comment or watch), Planning Board Meeting changed to Tues, March 8, 6:30 (not March 15, as stated in ASG Newsletter #13; link to zoom meeting). Sign up for public comment if you want to voice your opinion, but at least attend the meetings to show that the community is interested. And/or write an email in support of the Alewife Overlay District zoning petition to City Councilors, who will vote on the petition. Write to citycouncil@cambridgema.gov The article below is a reprint from our last newsletter.
Over the last few years the Alewife area has had particular focus by the City for predicted increase in flooding and extreme heat. There have been well-thought-out city plans by Envision Cambridge and other city-lead processes that began in 2016. But there is still no revised or new zoning that aligns with these recommendations. One reason is that City staff say they are too busy reviewing individual development proposals to be able to set the overall guidance for how development in the area should be done. Meanwhile, developers are moving quickly to build more high density biotech labs in our neighborhoods using the old rules.
The Alewife District Plan seeks to preserve well-paying career jobs that don’t need college degrees, like those that currently exist in the light-industrial area between Fresh Pond and Alewife Station. Because of the extreme traffic congestion in the Alewife area, many workers at dense Biotech Labs and High Tech office parks will likely choose to live in Cambridge to get to and from their jobs in a reasonable time. This will drive up demand for housing, especially by people who can afford to buy up moderately priced houses or pay for upscale new ones, causing even higher housing prices in Cambridge..
A policy order (submitted by Patty Nolan and co-sponsored by Sumbul Siddiqui, Marc McGovern, and Burhan Azeem) seeks to allow the Cambridge Development Department time (with a cap of two years) to update zoning language to match city plans where labs and offices are proposed in the Alewife area. This includes the Triangle, Quadrangle and Fresh Pond Mall, but not the IQHQ property.
This zoning petition will be discussed at Council Ordinance Committee and Planning Board meetings. At least 7 supporting votes by City Councilors are needed to pass these important amendments. ASG is discussing the neighborhood issues with City Councilors individually, but community members are encouraged to contact Councilors directly to let them know that we care about fair jobs, climate change resiliency, housing, traffic, or just that the City zoning should be updated to match City plans as soon as possible. When the new rules are established, the restrictions on Alewife lab and office development will be lifted.
Link to info on Alewife District Plan
Link to Alewife Preparedness Plan (more info under CCPR tab at the City’s Climate Change Preparedness and Resilience Plan page)
Link to info on Urban Forest Master Plan
ASG Newsletter
ASG will send email updates about once a month during this busy time in the development of the IQHQ site.
Click here for previous ASG Newsletters
Anyone can sign up for this newsletter by completing the Contact Form at the bottom of the ASG home page: alewife.org We also welcome your questions, comments, ideas, and offers of help!