North Cambridge two-block zoning Ordinance Committee <https://www.cambridgema.gov/citycalendar/view.aspx?guid=7ed4412261a8436bb75aeb800ebb5d60>, 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday. This committee run by city councillors Marc McGovern and Quinton Zondervan picks up the “Barrett petition,” named after developer Patrick Barrett, that could affect two blocks in a triangle formed by Massachusetts Avenue, Cedar Street and Alberta Terrace in North Cambridge, allowing mixed-use development, including housing, of up to 80 feet rather than the current 35. When last before the committee Jan. 3, councillors liked it more than the Planning Board did <https://www.cambridgeday.com/2022/12/20/north-cambridge-condo-proposal-is-told-to-wait-for-a-full-rezoning-along-massachusetts-avenue/>, but wanted to explore how to guarantee good outcomes for the surrounding neighborhood such as via a memorandum of understanding or a letter of commitment. There were also questions of whether this was “spot zoning” – and there was some embrace of the possibilities of negotiating with developers for benefits, with some residents saying outright that a parcel-by-parcel approach had advantages over comprehensive zoning for an entire area. The committee meets at City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave. <https://maps.google.com/maps?q=795+massachusetts+avenue+cambridge+ma&client=safari&oe=UTF-8&hnear=795+Massachusetts+Ave,+Cambridge,+Massachusetts+02139&gl=us&t=m&z=16>, Central Square. Televised and watchable by Zoom video conferencing. -- Ruth Ryals raryals@gmail.com