Ordinance committee advances Mass. Ave. zoning with amendments; Cambridge Street sent to council with no recommendation

The Cambridge Ordinance Committee on a continuation meeting reviewed two corridor zoning petitions for Massachusetts Avenue and Cambridge Street and voted to move both to the full City Council while directing staff to draft clarifying amendments.

Vice Mayor McGovern, chairing the meeting, opened by reviewing the schedule: the council will consider the petitions on Dec. 8 with potential subsequent readings on Dec. 15 and Dec. 22, and the petitions expire on Jan. 28, 2026. Assistant City Manager Melissa Peters then introduced city staff leading the proposals, including Jeff Roberts (director of zoning and development), Evan Spetrini (senior zoning manager) and Daniel Mesplay (director of community planning and design). Peters said staff would present possible revisions based on prior hearings and public feedback.

Evan Spetrini summarized the two petitions. On Mass Ave the zoning as drafted would "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," he said. For Cambridge Street, Spetrini said the petition would "allow up to 8 stories of housing throughout the corridor" with targeted…