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Newsletter #9, November 15, 2021

    

Newsletter #9

November 15, 2021

http://alewife.org

Meetings important to North Cambridge and nearby areas

 Today, Wednesday, and Soon

  • City Council Meeting – Monday, Nov. 15, 5:30pm, on Zoom

    • Charter Right #2 (Policy Order 2021 #246) on Alewife Development

    • Charter Right #3 (Policy Order 2021 #247) on Upper Mass Ave bus, bike & parking

    • These policy orders were introduced at the Nov. 8 City Council meeting, but were tabled until today’s meeting

    • See below for more info about these Policy Orders

  •  IQHQ Community Meeting – Wednesday, Nov, 17, 6:30-8:00, on Zoom

    • IQHQ will give an update on their development plans and permitting/construction timeline for former W.R. Grace site

    • For information, go to: iqhqcommunityprocess.com

    • Click here to Register

  • Alewife Study Group (ASG) Community Meeting – Sunday, December 5, 4:00 to 5:30pm, on Zoom

    • Community discussion on IQHQ’s development plans

    • More information and registration link coming soon

  • Notice of Intent (NOI) Continuation Meeting – Monday, Nov. 29, 7:00pm

    • IQHQ presented their NOI to the Cambridge Conservation Commission (ConCom) on Oct. 25

    • As requested by ASG and others in the community, the ConCom continued their process, to allow more time for the commission and community to review IQHQ’s NOI.

    • The agenda for the Nov. 29 meeting is not posted yet on the ConCom Webpage

    • For more information about ConCom and IQHQ’s NOI, see the ASG October 24 Newsletter

  • RAM Plan Update

    • Haley & Aldrich submitted their 4,600+ page Draft RAM (Release Abatement Measure) Plan. The comment period closes today, November 15, 2021.

    • Their RAM Plan describes which contaminants are in the soil and water, and details how they will protect us from hazardous waste during and after construction.

    • ASG has reviewed the RAM Plan and made detailed comments and suggestions.

    • In addition, Alewife Neighbors, Inc. hired GeoInsight to review the Draft RAM Plan.

    • Next Step: Haley & Aldrich, author of the Draft RAM Plan, will review and respond to all the comments in writing. Once we have those, we will post them on our website.

  • Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Environmental Notice Form (ENF) for IQHQ development

    • Public Comment will be accepted by the MEPA office until Monday, December 13

    • IQHQ submitted their ENF to MEPA on Nov. 10

    • A Virtual Public Consultation between MEPA and IQHQ will be scheduled for sometime in the next couple of weeks.  ASG will publicize the info in an upcoming newsletter

    • To read and comment, click here for IQHQ’s ENF and scroll down to EEA #16473 – Alewife Park.

Policy Order 2021 #246 on Alewife development (submitted by Councilor Patty Nolan and co-sponsored by Councilor Marc McGovern and Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui):

This Policy Order lists a number of specific issues about development in the area between the Alewife T station and Fresh Pond, including Fresh Pond Mall, then calls for an opportunity to ensure the right balance of development in the area until the Alewife District Plan (Plan) zoning is approved. The Plan was the result of the Alewife Working Group recommendations as part of the Envision Cambridge process.

The Plan calls for much of the area to have light industrial uses to continue to provide “good-paying, low-barrier-to-entry,” career-track jobs that are being pushed out of Cambridge by the influx of tech and lab developments.  Also, climate resiliency measures have yet to be codified.  The Alewife area has been identified as vulnerable to flooding and extreme heat, which will become very serious concerns during the lifetime of new buildings.

Click this link to see the text of Policy Order 2021 #246 which concisely lists the reasons why this policy order is needed.

See below for how to share your views on this Policy Order with the City Council.

Policy Order 2021 #247 on North Mass Ave bus, bike & parking

Starting Monday, November 8, Cambridge Department of Traffic, Parking and Transportation (TPT) began removing parking spaces along Mass Ave between Dudley Street and Alewife Brook Parkway, in order to add dedicated bus and bike lanes in both directions.

Currently, only 15-minute parking will be allowed in the bus lanes during non-rush hour time periods. Many residents have expressed concerns that this will make it difficult for people with limited mobility to access these businesses.

This Policy Order asks the city manager to look into allowing up to 2-hour parking in these bus lanes during non-rush hour times. This would mirror what Boston has done, for example.

Click this link to see the text of Policy Order 2021 #247.

Please share your opinions with city councilors before and during the meeting:

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!