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Cambridge council approves Biomed Realty rezoning after community benefits compromise
Summary
The City Council voted 9-0 to ordain zoning changes for Biomed Realty's proposed East Cambridge project after a revised letter of commitment that shifts millions of dollars into a citywide Community Benefits Fund and other nonprofit awards.
The Cambridge City Council on Aug. 4 voted 9-0 to ordain a zoning change for Biomed Realty's 320 Charles Street project after the company and local advocates agreed to a revised letter of commitment that redirects a portion of mitigation funds into the city's Community Benefits Fund and to several Cambridge nonprofits.
Councilors said the amended commitments and a companion memorandum of understanding under negotiation with East End House addressed concerns raised by neighborhood groups and the wider nonprofit community about a previously negotiated mitigation package that concentrated most funds with a single nonprofit. The newly posted Biomed letter also includes a schedule for payments tied to milestones in the project's permitting and construction timetable.
Why it matters: The rezoning approves the land-use changes Biomed needs…
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