---------- Original Message ---------- From: Lisa Birk <lisawbirk@gmail.com> To: Lisa Birk <lisawbirk@gmail.com> Date: 03/28/2022 7:53 AM Subject: ASG Newsletter #15. Use the paths on the former Grace site? Have an opinion? ASG Zoom, 4pm, Sunday, April 3

Newsletter #15 March 27, 2022 http://alewife.org http://alewife.org/ Contents:

1. ASG Community Meeting on Pedestrian & Bike Paths at and near the IQHQ Site in North Cambridge - April 3, 4:00-5:30pm 2. City Council Health and Environment Committee and Planning Board meetings to discuss Climate Resiliency Zoning Task Force Final Report - Tues March 28, 11:00am and 7:00pm 3. City Manager Search - YOU can be on the Screening Committee 4. Updates on Alewife Lab development rules 5. Updating Cambridge Open Space Plan

Help Improve the Paths around Our Neighborhood Sunday, April 3, from 4:00 to 5:30pm, ASG Neighborhood Meeting on Zoom (see link below)

* The Alewife Study Group (ASG) is committed to ongoing community discussion and input on pedestrian, bicycle, and other path issues at and near the IQHQ site in North Cambridge. * Based on input from ASG, other community members, and city agencies, IQHQ’s plans for these paths continue to evolve. * At the meeting on April 3, ASG will update the community on IQHQ’s latest pedestrian and bicycle path designs. And then, together, we will discuss issues and possible solutions. * ASG will share feedback and ideas from this meeting with IQHQ. Some will apply to IQHQ’s current Special Permit application for the “development” part of their site (new buildings and nearby spaces). And, some will be for IQHQ’s second Special Permit application, later this year, for the “community benefits part of their site (Jerry’s Pond, T station plaza, community garden). * ASG is interested in ALL experiences and perspectives regarding paths at or connecting to:

o IQHQ site o Alewife Station o Apartments, houses, other buildings o Rindge Ave, Alewife Brook Parkway, other nearby streets o Russell Field, Danehy Park, Fresh Pond o Linear Park, Alewife Reservation, Minuteman Path o And more

* ASG wants to hear from people of ALL ages who use paths for:

o Walking o Bicycling o Strollers o Wheelchairs, walkers, canes o Roller blades, scooters, skateboards o e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards o With dogs o And more

Pre-registration is not required to attend this meeting. However, if you can register, it will help ASG prepare for the meeting. Go to alewife.org http://alewife.org/ , scroll down, complete the contact form, tell us you will attend, and add any questions or comments. ASG will then send you a reminder and additional information shortly before the meeting. Join the ASG Community Meeting on Paths, April 3, 2022, 4:00 to 5:30pm, on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85425997979?pwd=cjZGY2puMnJaV3pZVnVic1Q1OUtDQT09 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85425997979?pwd=cjZGY2puMnJaV3pZVnVic1Q1OUtDQT09 Meeting ID: 854 2599 7979 Passcode: 088387 One tap mobile: +19292056099,,85425997979#,,,,*088387# Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdh4m0LFe9 https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdh4m0LFe9

City Council Health and Environment (H & E) Committee Meeting and Planning Board to discuss Climate Resilience Zoning Task Force Report H&E Committee: Tuesday, March 29, 11:00am (see links below) Planning Board: Tuesday, March 29, after 7:00pm (see link below) Climate Resilience is about protecting people from the effects of our changing climate. Most of the City’s climate efforts have been about Climate Change Mitigation, that is, avoiding and reducing the risks of a changing climate and its impacts on people. Even if Cambridge did more mitigation per person than any other city in the world, we would still be affected by a changing climate, so we need to protect our people. The Climate Resilience Zoning Task Force (CRZTF) met over the course of two years to discuss development rules that would help protect people and buildings from climate change. The Alewife area is at risk for flooding and extreme heat events that are predicted to become more severe in the future. Some possible changes to building rules could affect existing Alewife homes as well as new development projects, such as building to future expected flood heights instead of using current FEMA maps, using a Cool Factor to measure heat resilience, and increasing height limits when the ground floor needs to be lifted above the future flood height. To read the CRZTF Final Report https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=4&ID=11477 : https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=4&ID=11477 https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=4&ID=11477 More on the CRZTF: https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Zoning/climateresiliencezoning https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Zoning/climateresiliencezoning Meeting Links: Health and Environment Committee: Zoom Meeting https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcambridgem... and sign-up for Public Comment https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cambri... (available 24 hours before the meeting) Planning Board: Zoom Meeting https://cambridgema.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_x9eEeZk7RjCkrxLddMyCGw (raise hand at meeting for public comment) and Meeting Details https://www.cambridgema.gov/citycalendar/view.aspx?guid=5777657162b143c88834... Note: Long-time ASG member Mike Nakagawa was on the CRZTF.

