Cambridge InsideOut - Oct 30, 2018
Possible Topics:
1) Baseball - World Champion Red Sox
2) Oct 29 City Council meeting
3) Envision Cambridge Housing Working Group
4) Cambridge Growth Policy Document - 1993 w/2007 Update
5) Mass&Main rising, Central Square Murals are happening
7) News, Upcoming Events, etc.
Civic Opportunities
A First Look at the Oct 29, 2018 Cambridge City Council AgendaHere's my first pass at the interesting stuff up for discussion at this week's meeting: Manager's Agenda #10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $67,179.02 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Department Extraordinary Expenditures Account to support additional tree plantings in the Gore Street Neighborhood. What is notable is that the street tree that was lost has been appraised at $67,179.02. I'd love to learn more about how that figure was derived. Especially the two cents. Charter Right #1. That the Chairs of the Ordinance Committee schedule a hearing on Tree Protections and the Chairs of the Health & Environment Committee schedule public hearings on Tree Protections and the preliminary results from the Ordinance Committee hearing. There are good ways and bad ways to do this. As a side note, I heard that the tulip tree on Cambridge Street that was at the center of a controversy almost two decades ago (with at least one person chaining herself to the tree) was removed recently due to internal rot. Some have suggested that this may have been helped along, but in any case the tulip tree is no more. Charter Right #2. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Community Development Department to provide a written timeline of what specific steps must take place in order to take a final vote on the Affordable Housing Overlay legislation. Communications #6. Sundry communications received relating to opposition of City Envision proposal. My sense is that very few people know much about the proposed Subsidized Housing Overlay proposal and its provisions to permit neighboring properties to be redeveloped as subsidized housing as of right a) at densities up to four times what is allowed under current zoning, b) with minimal setback requirements, c) and with no objections permitted. The proposal is a severe departure from the Growth Policy Document that has been successfully applied for nearly 25 years. The Overlay proposal was panned at the Planning Board for many reasons. It does nothing to address the housing affordability problem as most people understand it, i.e. the difficulty most people have in finding an affordable place to own or rent without being forced to apply to a government agency for housing. Communications #3. A communication was received from Charles Hinds, President East Cambridge Planning Team, regarding the disposition process of the First St. Garage. The First Street parking garage is there largely because it served the needs of the Courthouse. The primary reason it has been underutilized (hence the available surplus of parking) is because the Courthouse has been closed for some time. Sure, some things have changed in the interim and perhaps in an ideal world the Courthouse building would be scaled down more than is proposed, but courts have ruled that the re-purposing of the Courthouse building may proceed as planned. Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on offering early voting in City Council and School Committee elections. Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui As much as I want everyone to vote (I'm one of the only 116 Cambridge voters who has voted in every citywide Cambridge election since 1997), I really don't see how the substantial increased cost of this proposal is justifiable. Unlike state and federal elections, the Commonwealth won't be picking up the tab. It really is very simple to vote in municipal elections on Election Day and absentee voting could simply be expanded to achieve the same goal. Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to provide an update on any current discussions or plans for extending the Alewife Greenway Bike Path from Alewife to Sherman Street. Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone This is a great idea. In fact, if the path switched over to the north side of the tracks at Sherman Street, you could extend it all the way to Porter Square with the added treat that you could pass under Walden Street through the old cattle pass. Order #13. That the City Manager is requested to confer with City staff and report back to the City Council on the status of the Cambridge Street Bicycle Safety Demonstration Project and on any efforts to assess how successful the project has been and what lessons the City may learn from the project that may help inform street allocation and design decisions elsewhere. Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux Order #14. That the City Manager is requested to confer with City staff and report back to the City Council on opportunities and plans to increase signage or other communication efforts to help ensure that all users of Brattle Street between Eliot and Mason Streets understand the cyclists may be using Brattle Street in the opposite direction of prevailing motor vehicle traffic. Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux Order #19. That the City Manager is requested to include protected bicycle infrastructure along the entire length of River Street as part of the FY20 River Street Redesign project. Councillor Zondervan, Mayor McGovern, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone All of these are covered under the City's "Listen Zero" policy regarding bicycle accommodation. There were and still are better ways to re-envision traffic flow on Cambridge Street, and Brattle Street should have been made into a two-way "slow street" from Mason St. to Eliot St. connecting to Mt. Auburn St. As for River Street, there is no way on earth that safer bicycle accommodation won't be a central part of the plan, and this is one location where traffic calming and some separation of cyclists from traffic (including drivers just off the Pike who have not yet mentally slowed down) is completely justified. Committee Report #1. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk transmitting a report from Councillor Jan Devereux, Chair and Councillor Quinton Y. Zondervan, Co-Chair of the Health and Environment Committee for a public hearing held on Sept 27, 2018 to discuss stormwater management best practices and get an update on how Cambridge will be impacted by the EPA’s new Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, which took effect on July 1, 2018. I'm highlighting this report simply because I think that every Cambridge citizen should learn more about the "hidden city" under their feet, i.e. the infrastructure that we depend on every day. We should have regular citizen seminars on this. Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk transmitting a report from Councillor Jan Devereux, Chair and Councillor Quinton Y. Zondervan, Co-Chair of the Health and Environment Committee for a public hearing held on Oct 9, 2018 to was to receive an update on progress towards Zero Waste goals and to discuss successes and challenges of the citywide composting and recycling programs to date. Two words - Recycle Right. If you want to ensure the economic viability of recycling you have to be mindful of the eventual end markets. Recycling is a lot more than throwing things into a blue (or green) container. Committee Report #4. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Oct 2, 2018 to discuss a petition filed by the City Council to amend the zoning ordinances in Articles 2.000, 4.000, 6.000 and 11.000 and to establish provisions for Cannabis Uses. I really hope the City Council reconsiders the proposal to allow pot shops to open as of right in all of the City's BA-1 zones [base zoning map]. These include many of our small "mom 'n pop" mixed residential/commercial zones. [Full disclosure - I live in a BA-1 zone, but I'm directly across the street from a school and have a day care and two Montessori schools as neighbors, so I'm within the buffer zone.] This is fundamentally different than allowing pot shops along a BA corridor like North Mass. Ave. [BA-2] or Cambridge Street east of Inman Square [BA], though I'll leave it to residents along those corridors to chime in for themselves. The Western Ave. corridor is primarily BA-3. A proposed Order in this committee report calls for allowing adult use (recreational) pot shops as a use as of right in all BA-1, BA-2 and BA-3 districts. Another proposed Order would reduce the buffer zone around schools and other youth facilities from 500 ft. to 300 ft. Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from City Clerk Donna P. Lopez, transmitting a communication from Councillor Mallon, transmitting notes for the first meeting of the Mayor's Arts Task Force. This meeting was mainly just introductions, but it's worth keeping an eye on where this Task Force is headed. - Robert Winters |
Notes from the OK Corral - The Envision Cambridge Housing Working Group
Tues, Oct 30, 2018 -- Today's Homework Assignment:
Please identify which policies, if any, from Cambridge's Growth Policy Document should be changed.
[To the best of my knowledge, these important policies have never been part of the discussion among the current Envision Cambridge Advisory Committee or its various Working Groups. Indeed, some of the current recommendations growing from the Envision Cambridge process clearly contradict some of these current policies. - RW]
Cambridge Growth Policy - Toward a Sustainable Future Policy 1 Policy 2 Policy 3 Policy 4 Policy 5 Policy 6 Policy 7 1. Such action will permanently forestall excessive development at the core campus of an existing institution, in particularly sensitive locations; or 2. Existing institutional activity in a core campus area will be reduced or eliminated, particularly at locations where conflict with existing residential communities has been evident or is possible in the future; and 3. The potential for future commercial, tax paying development is not significantly reduced; or 4. The presence of a stable, well managed institutional activity could encourage, stimulate, and attract increased investment in non institutional commercial tax producing development. Policy 8 Policy 9 1. Those areas can adapt to new commercial and industrial patterns of development; 2. The residential neighborhood edges abutting such areas are strengthened through selective residential reuse within the development areas or through careful transition in density, scale and lot development pattern; 3. New uses and varied scales and densities can be introduced into such areas; 4. Uses incompatible with