Planning Board urges BZA to allow banners on 1st Street parking garage to signal new market

The Cambridge Planning Board on April 29 unanimously recommended that the Board of Zoning Appeal approve a variance to permit three large artistic banners on the 1st Street municipal garage, a step the city says will help identify and enliven a new indoor market operating at the site.

Background: The banners are part of a public‑benefit and lease arrangement tied to a prior special‑permit and lease package associated with redevelopment nearby. Because the city's sign ordinance defines mural or pictorial depictions intended to communicate a use as "signage," the proposed banners exceed the ordinance’s dimensional limits and therefore require a variance from the BZA.

Board rationale and vote: Planning Board members described the banners as an attractive, non‑commercial way to draw attention to the market and improve the garage’s pedestrian experience. The board voted 5–0 to send a positive recommendation to the BZA. "The parking garage would be most improved by having banners hanging on it," said a board member during deliberation.

Operator perspective: The market operator (introduced by staff) explained the banners are daytime, non‑illuminated art designed to reflect the market’s offerings and to help the public locate the space. "Our goal is to ensure that when people look at the 1st Street Garage, they start to think of it as a place where people will come to buy stuff from vendors," the operator said.

Next steps: The BZA will consider the variance application on its calendar; the Planning Board recommended approval and passed a supporting letter to accompany the application.