3. Congratulations to Mayor Marty Walsh.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey

R-3     Jan 11, 2021
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS: Reports have been circulating that Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh will be nominated by President-Elect Joseph Biden to serve as his Secretary of Labor; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council formally go on record in congratulating Mayor Martin J. Walsh for his forthcoming nomination to serve as Secretary of Labor under President Joseph Biden; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Mayor Martin J. Walsh on behalf of the entire City Council.

COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, Communicating information from the School Committee.
Placed on File 9-0

To: Cambridge City Council
From: Sumbul Siddiqui, Mayor
Date: Jan 7, 2021
Subject: Communicating information from the School Committee

To the Honorable, the City Council:

CPSD will be resuming in-person learning starting Monday, January 11th for the students who had been participating in in-person learning prior to December 10th. Having collaborated with CPHD to review the most recent COVID-19 data, CPSD has determined that we will be able to safely reopen school buildings for in-person learning.

This decision to resume in-person learning is aligned with CPS’s updated COVID-19 health and safety framework, which the School Committee adopted at the Regular Meeting on Tuesday, January 5th. The new health and safety framework is based on the recommendations of the Schools and the Path to Zero: Strategies for Pandemic Resilience in the Face of High Community Spread report. Highlights of this framework include:

• CPS using the COVID-19 metrics to inform rather than decide when schools open/close-taking a more nuanced approach and considering every case on its own, based on who was exposed and how, to determine the proper course of action (View updated dashboard here)

• Three-feet distancing in classrooms for scholars in grades PK-5 and 10-day quarantining upon exposure, as approved by the School Committee at the Special Meeting on December 22nd (see here for more information)

• Expanding the surveillance testing program to include students in grades 6-12 and exploring options for testing younger students

• Strengthening communication and training of students, staff, and families on infection control procedures

• Developing school-level “infection control teams”

Prior to this vote, we heard testimonies on the subject of school reopening, from over 100 community members who came to Public Comment and we received emails from hundreds more. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to us. There is no perfect and risk-free solution out there, and everyone’s concerns have been valid. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: to provide the best education possible to our kids and getting our scholars and educators back in classrooms safely.

Superintendent Salim presented updated details of the Second Semester Plan to the School Committee at the January 5th meeting. Here is his summary of the grade level plans:

• Preschool - Grades 3: We will continue the current model, using criteria to prioritize students for in-person learning seats, four days per week. The shift to 3-foot distancing will allow us to combine many currently split in-person classrooms, distribute support staff to support additional learners across the school, and possibly support more 2 - 3 grade students in-person.

• Grades 4 - 5: CPS will use the criteria to prioritize students for in-person learning seats, four days per week. Each school will implement this approach differently, depending on the staffing and enrollment scenario at each school. This may mean students may participate in mixed classrooms, where educators are supporting both in-person and remote learners or may be assigned to a new teacher and classroom.

• Grades 6 - 8: Students will be assigned to two cohorts, which will attend school in-person either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday. In the case of capacity limits due to staffing, students will be prioritized using district wide criteria. Students will be dismissed at lunch, with grab-and-go meals, and remote learning continuing in the afternoon.

• Grades 9 - 12, CRLS: In-person slots will be prioritized for Academic Tier 2 & 3 students (based on course grades) to attend in-person four days per week, and if there is additional space, 9th grade students.

• Grades 9 - 12, HSEP: HSEP will maintain its current operational model due to its success and student/family preferences.

• Wednesdays will remain a remote learning day for all students, to enable staff planning and collaboration

Families are being sent an enrollment form on Friday, January 8th to specify their choice for either in-person or remote learning. This form will be due on Friday, January 15th. Schools will notify families on Monday, January 25th about their enrollment status and their classroom assignments.

Additional discussion opportunities about upcoming plans will be announced soon (including school-based staff discussions and family information sessions, both districtwide and for individual schools).

The state has extended the deadline for students to receive their required flu vaccine (unless there is a religious or medical exemption provided) to Feb 28th, 2021. CPS students between the ages of 12-22 can receive a flu shot at the Teen Health Center.

