These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City Calendar and in the city’s Open Meetings Portal.
‘Active uses’ along corridors
Ordinance Committee, 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday. This committee run by city councillors Marc McGovern and Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler looks at zoning petitions that strengthen “active-use” requirements – businesses and other things that keep streetscapes lively at the base of a residential building – along North Massachusetts Avenue and Cambridge Street. Part of this talk is a special permit requirement for Cambridge Street about formula businesses, which refers mainly to fast-food chains with trademarked branding. The city often favors local or nonchain businesses. The Planning Board met on the zoning last week. The committee meets at City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square. Televised and watchable online and by Zoom videoconferencing.
Surveys about school cultures
School Committee, 6 p.m. Tuesday. Staff present on school culture surveys; wrapping up the current academic year, and development of preliminary priorities and objectives for the next one; and a long-term strategic planning initiative with the Cambridge Community Foundation and Attuned Education Partners. Unfinished business includes a motion to create a welcoming communities ordinance for the district to match a municipal version, as “this is an issue about which there is considerable anxiety among Cambridge Public Schools stakeholders.” The committee meets in the Dr. Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, 459 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Televised and watchable online and by Zoom videoconferencing.
Homes for East Cambridge
Planning Board, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. A special permit application to construct a six-story residential building at 8 Winter St., East Cambridge – a former Dunkin’ Donuts – fitting 23 homes into approximately 24,819 square feet. There would be 24 long-term and four short-term bicycle parking spaces, but no parking for cars because the parcel is considered near MBTA bus service on O’Brien Highway and within walking distance of the Lechmere green line T station. This project was permitted in 2023 but now moves forward under recently enacted Cambridge Street zoning. The special permit would grant relief on the amount of space around the building, a couple of minor architectural details and allowing entrance from Third Street. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
School Committee rule changes
School Committee Governance Subcommittee, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. This meeting chaired by mayor Sumbul Siddiqui talks about committee rule changes for the upcoming academic year. Watchable online and by Zoom videoconferencing.
Businesses named for CRA site
Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Board members are ready to negotiate three-year leases with Cini Coffee, until now a staple of farmers markets; Green Tiger & Co., an eco-friendly housewares and bath and body shop that just expanded at Bow Market in Somerville, and Momma’s Grocery + Wine, 2304 Massachusetts Ave., North Cambridge. There’s a fourth slot to be filled as well at 1175 Cambridge St., in the Wellington-Harrington neighborhood near Inman Square, where the authority bought a space once owned by the nonprofit developer Just A Start and made $2.7 million in improvements to provide cheap space to independently owned retail businesses. The board also looks at spending $2.8 million to revitalize the Dance Complex in Central Square. The agency meets at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Update at historic Harvard park
Historical Commission, 6 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday. Consideration is given to new historic markers for Winthrop Square Park in Harvard Square and to letting a developer tear down the 1892 double house at 178-180 Elm St., on the North Cambridge city line near Davis Square. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Urban Forest Master Plan update
Health & Environment Committee, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 22. This committee run by city councillor Patty Nolan works on a five-year update to the Urban Forest Master Plan, including recommendations from analysis, evaluation and feedback heard at community meetings. The committee meets at City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square.
About The Author
