Update
Previously, this post said that if a zoning petition is defeated that neither it nor anything similar can be brought back to the council for two years. This is only true unless the Planning Board passed a favorable recommendation to the council, which it did for the Cambridge Street Zoning Petition (ORD 2025 #17).
No proposed zoning ordinance or by-law which has been unfavorably acted upon by a city council or town meeting shall be considered by the city council or town meeting within two years after the date of such unfavorable action unless the adoption of such proposed ordinance or by-law is recommended in the final report of the planning board.
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter40a/Section5
Of Note
The Cambridge Street Zoning Petition (ORD 2025 #17), which would establishing four new zoning districts along Cambridge Street, is likely to receive its final vote during this meeting. There are three options:
- Vote to Ordain: The petition becomes ordained and the city’s zoning ordinance will be amended
- Vote to Defeat or No Action: The petition expires on Jan. 28th. The petition could be resubmitted as is or with amendments
City Manager’s Agenda
Reports and Communications
- #1 (CMA 2026 #1) A federal update
- #4 (CMA 2026 #4) “Final Landmark Designation Report for the Nathaniel Stickney House at 45 Mt. Auburn Street”
Appointments
- #2 (CMA 2026 #2) Police Review and Advisory Board – Caleb Zachary Demers, Belicia Wilkinson
- #3 (CMA 2026 #3) Mid Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission – Appointments: Aaron Canto, Pauke Corstens, Ksenia Kaladiouk, Alex Van Praagh. Alternates: Min Ho Kim, Felix Rosen, Jacquelyn Fahey Sandell. Reappointments: Katinka Hakuta, Catherine Tice
Appropriations and Grants
- #5 (CMA 2026 #5) $100,000 grant received from the Mass Broadband Institute, “to help support local digital navigators and provide devices to residents in need, including the distribution of up to 190 laptops and hotspots to qualifying residents in need”
Policy Orders
Requests that the city…
- #1 (POR 2026 #1) install speed humps along Fayerweather Street, “with particular attention to the stretch between Walnut Street and Field Street”
- #2 (POR 2026 #2) report on the, “legal parameters related to City funding and
Tourism Destination Marketing District restrictions,” as well as, “oversight and accountability related to the operation of the visitor information kiosk” - #3 (POR 2026 #3) conduct a comprehensive review of existing safety and security measures at Cambridge City Hall
- #5 (POR 2026 #5) report on, “best future uses for City-owned properties and the processes for redevelopment”
- #6 (POR 2026 #6) change the City Council meeting on Monday, February 2, 2026 be a, “Roundtable/Working meeting to discuss the results of the 2025 Cambridge Resident Survey”
That the council…
- #4 (POR 2026 #4) acknowledge 2026 as the Centennial Celebration of Negro History Week
Charter Rights
- #1 (POR 2025 #172) “work with the Government Operations and Civic Unity Committee to hold hearings to discuss new ideas to honor and remember individuals (i.e. communal memorial garden, wall or path)”
- #2 (POR 2025 #173) “[restrict] eligibility for on-street resident parking permits in new transit-oriented developments,” with notable exceptions, “including individuals with disabilities and residents of affordable housing units”
On the Table
- #1 (ORD 2025 #17) Cambridge Street Zoning Petition: Establishing four new zoning districts for Cambridge Street – expires on Jan. 28th
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.