Update #24: MFH Ordinance Amendments, the List, Trees, Cambridge St. Zoning & Around Town

June 7, 2026

Multifamily Housing Ordinance Amendments
Development In Process List
Stronger Tree Protections Advocacy
Cambridge Street Zoning

Dear Fellow Cantabrigians,

Over the past weeks, I’ve been working with architects, landscape architects, urban planners and developers to craft amendments to the MFH Ordinance; updated our list of MFH-inspired developments; worked to better protect our tree canopy; and met with residents about a myriad of issues.

If you haven’t already, please sign this petition that asks the City to put a temporary pause on further permitting until amendments to the MFH Ordinance have been made: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/modifying-the-mfh-ordinance?source=direct_link&. As of today, almost 2,600 residents have signed on; the goal is to get to 4,000, so please encourage friends and neighbors.

Over the next few weeks, 4 demolitions will happen in Cambridgeport and Riverside, as per one developer—3 within a block of me. Our neighborhoods are changing quickly and dramatically.

Discussion of MFHO Amendments Monday, June 8

Monday’s City Council agenda will have two items proposing MFHO changes:

Cathie Zusy / Tim Flaherty Policy Order #5 (agenda pp 99-100); and
Doug Brown’s Citizens’ Petition (agenda pp 182-195).

These documents are designed to invigorate Council discussion on MFHO modifications and to carry those points to the Thursday, June 25 12:30pm meeting of the Joint Neighborhood & Long Term Planning & Housing Committees at City Hall. The focus of both proposals is to make the MFH Ordinance better for our residents. As is, it’s having many negative unintended consequences relating to open space, parking, privacy, and neighborhood character. Not surprisingly, It’s also overwhelmingly producing luxury units. The current Ordinance has broad Council support, so I’m focusing on concrete improvements while retaining our primary housing affordability goals.

To access the City Council agenda packet, sign up to comment and watch the meeting: https://cambridgema.primegov.com/public/portal.

You can also email public comments to
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected].

A quick summary of the amendments that Councillor Flaherty and I have proposed:

Setbacks: Require flexible setbacks totaling at least 35 feet, at least side setback of not less than 10’.
Height: Relate building height to the width of the right-of-way (building-to-building measurement); 6-story buildings only on major thoroughfares. Consider right of way widths of 55’ or greater.
Open Space: Mandate 30% green open space at ground level.
No Canyons! Limit unbroken building wall length to 25-40 feet with additional 5-foot setback for longer walls to allow for privacy, light and new plantings.
Parking: Require one off-street space per unit above four units.

See a quick summary of North Cambridge lawyer Doug Brown’s Citizens’ Petition below. In C-1 districts:

Height: Requires adjacent buildings to be 4+ stories before allowing 6-story construction; neighborhoods with 3-story buildings limited to 4 stories to prevent doubling height impact.
Setback: 5-10 feet for a building’s side or rear setbacks with sides summing to 15 feet total, ensuring 10-foot driveway space; increased setbacks required as building height increases above 3-4 stories.
Open Space: Eliminate balconies and rooftops from open space calculations; maintain 30% open space requirement but require it at grade. 15’ square open space required. Exemption with Special Permit from the Planning Board.
Parking: Zero parking for 1-3 family units; 0.5 spaces per unit for buildings with 4 or more units. (10-unit building requires 5 spaces).
Design Review: Lower large project review threshold from 75,000 to 20,000 square feet; 6+ story buildings to go through Planning Board review for traffic, trees, and design.

Next: After Council discussion Monday, the Flaherty/Zusy PO will most likely be referred to the June 25th Joint NLTP & Housing Committee meeting. Doug Brown’s petition will be referred to the Planning Board and the Ordinance Committee. Since the Council recesses from July to early September, it’s unlikely we will vote on amendments until fall.

Tracking Development Projects Spawned by the MFH Ordinance

Thanks to all who have contributed to this important crowdsourced list: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r1eetSeB-dz2BcfOJu_QGS2o3V0_COvSLh1rv8qlQNA/edit?tab=t.0. We learn about projects from residents and CDD and ISP reports of community meetings and permitting activity. Over the past week, we have double checked records relating to these developments, especially since our reporting has been attacked by the pro development faction. Accuracy is always our goal. Note that the list will be updated as projects evolve. As of today, 98 projects are at some stage in development. The permit status and additional information columns reveal details. We’re watching as another another 46 properties heat up, listed at the end. Projects are happening in most neighborhoods, but especially in N. Cambridge, Cambridgeport, West Cambridge, Neighborhood Nine, Mid Cambridge and Riverside.