Our upcoming meetings are as follows:

• Tues, Jan 12th, 2021
Curriculum & Achievement Subcommittee Meeting | 5:30pm
▪ To discuss the successes, challenges, learnings, opportunities and needs of remote learning in CPSD this spring, looking ahead to the fall semester

Special Meeting | 7:00pm
▪ To discuss the Superintendent’s proposed plan for expanding in-person learning in February

• Tues, Jan 19th, 2021
Regular Meeting | 6:00pm

• Tues, Feb 2nd, 2021
Regular Meeting | 6:00pm

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, suggestions, or concerns.

Respectfully,
Sumbul Siddiqui

O-2     Jan 11, 2021
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS: President-elect Joe Biden’s inaugural committee plans to honor those who died in the coronavirus pandemic by lighting up the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Jan 19, 2021; and
WHEREAS: President-elect Biden’s inaugural committee is asking communities around the country to light up buildings or ring church bells at 5:30pm on January 19th in a “national moment of unity and remembrance” to memorialize the lives lost to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS: As of Jan 4, 2021, the City of Cambridge has lost 110 residents to COVID-19, and we mourn both the tragic loss of those lives lost from our community and the 343,000 nationwide pandemic deaths; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Manager is hereby requested to light up City Hall on Jan 19, 2021 at 5:30pm to join in the national moment of unity and remembrance for all the lives lost to COVID-19.

O-4     Jan 11, 2021
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Charter establishes no criteria regarding allocation of City funds to non-municipal entities assisting residents and small businesses; and
WHEREAS: The financial status of Cambridge public funds is virtually unequaled in the Commonwealth, while maintaining relatively low city real estate taxes and high savings; and
WHEREAS: The City Manager and his staff claim there are restrictions on the use of municipal funds that prevent the City from allocating direct financial assistance to non-profit and small business entities; and
WHEREAS: Even before the Covid-19 pandemic approximately 18 percent of Cambridge residents lived below Federal Poverty Guidelines, including 30 percent of African American and Latinx families, many of which reported being hungry at some point in the year, could not pay their rent, or had no day care/pre-kindergarten programs for their children; and
WHEREAS: According to the 2020 Resident Opinion Survey “Almost one-third of respondents (32 percent) say someone in their household lost employment income since the mid-March ‘lockdown,’” with job loss twice as high as the norm (64 percent) among Latinx residents and significantly higher among African-American residents (45 percent); and
WHEREAS: The City Council and Administration recognize the dire need to help financially stabilize our residents, small businesses and non-profit organizations during this time of crisis; and
WHEREAS: The federal and state governments are allowed to provide direct financial assistance to residents and small businesses, yet the Cambridge City Council is told city governments cannot do the same; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager and his staff prepare a memorandum outlining any federal, state or municipal law that restricts the City of Cambridge from allocating direct financial assistance to residents, non-profit agencies or small businesses; and be it further
ORDERED: That if no such restrictions exist, that the City Manager immediately develop a plan to offer direct financial assistance to Cambridge residents, non-profit organizations and small businesses suffering during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Amended Order passed unanimously 9-0
O-4     Jan 11, 2021
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Charter establishes no criteria regarding allocation of City funds to non-municipal entities assisting residents and small businesses; and
WHEREAS: The financial status of Cambridge public funds is virtually unequaled in the Commonwealth, while maintaining relatively low city real estate taxes and high savings; and
WHEREAS: The City Manager and his staff claim there are restrictions on the use of municipal funds that prevent the City from allocating direct financial assistance to non-profit and small business entities; and
WHEREAS: Even before the Covid-19 pandemic approximately 18 percent of Cambridge residents lived below Federal Poverty Guidelines, including 30 percent of African American and Latinx families, many of which reported being hungry at some point in the year, could not pay their rent, or had no day care/pre-kindergarten programs for their children; and
WHEREAS: According to the 2020 Resident Opinion Survey “Almost one-third of respondents (32 percent) say someone in their household lost employment income since the mid-March ‘lockdown,’” with job loss twice as high as the norm (64 percent) among Latinx residents and significantly higher among African-American residents (45 percent); and
WHEREAS: The City Council and Administration recognize the dire need to help financially stabilize our residents, small businesses and non-profit organizations during this time of crisis; and
WHEREAS: The federal and state governments are allowed to provide direct financial assistance to residents and small businesses, yet the Cambridge City Council is told city governments cannot do the same as direct aid would violate Article XVII of the State of Massachusetts Constitution, also known as “The Anti-Aid Amendment”; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager and his staff provide any advisory from the State of Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) that outlines restrictions which prohibit the City of Cambridge from allocating direct financial assistance to residents, non-profit agencies or small businesses; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager and his staff provide the City of Cambridge’s existing Free Cash policy for City Council review and discussion: and be it further
ORDERED If such a City policy does not exist, that the City Manager and his staff prepare a request to the State of Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) to issue an Informational Guideline Release (IGR) that allows for more robust parameters on eligible expenses from free cash to directly assist residents, small businesses, non-profit organizations; and be it further
ORDERED That the City Manager report back to the City Council by the February 1st, 2021 regular City Council meeting.

