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Board approves Sobol special permit for smoothie shop at 5 JFK Street
Summary
The BZA approved a special permit for Sobol (a national smoothie operator) to open at 5 JFK Street in the Harvard Square Overlay; the Harvard Square Advisory Committee recommended approval and the board added conditions requiring conformance with submitted drawings and advisory recommendations.
The Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously on Sept. 5 to grant a special permit allowing Sobol to operate a quick-service smoothie shop at 5 JFK Street in Harvard Square. Attorney James Raffney, representing the applicant, said the location is about 775 square feet in the restored Abbott Building and that the Harvard Square Advisory Committee issued a favorable recommendation dated July 17, 2024.
Chair Jim Monteverdi read recommended conditions into the record: work must conform to the submitted drawings (to be initialed and dated by the chair), and the applicant should, "to the extent feasible," follow the advisory committee’s suggestions (brighter interior/lighting, signage consistent with historic guidelines, seating and use of biodegradable materials). Raffney told the board the applicant will comply; the board then approved the permit on a 5–0 voice vote.
