Planning Board grants withdrawal of townhouse special-permit application at 8 James Way following zoning change

The Cambridge Planning Board on Feb. 25 granted an applicant leave to withdraw PB 22, an amendment to an approved special permit for a townhouse development at 8 James Way, after Community Development staff said recent multifamily zoning amendments removed the special-permit requirement for townhouse development.

Jeff Roberts, director of zoning and development at the Community Development Department, told the board the applicant filed the special-permit amendment before the City Council adopted multifamily housing zoning earlier in the month. Roberts said the council's zoning changes mean townhouse alterations are now reviewed under base zoning and no longer require a Planning Board special permit; revisions and alternations will instead be addressed at the building-permit stage. "Because under the current zoning, there's no longer a special permit requirement for townhouse development, the proposal will be reviewed like any other alteration proposal, at the building permit stage," Roberts said.

Given that change, the applicant requested leave to withdraw the special-permit application without prejudice. CDD staff said they consulted the city law department and recommended the board consider the withdrawal before opening the advertised public hearing so the board would not need to proceed with the hearing.

The board appointed associate members Dan Anderson and Joy Jackson to vote on the item for the purposes of this case. Ted Cohen moved to grant leave to withdraw without prejudice; Diego Macias seconded. In a roll-call vote the six members present and voting (Ted Cohen, Diego Macias, Ashley Tan, Dan Anderson, Joy Jackson and Chair Mary Flynn) voted yes and the motion carried.

Board members had no further questions. The staff noted that future changes to the property will be considered at the building permit stage under the current zoning.