Tree Protection Ordinance Enhancements

Concerned by the greater number of mature trees on property lines endangered when developers excavate 5’ from the lot line, I drafted this Policy Order, co-sponsored by Councillors Nolan, Al-Zubi and Flaherty. On June 1, the Council passed the Order asking for stronger tree protections, requesting DPW to consider:

stepping up enforcement of requirements for property owners to apply for special permits to cut down Exceptional Trees.
requiring developers to have approved building plans before receiving tree removal permits.
protecting street trees endangered by development.
ensuring that construction excavations don’t compromise abutters’ adjacent trees.
requiring developers to pay for tree removal and replacement of abutter’s trees harmed by development within a reasonable time period.
requiring property owners to submit a Tree Protection Plan by an Arborist and subject to the approval of the Forestry Division before submitting their building permit application if the building or any utility is within 3 times the chest-high diameter of a Significant Tree.

Unfortunately, Councillor McGovern introduced a “poison pill” amendment that “CDD only put forward recommendations that do not negatively impact housing development.” I was the only vote against this amendment. Yes, we want to build housing, but we need to think of the broader and balanced needs of the City, and that means protecting our trees and considering their contributions to cooling, flood protection, carbon absorption, soil and air filtration, and overall public health.

Cambridge Innovation: Economic Development Meeting Tuesday, June 9

As Co-chair of the Economic Development Committee, I worked with the City Manager’s office to convene a roundtable of leaders of Cambridge Incubators and Co-working Spaces to provide insight into current conditions, future needs, and specific ways the City can provide a fertile environment for emerging businesses and enhance the local innovation scene. Representatives of The Engine, LabCentral, the Cambridge Innovation Center and YCombinator will present.

Cambridge startups and cutting edge tech and life science industry help make the City vibrant and their taxes make possible our extraordinary City services and extensive social, educational, housing and art programs. City Manager Yi-an Huang will moderate the meeting—starting at 3pm. To watch, go here: https://cambridgema.primegov.com/public/portal.

Cambridge Street Zoning Unpacked

June 2, I chaired a meeting of the NLTP Committee to discuss possible changes relating to setbacks, stepbacks, open space and wet (workspaces using liquids, chemicals or biomaterials) labs to the recently adopted Cambridge Street zoning. I’d asked CDD for this meeting because many East Cambridge residents were frustrated that the discussions relating to Cambridge St. zoning (passed 1.26.26 and the Cambridge St. Active Use Zoning Petition passed 4.27.26) focused only on heights and potential housing production and NOT on design elements that would ensure that the street retains its historic character and dynamic local retail roots.

While I encouraged support for excluding wet labs, requiring greater rear setbacks, south side of Cambridge St. stepbacks, and preserving the open space in front of Millers River Apts. as a park (the Cambridge Housing Authority committed to this in exchange for greater height in the early 1970s), there was no committee support for these things. CDD did say, however, that design standards for the street include 4’ setbacks which will expand sidewalks and allow greater room for trees. I asked for computer-generated renderings showing design impacts going forward. We can’t design by numbers alone.

Around Town

It’s been a busy few weeks. I served as an advisor for Citywide 8th grade civic projects at the State House; took a walk of Mid-Cambridge’s Neighborhood Conservation District; attended the MWRA, Cambridge & Somerville meeting about CSO plans; and attended a community meeting about 350 Rindge Ave (an AHO project that will produce 92 affordable units) and a Boston/Cambridge Tech Week lecture on the importance of research convergence.

It’s been a month of celebrations! I attended Harvard’s 375th Commencement, Baby U graduation, the CRLS graduation, the Morse School Spring Fair, the City Scholarship Awards, Dance for World Community at Harvard Square, and toured the Secret Gardens of Cambridge, a library benefit.

Committed to working with you and my colleagues to create an even better Cambridge,

Cathie

City Councillor
https://linktr.ee/cathie.zusy

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