Executive Summary
The Cambridge City Council met on January 26, 2026, to address several significant items, including the proposed landmark designation of 45 Mount Auburn Street (the Nathaniel Stickney House), the Cambridge Street Zoning Petition, and Policy Order 2 regarding the adoption of the Plant-Based Treaty. Public testimony was divided on the landmarking of 45 Mount Auburn Street, with the property owner citing potential constraints on civic expansion while community members emphasized its historical and social justice significance. Discussion on the Cambridge Street Zoning Petition focused on a compromise amendment proposed by Councilor Nolan and Mayor Siddiqui to limit building heights to six stories. Additionally, advocates for Policy Order 2 urged the Council to incorporate plant-based food defaults into the Sustainable Cambridge Initiative to meet climate and public health objectives.
Meeting Information
- Governing Body: Cambridge City Council
- Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
- Date: January 26, 2026
- Location: Virtual Meeting (due to weather conditions)
- Attendance:
- Mayor Denise Simmons (Presiding)
- Vice Mayor Marc McGovern (Present via roll call)
- Councilor Patricia Nolan (Mentioned)
- Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui (Mentioned)
- City Manager Yi-An Huang (Mentioned)
Landmarking of 45 Mount Auburn Street (Nathaniel Stickney House)
The Council heard testimony regarding the potential landmark designation of the property at 45 Mount Auburn Street, historically known as the Nathaniel Stickney House and home to the Democracy Center.
- Opposition to Designation:
- Ian Simmons (President, Foundation for Civic Leadership): Reaffirmed opposition, stating the property is already protected within the Harvard Square Conservation District. He argued that landmarking creates "undue burdens and unneeded risks for the nonprofit civic project" and would limit the expansion of civic space.
- Jerry Puccillo (Consultant, Foundation for Civic Leadership): Expressed concern that further constraints would limit the foundation's resolve to deepen its commitment to providing community space.
- Support for Designation:
- Marilyn Frankenstein (Resident): Supported the designation due to the building's 200-year historical significance and its role as a "comfortable and safe space for a variety of social justice organizations," including the Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team (HEART).
Cambridge Street Zoning Petition
Public comment addressed the Cambridge Street Zoning Petition, with significant focus on the Nolan-Siddiqui Amendment.
- Key Discussion Points:
- Height Limits: The Nolan-Siddiqui amendment proposes a compromise to reduce allowable heights along Cambridge Street to six stories.
- Sub-districts: Support was expressed for upzoning the Webster Street and Windsor Street sub-districts to encourage transit-oriented housing near Union Square.
- Public Testimony:
- Neil Miller: Supported the petition but expressed disappointment regarding the push to lower allowable heights on the rest of Cambridge Street.
- David Halperin: Opposed "watering down" the petition, arguing that corridors must accommodate the majority of the city's housing production goals.
- Jason Alves (East Cambridge Business Association): Supported the six-story compromise as a way to make the zoning "more manageable for the neighborhood" while still allowing for transit-oriented development.
- Jim Monteverde: Requested the petition be allowed to expire to undergo a "robust open public review process," though he supported the six-story limit in the new district CAM 8.
Policy Order 2: Plant-Based Treaty and Sustainable Cambridge Initiative
The Council received testimony in support of Policy Order 2, which advocates for the incorporation of plant-based solutions into the Sustainable Cambridge Initiative.
- Key Proposals:
- Adoption of "plant-based defaults" for city-sponsored events, where plant-based options are the standard and meat/dairy are available only upon request.
- Alignment with the global Plant-Based Treaty to help Cambridge reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
- Public Testimony:
- Kelsey Kelter (Sustainability Consultant): Noted that plant-based defaults can decrease meat consumption by up to 87% and reduce food-related GHG emissions by 40%.
- Taylor Cross (Student): Emphasized the health benefits of whole-foods plant-based nutrition in preventing and reversing chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
Official Actions and Roll Call
- Roll Call: Vice Mayor Marc McGovern was recorded as "Present" during a mid-meeting roll call.
- Procedural Note: The meeting was conducted virtually due to snowfall. Technical issues with the live stream were noted, but the meeting was recorded for subsequent public access.