O-5     Jan 11, 2021  Amended
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Recently, a bench in the Central Square Red Line T stop had armrest bars installed on it by the MBTA; and
WHEREAS: Interventions such as adding bars to benches have been cited by researchers, design professionals, and homeless community advocates as instances of hostile architecture, which are implemented—unintentionally or intentionally—to make public spaces unwelcoming to homeless residents; and
WHEREAS: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many homeless residents feel less safe in traditional settings such as shelters and are seeking out alternate locations to sit or rest a few hours; and
WHEREAS: The MBTA has noted that new accessibility guidelines issued in May call for intermediate armrests on benches and that it must respond to concerns of all residents in the design of its stations; and
WHEREAS: The MBTA has expressed a willingness to look into these recent changes and work with the City of Cambridge to see if there are modifications that would work for all residents; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in asking the MBTA to reconsider the configuration of bars on benches at the Central Square any T station in the City of Cambridge to represent a design that works for all residents by addressing accessibility concerns without making life more challenging for unhoused residents.

TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
Date: Thurs, Nov 12, 2020, 10:00am, Sullivan Chamber
Call to Order
Present: Mallon, Nolan, Simmons (late), Toomey, McGovern (Chair)
Also Attending: Siddiqui

The Human Services & Veterans' Committee will conduct a public hearing on homelessness.

Councillor McGovern called the meeting to order and opened the floor to public comment.

Valerie Bonds, 808 Memorial Drive, expressed her support for the Cambridge Police and their work with the homeless community.

John Chute, 130 Cambridgepark Drive, expressed his position that shelters don't end homelessness.

Stephen Kelly, who did not provide his address, pointed out that the city is down 90 beds since the COVID-19 pandemic began and is worried about the homeless community during the winter months.

Councillor McGovern opened the floor to a presentation from Ellen Semonoff, Assistant City Manager for Human Services, and her team.

Elizabeth Mengers, Human Services Office, made a presentation to the committee which is attached to this report. She explained that due to COVID-19 there is a significantly reduced bed capacity due to shelters needing to decrease counts to create the space for social distancing.

Vice Mayor Mallon moved to close public comment
Yea: Mallon, Nolan, Simmons, McGovern
Absent: Toomey

Joyce Tavon, Senior Director of Policy & Programs at the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance spoke in support of using hotels as non-congregate shelter, especially for individuals.

Adam Lawrence Dyer, lead minister at First Parish in Cambridge Unitarian Universalist, encouraged the city to work more closely with the individuals and organizations that are working with the homeless population locally.

Councillor Nolan asked about the timing of when a more regional approach would begin.

Kate Lazar responded to councillor Nolan’s question. She stated that the New England School of English has dorm rooms available, they are eager to rent to the city. There are in one facility alone 50 beds available, together with the vouchers that the city has been granted to offer housing that would make up for the 90 beds that we are down this winter. She urged the city to work with a nonprofit coalition to try to get these dorm rooms open available.

Councillor McGovern asked to re-focus this round of questions on the charrette recommendations, their presentation, and long-term solutions. He reassured those in attendance the importance of non-profit and faith-based partnerships.

Councillor Zondervan stated that the city should be looking at purchasing hotels to help house the unhoused community. And not just as a short-term solution, but very much as a long-term solution.

