No extra parking mandates at new buildings in Cambridge

The Cambridge Metropolis Council voted Monday evening to get rid of all minimal parking necessities for brand new buildings within the metropolis, a serious zoning reform that might cut back the variety of new off-street parking areas and — advocates hope — make it simpler to construct extra housing at decrease value.

The Council voted 8-1 to take away the minimums, which have lengthy mandated new developments embrace a sure quantity off-street parking areas, decided by the variety of models within the constructing. Now, these mandates will go away, although builders are free to incorporate parking in the event that they so select.

“You’ll be able to construct the identical quantity of parking yesterday that you can at the moment,” mentioned Burhan Azeem, one of many metropolis councilors who spearheaded the ordinance. “It simply provides folks plenty of flexibility.”

Metropolis Councilor Dennis Carlone, who was the only real voice of opposition, mentioned the ordinance doesn’t clear up parking maximums — a cap on the very best variety of parking areas a brand new improvement can construct — or visitors points, in keeping with Cambridge Day. Carlone couldn’t instantly be reached for touch upon Tuesday.

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