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BZA approves oversized art banners on First Street parking garage to advertise year‑round market
Summary
The Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeals granted a variance to allow large temporary art banners on the First Street parking garage façade to publicize a year‑round farmers market, after supporters and a city traffic official submitted letters backing the request.
The Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeals on May 8 granted a variance to allow oversized art banners on the façade of the First Street parking garage to promote a year‑round farmers market planned for the ground‑floor commercial space.
Will Gilson, the operator of the First Street Market at 57–59 First Street, told the board the banners are a temporary scrim produced by a local artist and are intended to enhance the parking garage facade and publicize the new indoor market. "Our goal here is just to ensure that we do whatever we can to... enhance the facade of the building, and to make sure that people know that there is going to be a year round market in this space," Gilson said.
The board noted written support filed in the case, including a letter dated April 30 from the Planning Board that "enthusiastically recommends granting the requested variance for the banners," and an email from Brooke McKenna, commissioner of the Cambridge Department of Transportation, described in the record as a strong endorsement. During public comment Heather Hoffman, of 213 Hurley Street, said she normally opposes oversized signage but urged the board to treat the proposed work as artwork rather than advertising: "I agree that this is artwork and not a sign," Hoffman said.
Chair Jim Monteverde moved to grant relief "from the requirements of the ordinance under sections 7.16.0.22(c) for wall signs and 10.3 for the conditions for variance," on the condition that the installation conform to the submitted drawings and supporting statements. The board voted 5–0 to approve the variance.
The decision authorizes the installation as described in the application materials; the chair said he would initial and date the undated elevation drawing that is part of the record. The proponent and the board did not identify a schedule for banner removal beyond the application description.
The grant permits the operator to proceed with the banner installation subject to the details on file and any permitting required by city staff.
