Planning Board grants permit for Birch Street housing
Planning Board · Meeting of October 6, 2026
Cambridge Planning Board approves 84-unit Birch Street building over contamination fears. The board voted 7-0 to grant a special permit for the six-story project at Birch Street and Bay State Road, then split 6-1, with member Dan Anderson dissenting, to let its green roof fall short of the city's 80 percent requirement. Abutter Kelly Boss told members "if you care about this community, you will test for these chemicals before you dig," citing documented chromium, lead and trichloroethylene contamination at an adjacent site.
Fellow resident April Boss said there is "a certain luxury in being able to dismiss these concerns when you won't be the one living with the consequences." Member Ted Cohen pushed back on the developer's framing of three-bedroom units, saying "three roommates are also three residents of Cambridge." The board separately extended the permit's 90-day filing deadline to November 13 and, in a second case, unanimously approved a comprehensive signage plan for the Cambridgeside mall complex.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,211 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of October 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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