Cambridge panel advances multifamily zoning setback changes, 4-1

Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee · Meeting of September 16, 2026

Cambridge zoning committees advance multifamily setback and open-space changes despite affordability fears. The joint Housing and Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning committees voted 5-0 and 4-1 to recommend Policy Order 2026-123, directing the city manager and Community Development Department to draft language increasing setbacks and discouraging larger, fewer-unit buildings under the 2025 multifamily ordinance. Staff said the roughly 150 projects filed since adoption have produced only 30 income-restricted units among 49 permitted so far.

Councilor Sabrina Wheeler said she would back no change that shrinks a pipeline she counted at "more than 160" affordable homes, while Councilor Al-Zoubi cited a developer estimate of a 25 percent cut to buildable lot area. Chair Zussi's amendment exempting inclusionary projects from the stricter standards passed 3-2 and 4-1 over Councilor Flaherty's objection that larger buildings need more open space, not less. The measure heads to the full City Council around September 28.

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Source: the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee meeting of September 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.