I believe that this proposal is the same as the one that was shot down by the city a few years ago. They will need to get the City Council to amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance. They are going to present their petition to the Council within a few weeks. After that, the Council must hold a public hearing within 90 days and then act on the petition within 45 days of the hearing. Then on to the Planning Board and BZA.

This area was rezoned in 2000 as part of the Eastern Cambridge Planning Study (ECAPS). The prior proposal was made before WHNA was formed and folks from the ECAPS committee and East Cambridge Planning Team responded and stopped it that time. Right now we are involved with a similar proposal by Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. to upzone their 17 acres along Binney St. on the other side of the tracks, so you folks are going to have to fight this one. Their offer to construct 1200 to 2000 linear feet of the multi-use path along the tracks seems weak. I think the path is a great idea, but is it enough to justify changing the law to increase their profit?

Mark Jaquith
213 Hurley St.
East Cambridge Planning Team member

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Hello Marion and my Wellington-Harrington neighbors. I live on the other side of the tracks in East Cambridge. Marion , I think you called me last Sunday. I didn't catch your name, but I think it was you. I'm sorry that you caught me when I was doing a dozen things and really couldn't concentrate. I love what you people are doing. It took a decade or more for the East Cambridge Planning Team to gain real respect with city officials, and even now, we are looked at with contempt by many. The way we made it happen (and it started long before I wised up and started participating) was to pay very close attention to neighborhood and city happenings, hold regular meetings to discuss issues, and to SHOW UP AND SPEAK AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY before the council, boards and commissions. We even show up when there is no opportunity to comment just to let them know that we are not going away and are watching their every move. You would be amazed by what the Planning board and BZA will do to what you thought were iron clad agreements when they think they can. To tell the truth we usually don't get what we want, but if you do nothing you get nothing. Get organized. Be in it for the long haul.

I've got to go to work now, but lets keep talking. ECPT is meeting tonight at 7:00 PM at East End House 105 Spring and a developer is coming to pitch their plan. Sit in if you would like.
Mark Jaquith
Hurley Street

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