On Tuesday, December 4th, the planning board will have a meeting to discuss application #231 by Bent Street Land Company, LLC. (See prior blog posts) Please send the planning board a letter with concerns such as traffic, open space, lack of setbacks, and noise. You can fax the letter to 617-349-4669.

On November 27, at 8:30 p.m., there is a public hearing on application #231 by Bent Street Land Company, LLC, to develop a mixed-use site along three blocks of East Cambridge. This would include several parcels between First and Second Streets, and also portions of Bent, Rodgers, and Charles Streets. This site will include commercial space, a 115,000 SqFt industrial lab, and studio to one bedroom living units. There will be a courtyard for residents use in the center of the building, and no setbacks from the building edges to the sidewalks. Due to the large size of this project, it is expected that their are major implications for East Cambridge. Concerns include:

Traffic- Based on the developer's study, this project will add 1200 vehicle trips per day. This area is already difficult to navigate during rush hour.

Parking- Not enough space. Loss of 150 current parking spaces.

Open Space- Very limited

Gobble Gobble!

The Mirant Corporation has been trying to ignore an agreement to build a boardwalk along the Broad Canal in Kendall Square. This canal runs along Mirant's Kendall generating plant. Mirant agreed to build this boardwalk in order to receive a variance to install a larger power generator. The City of Cambridge also gave Mirant a temporary occupancy permit seven years ago. This temporary permit needs to be reviewed! ALL RESIDENTS OF CAMBRIDGE ARE URGED TO ATTEND THE BZA MEETING ON NOVEMBER 8th! PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR GETTING THIS CORPORATION TO STAND BY THEIR AGREEMENTS!

-This has been an ongoing issue that the East Cambridge Planning Team has been involved in.

-Mirant has claimed post 9/11 security issues as the deterrent for having a boardwalk. Former Mirant engineers have dismissed these claims. read more...