Newsletter #34 – Alewife Study Group

This ASG Newsletter includes the following updates:

Jerry’s Pond Site Walk, with Conservation Commission, Thursday February 8, 11:00am, open to the public
Report from January 22 Conservation Commission meeting about IQHQ’s Jerry’s Pond improvements
IQHQ Jerry’s Pond application to the Conservation Commissions, plus related documents from ASG and others
Mass Ave Planning Study meetings
Cambridge4Trees meeting
IQHQ seeking zoning change to allow them to meet their community commitment of having a restaurant

Jerry’s Pond Site Walk with City of Cambridge Conservation Commission (ConCom)
Thursday, February 8 at 11:00 AM

This is a next step in ConCom’s review of IQHQ’s Notice of Intent (NOI) application for improvements to Jerry’s Pond in North Cambridge.

This site walk will allow members of ConCom to see Jerry’s Pond in person, and to ask IQHQ questions. The public is welcome to attend and observe, but public comment is not allowed. However, this is still a good opportunity to see Jerry’s Pond, and the IQHQ-owned land around it, in person.

Meet at the Rindge Ave parking lot where the 83 bus turns around, and next to the Comeau Little League baseball field. We expect the site walk to take at least one hour.

Report from January 22 Conservation Commission (Con Com) meeting about IQHQ Notice of Intent (NOI) application for Jerry’s Pond improvements

The ConCom meeting on January 22 included the following:

Presentation from IQHQ about their plans for Jerry’s Pond
Questions and comments to IQHQ from members of ConCom
Comments from a member of Cambridge Department of Public Works about their peer review of IQHQ’s NOI
Public comment from community members
Decision by ConCom to continue the hearing to a next meeting, and to keep public comment open at the next meeting
Scheduling a ConCom site walk of Jerry’s Pond this Thursday, February 8, at 11:00 AM, open to the public. See above article for more details.
The next meeting will be on Monday, February 12, at 7:00 PM, on Zoom.
Once ConCom posts the registration link for the February 12 meeting on their webpage, ASG will send a Newsletter with that information.

IQHQ Jerry’s Pond Notice of Intent (NOI) application, plus related documents from ASG and others

Mass Ave Planning Study meetings

Excerpts from the City’s website for the Mass Ave Planning Study]

The Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD), in collaboration with other city departments, will lead a community process for the future of Mass Ave from Cambridge Common to Alewife Brook Parkway. The planning study will include recommendations on topics of land use, urban design, housing, climate resiliency, small business support, mobility, and public space, as well as zoning recommendations for future development.

Mass Ave Planning Study Working Group Meeting #1
Wednesday, February 7, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

The Cambridge Development Department (CDD) will host the first regular working group meeting for the Mass Ave Planning Study (MAPS) on Wednesday, February 7 from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. The meeting will serve as an introduction to the project; an opportunity for working group members to learn more about the process; and allocated time for members of the public to ask initial questions for the planning team. This is a webinar format.

This meeting will be held via Zoom.

Please register here or
https://cambridgema.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZOTmZJGQS_eQSLeOJbdLqQ

Cambridge4Trees public meeting
Thursday, February 15, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Lesley’s University Hall, 1815 Mass Ave, Room L-030

[From Cambridge4Trees announcement]

Cambridge4Trees will host monthly meetings on trees, parks and open space with representatives from as many groups as possible to create a “mutual aid society” for everyone in the city.

AGENDA:

Councillor Joan Pickett, Finance Committee Co-chair: Budget has started, where is Urban Forest Master Plan funding?
Committee on Public Planting Linear Park sub-committee: Update on the award winning park’s “redesign”
Charles Teague, Cambridge4Trees board: Fixing the Tree Protection Ordinance
Discussion: What is happening in your neighborhood?
Intermission: “ Meet & greet” people from other groups
Preview of film by Federico Muchnik: “Open Space: Life at Cambridge’s Danehy Park”

IQHQ seeking zoning change to allow them to meet their community commitment of having a restaurant

One Alewife Center, one of the buildings to remain after IQHQ’s build out, has historically had a cafe that served building occupants. During the Planning Board process for IQHQ’s special permit, the community expressed interest in maintaining a restaurant facing the inside of their campus (away from Whittemore Avenue). The community was interested in making it available to the public, as well as serving tenants.

The Planning Board and IQHQ listened to this request and their special permit required them to have at least 3,500 square feet for a restaurant or cafe accessible to the public with no storefront or signage on Whittemore Avenue. Zoning in the area limits a retail establishment to a maximum of 1,200 square feet. Because of this conflict, IQHQ is seeking a zoning variance so they can have a larger (6,500 square foot) restaurant.

The issue comes before a Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) hearing on Thursday, February 8, 7:30 PM. If you have questions or concerns about this, you can reach out to ASG (see below) or attend the hearing.

BZA approval would allow IQHQ to apply for building permits to construct the restaurant. ASG supports having a restaurant at IQHQ that serves our community. And, ASG will gather additional community input, and communicate it to IQHQ, as the planning process for the restaurant continues.

For questions or concerns about impacts to our community from IQHQ construction, including from noise, vibrations, or fumes, please contact both ASG contact@alewife.org and IQHQ at 617-314-7252 or info@iqhqcommunityprocess.com

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 (or unsubscribe) 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!

Our mailing address is:
Alewife Study Group
20 Kassul Park
Cambridge, MA 02140-1637
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