the city’s existing and future desired development pattern are phased out. Policy 10 1. To provide opportunities for those who work in the city to live here; 2. To limit the use of the automobile to get to Cambridge and to travel within Cambridge; 3. To encourage more active use of all parts of the city for longer periods throughout the day; and 4. To limit the secondary impacts of new development on the existing, established neighborhoods. These impacts may be both economic, as in the increased demand placed on the limited stock of existing housing, and environmental, as in the increase in traffic on neighborhood streets. Policy 11 Policy 12 For example: low rent industrial space for start up enterprises; locations for industrial use and development which could be compromised by proximity to other, incompatible, uses, including residential uses; small commercial enclaves which directly serve their immediate surrounding residential neighborhood; locations appropriate for gas stations, car repair facilities, tow yards, etc.; structures or clusters of structures eligible for local historic district designation; or for designation as a local conservation district; environments as frequently found in the Residence “A” districts, where a unique combination of distinctive architecture and landscaped open space prevails; areas designated or eligible as national register historic districts. Policy 13 Policy 14 Policy 15 Policy 16 Policy 17 Policy 18 Policy 19 Policy 20 Policy 21 Policy 22 Policy 23 Policy 24 Policy 25 Policy 26 Policy 27 Policy 28 Policy 29 Policy 30 Policy 31 Policy 32 Policy 33 Policy 34 Policy 35 Policy 36 Policy 37 Policy 38 Policy 39 Policy 40 Policy 41 Policy 42 Policy 43 Policy 44 Policy 45 Policy 46 Policy 47 Policy 48 Policy 49 Policy 50 Policy 51 Policy 52 Policy 53 Policy 54 Policy 55 Policy 56 Policy 57 Policy 58 Policy 59 Policy 60 Policy 61 Policy 62 Policy 63 Policy 64 Policy 65 Policy 66 Policy 67 Policy 68 Policy 69 Policy 70 |
Evolving Murals
Queendom
Women's Independent Living Group (WILG)
Oct 7 - I recently merged the most recent voter history file from the Sept 4 Primary with my mega-database going back to 1997. If you have ever wondered how many people have voted in every Cambridge citywide election since then (including municipal elections, federal elections, primary elections, and special elections), there are now only 116 of us (and I personally know at least 52 of those 116). Maybe we should form a club. - RW
PS - I'll do some histograms and other goodies from the latest data when I have a few minutes to spare. I also take requests.
The Changing Face of Central Square
100% Affordable Housing Overlay Proposal (Sept 13, 2018)
Super-Inclusionary Housing Proposal (Sept 13, 2018)
Environment Performance Incentive Proposal (Sept 13, 2018)
Combined Super-Inclusionary & Environmental Performance Scenarios (Sept 13, 2018)
Early voting will begin on October 22nd and continue through November 2nd for the State Election to be held on Tuesday, November 6th. In 2016, Massachusetts voters were given the opportunity to vote prior to Election Day through early voting. Previously the only way a registered voter could vote prior to Election Day was through absentee voting. Although absentee voting is still available for registered voters who qualify, only those who will be absent from their city or town on Election Day or have a disability that prevents them from going to the polls, or have a religious belief preventing the same, are legally allowed to vote by absentee ballot.
Unlike absentee voting, early voting is for every registered voter. Registered voters do not need an excuse or reason to vote early. Regardless of whether a voter wants to take advantage of early voting, vote absentee or vote on Election Day, the first step is making sure you are registered. To check to see if you are registered to vote, and to find information on how to register to vote, you may visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: www.sec.state.ma.us/ele. If you need to register to vote, you may do it online by visiting: www.RegisterToVoteMA.com. All you need is a license or an I.D. issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to apply online. To be eligible to vote in the November 6th State Election, you must register to vote or make any necessary changes to your voter registration by the deadline of Wednesday, October 17th at 8pm.
Early voting can be done in person or by mail. In the City of Cambridge, early voting can be done in person at any of the five (5) designated early voting sites during the scheduled dates and times. Please note, however, once a voter has cast an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls on Election Day.
To request a ballot by mail, simply fill out an application or send us a written request with your name, Cambridge address, address where you want the ballot sent and your signature and mail it to the Election Commission, 51 Inman Street, Cambridge, MA 02139. You can download an application at www.CambridgeMA.gov/EarlyVoting.
We encourage all our citizens to exercise their right and take advantage of the opportunity to vote at one of the sites during the scheduled dates and times. For public convenience, the City of Cambridge will also offer weekday evening hours and weekend hours on Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 9am to 5pm.