Police Commissioner Branville Bard updated the committee on the temporary emergency shelter moving to Spalding Hospital in early December that will provide up to 58 beds.

The committee stressed the need for more beds and debated where they were going to come from.

Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler followed up on the points around non-congregate spaces, like hotel rooms, in the need to be more creative during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Councillor McGovern answered the question by explaining the health risks of using closed-quarter spaces like hotel rooms during a pandemic. He also spoke to the difficulty of staffing and logistics, especially in the case of individuals dealing with substance abuse and recovery.

Councillor McGovern extend the meeting to 12:15
Yea: Mallon, Nolan, Simmons, McGovern
Absent: Toomey

Police Commissioner Branville Bard pointed out that many of the rooms in question had two or three beds and would have to be reduced because of social distancing requirements.

Ellen Semonoff, Assistant City Manager for Human Services concurred.

Councillor Alanna Mallon and her colleague Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler expressed their support to fully exploring non-congregate housing as quickly as possible.

Councillor Patricia Nolan and Mayor Siddiqui voiced their support for this committee and the need for more resources to be put into place to help the unhoused community.

Councillor McGovern moved to send the following policy order to the City Council:
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has been funding a number of short term measures to support unhoused members of the community including public showers, portable toilets, hand washing stations and food programs and
WHEREAS: These supports are currently scheduled to end at the end of the calendar year, despite the fact that the COVID crisis will extend well into 2021; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to fund these programs until further notice.
Yea: Mallon, Nolan, Simmons, Toomey, McGovern

Councillor McGovern moved to send the following policy order to the City Council:
WHEREAS: Many unhoused community members in Cambridge have lower level needs and are capable of living independently and
WHEREAS: Other communities have been able to create non congregate spaces, and created assessments to determine who would best be served in those spaces and
WHEREAS: New England School of English has potential space. Now therefore, be it
ORDERED: That the city further investigate renting space from the English school to house appropriate members of our unhoused community.
Yea: Mallon, Nolan, Simmons, Toomey, McGovern

Councillor McGovern moved to adjourn
Yea: Mallon, Nolan, Simmons, Toomey, McGovern

I. Presentation

1. A communication was received from Human Services, Elizabeth Mengers, transmitting a presentation regarding updates on Work to Address Homelessness in Cambridge.

II. Communications

1. A communication was received from Kavish Gandhi, 115 Hampshire Street #4, regarding we must continue to recognize, in many ways, rent burdenship and homelessness are political choices that we collectively make and maintain, and we need to have the political will to not continue to treat these as anywhere near the status quo.

Proposed Order     Jan 11, 2021
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has been funding a number of short term measures to support unhoused members of the community including public showers, portable toilets, hand washing stations and food programs and
WHEREAS: These supports are currently scheduled to end at the end of the calendar year, despite the fact that the COVID crisis will extend well into 2021; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the city manager be and hereby is requested to fund these programs until further notice.

Proposed Order     Jan 11, 2021  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Many unhoused community members in Cambridge have lower level needs and are capable of living independently and
WHEREAS: Other communities have been able to create non congregate spaces, and created assessments to determine who would best be served in those spaces and
WHEREAS: New England School of English has potential space. Now therefore, be it further
ORDERED: That the City further investigate renting space from the New England school of English to house appropriate members of our unhoused community.

Committee Report #2
Date: Thurs, Nov 19, 2020, 5:30pm, Sullivan Chamber

The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on the KSURP Zoning Ordinance Amendment.

Present: Carlone, Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toomey, Zondervan
Absent: Siddiqui

Councillor Dennis Carlone called the meeting to order and opened the floor to the petitioner.

Thomas Evans, Executive Director of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, explained that the petition is a result of conversations to find an alternative location for a potential Eversource substation. The petition was approved by the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority board on Sept 16, 2020.

He made a PowerPoint presentation to the committee which is attached to these minutes. After conversations between the city manager, Bob Bearden and Boston properties, the north parcel on the blue garage was identified as a potential opportunity. The petition proposes to add an additional 800,000 square feet of commercial development mixture of office and lab; to increase the height limit by 50 feet and revise the phasing of the housing program. The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority is proposing to rename the Kendall Square urban renewal plan to the Kendall Square urban redevelopment plan. The petition would place the affordable housing in one building, that would be 420,000 square feet, on the Broadway edge of the parcel.

