Planning Board Meeting

• Governing Body: Cambridge Planning Board
• Meeting Type: Regular Meeting (Remote Participation)
• Date: June 30, 2026
• Time: 06:30 PM
• Chair: Tom Sieniewicz
• Members Present: H. Theodore Cohen, Mary Flynn, Mary Lydecker, Diego Macias, Carolyn Zern, Dan Anderson (Associate Member)
• Members Absent: Ashley Tan
• Staff Present: Jeff Roberts (Director of Zoning and Development), Swathi Joseph (Zoning and Development)

Jeff Roberts provided an update on the upcoming Planning Board schedule and City Council activities:

• July 14, 2026: Public hearing on a zoning petition by Doug Brown and others regarding housing development regulations; design review and use approvals for the Cambridge Crossing (North Point) PUD.
• July 21, 2026: Public hearing for a residential development proposal at 9 and 25 Birch Street and 30-36 Bay State Road.
• August 4, 2026: Public hearing on a City Council zoning petition regarding short-term rentals.
• City Council Updates: Follow-up hearing on the active use zoning petition (July 8) and the Doug Brown petition (July 21).

Jim Wilcox, City Engineer, presented the five-year sidewalk and street reconstruction plan and the 10-year sewer and drain infrastructure plan.

Street and Sidewalk Maintenance:

• The 2024 survey of 119 miles of roadway resulted in a citywide Road Surface Rating (RSR) of 76.4.
• The city maintains a $3 million citywide maintenance contract for sidewalk work, prioritizing accessibility and transitioning from brick to concrete where appropriate.

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Plan:

• A draft updated CSO control plan was submitted to the EPA and DEP on April 30, 2024.
• The plan incorporates climate change projections for the year 2050, the first of its kind in the U.S.
• Financial Impact: The total estimated cost for regional alternatives is $1.29 billion, with construction spanning approximately 30 years.
• Sherman Street Tank (CAM 401A): A proposed 2.1 million gallon storage tank at 135 Sherman Street to control discharges to Alewife Brook. The project includes a future DPW operations building for urban forestry and park maintenance.

Stormwater Management Requirements:

• DPW is proposing modifications to stormwater requirements. A key change includes reducing the trigger for a stormwater control permit from 10 parking spaces down to five.

Rich Hawley, Director of Engineering and Distribution, discussed infrastructure renewal and water quality.

• Lead Service Line Removal: The department is mandated by the DEP to remove all lead service lines by 2030. There are currently 1,100 documented lead services in the city.
• Inman Street Project: Replacement of the city's oldest active water main is underway in three phases to minimize resident disruption. Hydrant flows will increase from 300 to 1,500 gallons per minute.
• Port Infrastructure Project: Includes the installation of over 6,000 feet of new water main and the elimination of 50 lead water services.
• Drought Status: Cambridge is currently in a Level 3 drought. There is a 20% chance the city may need to utilize the MWRA emergency connection by the end of the year.

Matt O'Malley, Chief Sustainability Officer, updated the Board on the decarbonization of the district energy system.

• Electrification Milestones: The 42 MW electric boiler, the largest in North America, became operational in late 2024, allowing for the delivery of "e-steam."
• Industrial Heat Pump: Design is underway for a 35 MW industrial heat pump at Kendall Square, targeted for operation in early 2028. It will utilize the Charles River as a thermal resource.
• Efficiency: The heat pumps are expected to have a Coefficient of Performance (COP) north of 2.0.

Jason Wright and the Eversource team presented on grid modernization and capacity planning.

• Load Forecasting: Peak demand is projected to increase 20% by 2033, driven largely by biotech "step loads" and building electrification.
• Greater Cambridge Energy Project (GCEP): Construction continues on the nation's first underground substation in Kendall Square (107 feet deep), with an expected service date of 2029.
• Underground Cable Modernization Program (UCMP): Proposed replacement of aging 115 kV high-pressure fluid-filled cables with solid cross-linked polyethylene technology. Key routes include North Cambridge to Woburn and Mystic to North Cambridge.
• Smart Meters (AMI): Installation of network communication devices is complete; residential and business meter installations are scheduled to begin in mid-2027.

Chair Tom Sieniewicz opened the floor for public comment. No members of the public indicated a desire to speak, and no written communications were received prior to the deadline.

The Board took the following official action:

• Motion: To conclude the utility planning report agenda item and adjourn the meeting.
• Mover: Mary Flynn
• Seconder: Diego Macias
• Vote: 6-0-0 (Approved)
  • H. Theodore Cohen: Yes
  • Mary Flynn: Yes
  • Mary Lydecker: Yes
  • Diego Macias: Yes
  • Carolyn Zern: Yes
  • Tom Sieniewicz: Yes