CITY OF CAMBRIDGE EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE
LOCATION | 1st Week - DATE & TIME | 2nd Week - DATE & TIME |
City of Cambridge Election Commission Office 51 Inman Street, 1st Floor |
Mon, October 22, 8:30am to 8:00pm Tues, October 23, 8:30am to 6:00pm Wed, October 24, 8:30am to 8:00pm Thurs, October 25, 8:30am to 6:00pm Fri, October 26, 8:30am to 6:00pm Sat, October 27, 9:00am to 5:00pm |
Mon, October 29, 8:30am to 8:00pm Tues, October 30, 8:30am to 6:00pm Wed, October 31, 8:30am to 8:00pm Thurs, November 1, 8:30am to 6:00pm Fri, November 2, 8:30am to 6:00pm |
Police Department, Community Room 1st Floor, 125 Sixth Street |
Mon, October 22, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Tues, October 23, 9:30am to 6:00pm Wed, October 24, 12:00am to 8:00pm Thurs, October 25, 9:30am to 6:00pm Fri, October 26, 9:30am to 6:00pm Sat, October 27, 9:00am to 5:00pm |
Mon, October 29, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Tues, October 30, 9:30am to 6:00pm Wed, October 31, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Thurs, November 1, 9:30am to 6:00pm Fri, November 2, 9:30am to 6:00pm |
Cambridge Water Department 250 Fresh Pond Parkway |
Mon, October 22, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Tues, October 23, 9:30am to 6:00pm Wed, October 24, 12:00am to 8:00pm Thurs, October 25, 9:30am to 6:00pm Fri, October 26, 9:30am to 6:00pm Sat, October 27, 9:00am to 5:00pm |
Mon, October 29, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Tues, October 30, 9:30am to 6:00pm Wed, October 31, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Thurs, November 1, 9:30am to 6:00pm Fri, November 2, 9:30am to 6:00pm |
Main Library 449 Broadway |
Mon, October 22, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Tues, October 23, 9:30am to 6:00pm Wed, October 24, 12:00am to 8:00pm Thurs, October 25, 9:30am to 6:00pm Fri, October 26, 9:30am to 6:00pm Sat, October 27, 9:00am to 5:00pm |
Mon, October 29, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Tues, October 30, 9:30am to 6:00pm Wed, October 31, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Thurs, November 1, 9:30am to 6:00pm Fri, November 2, 9:30am to 6:00pm |
O’Neill Library 70 Rindge Ave. |
Mon, October 22, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Tues, October 23, 9:30am to 6:00pm Wed, October 24, 12:00am to 8:00pm Thurs, October 25, 9:30am to 6:00pm Fri, October 26, 9:30am to 6:00pm Sat, October 27, 9:00am to 5:00pm |
Mon, October 29, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Tues, October 30, 9:30am to 6:00pm Wed, October 31, 12:00pm to 8:00pm Thurs, November 1, 9:30am to 6:00pm Fri, November 2, 9:30am to 6:00pm |
Sept 18, 2018 – Cambridge City Manager Louis DePasquale is seeking persons interested in serving on the Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship (CIRC). The Commission consists of 11 volunteer members, who are appointed by the City Manager, following an application and interview process. The term of the appointment is three years. Commissioners are expected to be knowledgeable about immigrant rights and citizenship and must be residents of Cambridge. It is desirable for this Commission to be fully representative of the diverse Cambridge community.
Cambridge welcomes immigrants and wants to encourage their success and access to opportunity and advancement in this country. It will be a goal of this Commission to get the message of welcome out, through collaboration with organizations that already provide services and outreach to our immigrant community. The Commission will act as a centralizing organization in Cambridge, to address immigrant rights and citizenship issues through providing information, referral, guidance, coordination and technical assistance to other public agencies and private persons, organizations and institutions engaged in activities and programs intended to support immigrant rights and citizenship.
Commissioners are expected to work with other members of the Commission and staff to fulfill the goals and objectives of the Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship Ordinance (CMC Chapter 2.123).
Individuals interested in being considered should apply by using the city’s online application system at www.cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and résumé or summary of applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline for submitting applications is not yet determined.
CIVIC CALENDAR
Tues, Oct 30
3:00pm The City Council's Human Services and Veteran’s Committee will conduct a public hearing to receive an update of existing/in progress workforce development programs in Cambridge. (Sullivan Chamber)
3:30pm Cambridge Election Commission meeting (1st Floor Meeting Room, 51 Inman St.)