Anthony Markese, Design Principle at Pickard Chilton, explained that the idea is to create a wonderful open space, accessible to the public and fully integrated into the fabric of the city. He explained how the project will connect various neighborhood and open space areas. The Eversource substation will be located between existing utilities easements that allow for transmission lines. He described a residential tower, two commercial buildings and below grade parking.

Ian Hatch, Project Manager at Boston Properties, explained that the blue garage would be demolished. The first phase of the project would build the Eversource infrastructure. Due to regulatory timelines for Eversource certain city permits must be obtained by early 2021.

In response to a question from Councillor McGovern the change in residential building from the current plan, Mr. Evans explained that square footage of residential space is the same. He further explained that the CRA could instruct the building on the types of residential units.

In response to a question from Councillor McGovern about removal of home ownership from the plan, Mr. Evans stated that due to the complexity of the project home ownership would just add an additional layer of complexity.

Michael Tilford explained that just to start the project costs $381 million. Adding condo that could be owned adds substantial complexity to the project.

Councillor McGovern was disappointed by the response.

In response to questions from Councillor McGovern about amenities, Mr. Evans explained that the CRA was having discussions with other developers in the area about what amenities will be appropriate. The CRA wants to ensure that they are not replicating any other amenities that are already coming to the area.

At the request of Councillor Carlone, Mr. Tilford clarified that $380 million is required demolish the current site and build the Eversource substation.

Councillor Toomey clarified that the height will go to 250 feet. He wanted to ensure that the trees are protected. He stated that the depth of excavation is very ambitious.

Mr. Tilford explained that vibration from excavating that deep will not impact neighbors.

In response to a question from Councillor Zondervan, Mr. Evans stated that there are several existing service roads which will be enhanced.

In response to a question from Councillor Zondervan, Mr. Evans stated that the residential would precede commercial construction or happen simultaneously.

Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler stated that he would like to see affordable home ownership units move forward and that the service street should become open space. Mr. Evan stated that there will be taxi drop off on the perimeter of the project.

Councillor Nolan asked about the impact of the excavation on groundwater and the possibility of flooding from climate change.

Mr. Tilford explained that the project would use slurry walls. He stated that the 100-year flood surge is not up to this level.

John M. Zicko, Director Capital Projects Engineering at Eversource Energy, stated that below grade substations are very prevalent in Asia.

Councillor Carlone opened the floor to public comment.

Bjorn Poonen, 303 3rd Street, questioned the removal of affordable home ownership units from the project. Hoping that the zoning proposal will go forward, while retaining the homeownership requirement and also providing ownership opportunities to retailers.

Jim Gray, 2 Michael Way, president of the Linden Park neighborhood association, was impressed with the process. He stated that the association is in favor and support this proposed zoning amendment.

Janice StClair, 3 Michael Way, spoke in support of the zoning amendment.

Margaret Drury, 795 Massachusetts. Avenue stated that adoption of the proposed amendment would enable construction of a new substation thereby meeting the public need for additional electricity without direct disruptions of settled resident neighborhoods. She urged passage of the amendment.

Pamela Van Dorn,13 Cornelius way, spoke in support of this petition.

Luis Mejias, 18 Plymouth Street, spoke in support of the zoning petition.

Rosemary Booth, 303 Third Street, spoke in support of keeping affordable home ownership at the site.

Heather Hoffman, 213 Hurley Street, stated that the residents of East Cambridge, London Park Wellington Harrington, and the Port will bear the burden of this project. She stated that increased commercial property will put more pressure on the neighborhood.

Lee Ferris, 269 Norfolk Street, representing the Cambridge residence Alliance. She stated that the project will cause more gentrification and displacement. Eliminating affordable homeownership opportunities here is particularly harmful to black and brown residents who have many barriers to homeownership. She asked that the city council negotiate a revised letter of commitment with the developer that requires the original amount of affordable homeownership in this project.

Matthew Connolly, 13 Cornelius Way, spoke in support of the project.

Conrad Crawford, 119 Spring Street, stated that the project has a lot of benefits. He supported the proposal.

