Cambridge committee hears Mass Ave zoning petition proposing up to 12 stories (18 with Porter PUD) tied to active ground-floor uses

The Cambridge City Ordinance Committee heard a presentation of a zoning petition for Massachusetts Avenue that would create three new base districts and allow greater residential height where projects provide active ground-floor uses and meet design and open-space standards.

City staff said the petition would allow up to 12 stories of housing throughout most of the corridor and up to 18 stories in Porter Square under a Porter Square planned unit development (PUD) special permit. Evan Spetrini, senior manager of zoning and development, told the committee, "The petition will allow up to 12 stories of housing throughout the corridor, 18 stories in Porter, if the project includes public open space and preserves the square as a retail destination."

The nut graff: The petition implements the Mass Ave planning study that grew out of Envision Cambridge; staff said the changes aim to concentrate housing and active retail along a transit-rich corridor, improve the public realm, and add design rules to shape taller buildings. Planning staff presented modelled developability showing substantially more potential units under the petition than under existing zoning, and the Planning Board voted unanimously to forward positive recommendations while flagging edits to strengthen public access to required open space.

Key details and standards

- Districts and footprint: The petition creates…