I. MINUTES II. REPORTS 1. Executive Director's Report 2. Assistant Director's Report 3. Commissioners' Reports III. PUBLIC COMMENT |
IV. ACTION AGENDA Old Business 1. State Election, November 6, 2018 Early Voting New Business |
6:30pm Planning Board meeting (2nd Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)
General Business
1. Update from the Community Development Department
2. Adoption of Planning Board meeting transcripts
Public Hearings
6:30pm PB#337 (continued from 6/5/2018) – 178 Elm Street – Special Permit application by Nelson Group, LLC to convert a former club to a multifamily building containing 6 dwelling units pursuant to Section 5.28.2 Conversion of nonresidential to residential use, 6.35.1 Reduction in Required Parking, and 6.108 Bicycle Parking Layout – Reduction in Primary Access Width. (Materials)
7:00pm PB#340 – 624 Massachusetts Avenue – Special Permit application by Amazon Pickup Points LLC to allow Formula Business use pursuant to Sections 20.304.5.4 Formula Business in the Central Square Overlay District and 10.40 Special Permit. (Materials)
7:30pm PB#341 – 78 Holworthy Street – Special Permit application by Duncan MacArthur to construct a single-family residence greater than 75 feet from the front lot line and to the rear of an existing single-family residence pursuant to Section Sections 5.53 - more than one structure on a lot in a Residence B district. The existing single-family structure will remain on the lot and be renovated. (Materials)
General Business
PB#319 – 605 Concord Avenue – Extension (Letter)
Thurs, Nov 1
6:00pm Cambridge Historical Commission meeting (Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave.)
Mon, Nov 5
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
6:00pm Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission (MCNCDC) meeting (2nd Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)
Tues, Nov 6
7:00am-8:00pm State Election (citywide) - VOTE!
Wed, Nov 7
1:00pm The City Council's Health and Environmental Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the safety of natural gas infrastructure in Cambridge, the use of contractors, including Feeney Brothers, and any related matter. (Sullivan Chamber)
3:00pm License Commission Public Hearing (Lombardi Building, 831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)
5:30pm Transit Advisory Committee meeting (Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave.)
2:00pm The City Council's Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the Federal Communications Commission’s new policy on regulating small cell technology and the City’s response and policies. (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30-7:00pm Commission for Persons with Disabilities meeting (51 Inman St., 2nd Floor Conference Room)
3:00pm The City Council's Health and Environmental Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss draft recommendations from the Envision Cambridge Climate and Environment working group and any other related matters. (Sullivan Chamber)
Wed, Nov 14
8:00-9:30am Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting (Sullivan Chamber, City Hall)
3:00pm The City Council's Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the Policy Order adopted regarding Cambridge publicly finance Municipal Election Program and the Cambridge Municipal People’s Pledge Program. This Hearing will be televised. (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30-7:30pm Bicycle Committee meeting (4th Floor Conference Room, 344 Broadway)
5:30pm Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Board Meeting (Police Station, 125 Sixth St., First Floor Community Room)
[Meeting Agenda and supporting materials]
Thurs, Nov 15
10:00am Pole & Conduit Commission meeting (Lombardi Building, 831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)
6:00pm LGBTQ+ meeting (Windsor St. Health Center, 119 Windsor St.)
6:00-8:00pm Pedestrian Committee Meeting (4th Floor Conference Room, 344 Broadway)
Mon, Nov 19
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
6:00pm Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District Commission Meeting (Lombardi Building, 831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)
1:00pm The City Council's Public Safety Committee will conduct a public hearing to review the current status of the Short-Term rental (STR) registration and enforcement efforts in Cambridge, including any legal proceedings, the exploration of possible new legal proceedings against illegal STR operators or platforms and will assess the City’s need to implement new policies or contracts given the state’s inability to create a master registration of any sort and to discuss opportunities to work with the state to create a funding stream for STRs. (Sullivan Chamber)
Mon, Nov 26
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission Meeting (Lombardi Building, 831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)
4:00pm The City Council's Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the next the steps in creating a protected bike network and an update on future Vision Zero infrastructure improvements. (Sullivan Chamber)
5:00pm The City Council's Public Safety Committee will conduct a public hearing to review the Cambridge Police Department’s truck enforcement actions, to discuss how Cambridge can better use navigational platforms like Garmin and Signage to keep trucks off of illegal or impractical roads, how Cambridge may extend its no-truck designations, how pilot programs on sideguards are working, how City contracts may be used to demand safer vehicles for both contractors and sub-contractors for City projects and similar truck-related issues. (Sullivan Chamber)
Thurs, Nov 29
5:00pm The City Council's Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning; Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss Urban Form Recommendations from the Community Development Department. (Sullivan Chamber)