Motion to close public comment by Councillor Toomey: 8-0-1
Yea: Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toomey, Zondervan, Carlone
Absent: Siddiqui

Councillor Carlone opened the floor to city staff.

Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development, explained that the purpose of this project was keep the Eversource substation out of the Fulkerson Street site.

Jeffrey Roberts, Director of Zoning and Development, explained that the Planning Board voted to favorably recommend the petition to the city council. If the zoning amendment is adopted, the project would come back before the planning board for special permit approval of a development plan.

In response to a question from Councillor Carlone about guidelines, Mr. Roberts, stated that whenever a development comes before the planning board, it is the practice of staff and planning board members to refer to whatever recent planning documents might be relevant for that particular proposal.

Mr. Evans stated that in order to host the Eversource site housing cannot be built right now. The petition seeks to change the timing so that the housing would be the first or parallel development plan as soon as feasible once the substation is put in place.

In response to a question from Councillor Zondervan about adding Bicycle lanes to Binney street, Mr. Evans explained that the petitioner been working with city departments and Boston properties to design and put in place bicycle lane.

Councillor Zondervan stated that he was generally supportive of the project but had concerns about the removal of the home ownership component.

In response to a question from Councillor Zondervan about adding affordable housing to the Fulkerson site, Ms. Farooq stated that as a part of the Alexandria rezoning the Fulkerson site would be transferred to the city. Once that happens the city typically will have a community process to determine what will be the future use of that land.

Motion to extend the meeting to 7:50pm by Councillor Carlone: 8-0-1
Yea: Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toomey, Zondervan, Carlone
Absent: Siddiqui

Councillor Zondervan advocated for eliminating the parking requirement.

Mayor Marc McGovern expressed that if the homeownership ownership units could not be built in this location then they should be built on another site. He strongly encouraged the petitioner to find a way to build the affordable homeownership units.

Councillor Nolan spoke in support in keeping the homeownership component.

Councillor Carlone stated that he would like more information about the size of various components of the project for future meetings.

In response to a question from Councillor Carlone Mr. Evans explained that planters would be used on the project.

Councillor Carlone encouraged the body to keep the petition in committee.

Motion to adjourn by Councillor Toomey: 6-0-3
Yea: Mallon, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toomey, Carlone
Absent: McGovern, Zondervan, Siddiqui

Discussion

1. A Zoning Petition has been received from Cambridge Redevelopment Authority regarding a Zoning Ordinance to reflect the proposed changes to the KSURP

2. A communication was received from Boston Properties Pickard Chilton, regarding a presentation for the Ordinance Committee on Nov 19, 2020

3. A communication was received from members of the Public for the Ordinance Committee meeting on Nov 19, 2020

Committee Report #3
Date: Tues, Jan 5, 2021, 5:30pm, Sullivan Chamber

The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing to continue discussion of the KSURP Zoning Ordinance Amendment petition.

Present: Carlone, Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toomey, Zondervan
Absent: Siddiqui, Simmons

Councillor Carlone called the meeting to order. He opened the floor to the petitioner.

Tom Evans, Executive Director of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, explained the CRA has transmitted a draft Commitment letter and revised petition. He made a presentation which has been attached to these minutes. The project as proposed includes all 420,000 square feet of residential development as rental that would continue to maintain the composition of affordable and middle-income units. It will replace the affordable home ownership component that had been part of the original proposal at another site within Cambridge. The overall composition of housing would be a total of 440,000 square feet of housing, most of it on the location next to the substation, and then one or two other sites to be determined.

Anthony Markese, Design Principle at Pickard Chilton, explained several slides showing the design of the project.

Brian Skrovig, from Pickard Chilton, explained how the project will act as a hub to activate the space. He explained that the petitioner is reviewing a wide variety of plantings.

Mr. Markese stated that they are looking at ways to possibly modify the two service roads. He further explained some of the architectural concepts being explored.

Jeffrey Roberts, Director of Zoning and Development, explained that the addition of a definition for substation commercial GFA will make it easier to distinguish the actual construction of the electrical transformer substation.

Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development, stated that she felt that all of the Planning Board’s recommendations have been incorporated. She suggested amending the commitment letter from 11.200 to 11.203.3. This proposal is not going to be wholesale for the whole project but really just an offset.