City Manager Search - YOU can be on the screening committee

Thursday, March 31 is the deadline to self-nominate https://quintonzondervan.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c5d94d39b78dfa441... yourself to be part of the Candidate Screening Committee for the City Manager search. You must be available *in person* on May 4, May 12, and May 13 from 9 to 5 PM. Because this is a burden for many, the city is offering financial assistance as well as free translation and interview skills training. A priority in forming this committee is to bring on people who haven't traditionally been at the table when these types of decisions are made.

March 31 is also the start of application screening! If you know anyone who you think would make a great Cambridge City Manager, please encourage them to apply https://quintonzondervan.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c5d94d39b78dfa441... !

Update on Alewife Lab Development Rules On March 8, the Planning Board discussed a City Council proposal to allow time for Alewife Development rules for Lab and Commercial uses to align with City plans, such as the Envision Cambridge Alewife District Plan https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/News/2019/10/alewifeplan , the Climate Change Preparedness and Resilience Plan Alewife Preparedness Plan https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/Files/CDD/Climate/CCPR/ccpralewifeprepar... and Resilient Cambridge Plan https://www.cambridgema.gov/ResilientCambridge , the Urban Forest Master Plan https://www.cambridgema.gov/ufmp , and the Climate Resilience Zoning Task Force recommendations https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=4&ID=11477 , among others. The Planning Board overwhelmingly agreed that Alewife Development Rules (zoning) need to be updated before approving more projects, with a vote of 6 in favor, 1 present, none against. The following day, the City Council Ordinance Committee (which approves all city laws including zoning laws) met to discuss the same proposal. The Committee seemed in favor, but had a few questions for the Law Dept. and the Community Development Dept., so the discussion will continue at a future meeting (not yet scheduled). Councilors Toner, Nolan, Simmons and Mallon co-sponsored a policy order to request that the Community Development Dept. form a Working Group to discuss the zoning language starting this spring, which was approved at the March 21 City Council meeting.

Updating Cambridge Open Space Plan - Your ideas needed!

The City of Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD) is currently in the “vision & goal setting stage” of updating the City of Cambridge Open Space Plan for the next 7 years.

Cambridge needs this plan to be eligible to receive open space grant funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Now is the time for anyone who lives, works, visits or plays in Cambridge to share your ideas.

Alewife Study Group (ASG) is participating in these meetings to advocate for greater equity in access to parks and open space. For example, ASG advocates construction of a pedestrian/bike tunnel, under the commuter rail tracks, directly from Jefferson Park housing to Danehy Park. This would provide residents in Cambridge’s largest concentration of affordable housing, along Rindge Avenue, much better access to Cambridge’s largest recreation area.

For more information on Cambridge’s Open Space Plan, go to: https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/parks/osplanning/openspaceplan https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/parks/osplanning/openspaceplan

To receive updates from CDD about this effort, sign up here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/d0BwG6j https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/d0BwG6j

ASG Newsletter

ASG will send email updates about once a month during this busy time in the development of the IQHQ site.

Click here for previous ASG Newsletters http://alewife.org/?s=Newsletter

Anyone can sign up for this newsletter by completing the Contact Form at the bottom of the ASG home page: alewife.org http://alewife.org/ We also welcome your questions, comments, ideas, and offers of help!