Vice Mayor Mallon commended the CRA for the commitment that included a commitment to affordable home ownership.

In response to a question from the Vice Mayor about ensuring that the affordable housing units are built, Mr. Evans states that it may by more helpful to develop a date certain for those units rather than adding a layer of complexity for the project.

Mr. Evans stated that the CRA is working aggressively to expand affordable housing. He would have to bring any proposed language back to his board.

Vice Mayor Mallon stated that the council should review the financial impact statement prior to ordination of this zoning amendment.

Councillor Zondervan asked about including deadlines for the completion of the affordable housing units in the commitment letter.

Mr. Evans stated that it would be possible to include deadline for completion but there would need to be additional conversation about how far out the deadlines would last.

In response to a question from Councillor Zondervan, Mr. Evans stated that the substation would be closer to Broadway.

In response to question from Councillor Zondervan about the excavation for the substation, John Zicko, Director Capital Projects Engineering at Eversource Energy, explained that where certain electrical equipment will be paced on the site. He explained that the personnel entrance for the substation will be separate from any other areas. He stated that there is not current planned for there to be access to the substation through the garage.

Councillor McGovern thanked the CRA for taking responsibility for relocating the affordable home ownership units. He stated that he would like more details about when those units would be built.

Councillor Toomey thanked the petitioner for making modification to the project to incorporate the community’s concerns.

Councillor Nolan asked about how the project will deal with the potential flooding caused by climate change.

Mr. Zico explained that the substation will be built with slurry walls and has been built based on the 100-year flood research. He explained that there are pumps that that can remove any water that enters the structure.

Councillor Nolan reemphasized her concern about the potential impact of climate change on the long-term viability of the project.

In response to question from Councillor Nolan about public outreach, Mr. Evans explained the extensive outreach over the past year, which included online meetings. He stated there will be ongoing outreach.

Councillor Carlone emphasized that scale and green space will be important to the success of the project.

Mr. Markese stated that they will work with stakeholders to have trees within the space.

Councillor Carlone expressed concerns about the scale and character of the buildings in the presentation.

In response to a question from Councillor Carlone about the price, Mr. Evans stated that the price is set by a formula in the development agreement with Boston properties. It has a one price point for residential development and another for office and commercial. And the way the term agreement is written is the price fluctuates over time. Today the price sits at approximately $100 per square foot.

In response to a question from Councillor Carlone about subsidizing Eversource, Mr. Evans stated that the petitioner is only subsidizing Eversource in the sense that they will be building a space for the substation.

Mr. Evans stated that he provided a price for replacing the garage with underground parking.

Michael Tilford, Vice President for Development at Boston Properties, stated that Boston properties is spending $80 million to build the Eversource vaults, in addition to the $300 million to move the parking out of the way.

Vice Mayor stated that she did not support having the affordable home ownership units on-site or close to the project.

Councillor Zondervan supported building that affordable housing units any in the city that is feasible, as quickly as possible.

Councillor Carlone had a discussion with the clerk about the deadline for passage of the petition being sometime in the middle of February.

Councillor Carlone moved to amend the petition by substitution with the language in the communication to the Ordinance Committee from the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority dated Dec 31, 2020.
Yea: Carlone, Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toomey, Zondervan
Absent: Siddiqui, Simmons
Result: 7-0-2

1. A Zoning Petition has been received from Cambridge Redevelopment Authority regarding a Zoning Ordinance to reflect the proposed changes to the KSURP
RESULT: REFERRED to the City Council with a favorable recommendation
YEAS: Carlone, Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toomey, Zondervan
ABSENT: Siddiqui, Simmons

Motion to adjourn
Yea: Carlone, Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toomey, Zondervan
Absent: Siddiqui, Simmons
Result: 7-0-2

[Order Printout] [Appl. & Petition Printout] [Petition & Memo]

Documents Received:

2. A communication was received from Ian Hatch, Project Manager at Boston Properties, with a presentation for the Ordinance Committee meeting on Jan 5, 2021

3. A communication was received from Tom Evans, Executive Director of Cambridge Redevelopment Authority for the Ordinance Committee meeting on Jan 5, 2021