Central Square Advisory Committee

Central Square Blade Sign

The Central Square Advisory Committee reviews and comments on land use and development proposals in the Central Square Overlay District per the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance (Section 20.300).  The Committee conducts Large Project Review consultations and comments on applications for variances and special permits from the Planning Board and Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA), as well as other proposals.  The Committee meets on the first Wednesday of the month or on an as-needed basis. Central Square Advisory Committee meetings are also listed on the citywide Calendar of Events.

View the Central Square Overlay District zoning map: https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/Files/CDD/Maps/Zoning/cddmap_zoning_overlay_central_202102.pdf.

View the current membership of the Central Square Advisory Committee on the Open Meeting Portal: https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/Board/1117-Central-Square-Advisory-Committee

Meeting Dates, Materials, and Reports

PLEASE NOTE: Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023 adopted by Massachusetts General Court and approved by the Governor, the City is authorized to use remote participation at meetings of the Central Square Advisory Committee. Members of the public can also provide comments in writing or via email before the meeting.

Date
Agenda
Summaries
 October 9, 2024

 

August 7, 2024
June 5, 2024

 

December 6, 2023 

October 4, 2023

 

September 6, 2023 
June 7, 2023  
April 12, 2023

 

March 1, 2023
December 7, 2022  
July 6, 2022

• Agenda

• 48-50 Bishop Allen Drive - Application Materials

• 18 Pleasant Street - Application Materials

48-50 Bishop Allen Drive - Report

18 Pleasant Street - Report

June 1, 2022

• Agenda

• 544 Mass Ave - Application Materials

• 544 Mass Ave - Report
March 14, 2022 

• Agenda

85 Bishop Allen Drive (Starlight Square) - Application Materials

• Starlight Square - Report

March 2, 2022

• Agenda

• Market Central Zoning

• Market Central Retail Plan
• 425 Mass Ave (Vitality Bowls) - Application Materials

• Market Central Retail Plan - Report

• Vitality Bowls (425 Mass Ave) - Report

February 2, 2022
• Agenda
• 625 Mass Ave - Application Materials
425 Mass Ave (Crumbl) - Application Materials

• Planet Fitness (625 Mass Ave) - Report

• Crumbl (425 Mass Ave) - Report

December 1, 2021 - Joint Meeting with HSAC
• Agenda
• Resilient Cambridge Plan
• Resilient Cambridge Plan Presentation
November 3, 2021 - CANCELLED
N/A N/A
October 6, 2021

• Agenda
• Ordinance 2021-3
• Ordinance 2021-4

Retail Land Use and Home Occupations Zoning Presentation 
July 27, 2021 • Agenda • Carl Barron Plaza Design Alternatives Presentation 
May 25, 2021

• Agenda

• Meeting Minutes Full 

• 48 Pearl St - Report

April 27, 2021

Agenda

• Meeting Minutes

Public Space Activation update

January 26, 2021

• Agenda

• Central Square Public Space Presentation

• Meeting Minutes

December 3, 2020

Agenda

 

September 22, 2020 Agenda

• Meeting Minutes

August 19, 2020

Agenda

• Meeting Minutes

July 22, 2020
55 Norfolk St
759 Mass Ave
50 Bishop Allen Dr

Agenda

55 Norfolk St - Presentation
55 Norfolk St - BZA Application

759 Mass Ave - Presentation
759 Mass Ave - Special Permit Application

50 Bishop Allen Dr - Presentation

55 Norfolk St - Report
759 Mass Ave - Report
50 Bishop Allen Dr - Report
February 19, 2020
544 Mass Ave
93 Windsor Street
Agenda
544 Mass Ave - BZA Application
93 Windsor St - BZA Application
544 Mass Ave - Report
January 29, 2020
Central Square Project Updates
Agenda
River Street Reconstruction Project - Presentation
The Port Stormwater Project - Presentation
November 20, 2019
Revolutionary Clinics - 541 Mass Ave
Agenda
Special Permit Application
Planning Board Presentation
Revolutionary Clinics - Report
September 18, 2019
Cambridge Gas & Light Building - 727 Mass Ave
Agenda
Gas Light Building - Full Submission
Cambridge Gas & Light Building - Report
August 7, 2019 (CANCELLED)
Dark Ride Media - 288 Green Street
Agenda
Dark Ride Media - BZA Application
Dark Ride Media - Plans
Dark Ride Media - Images
Dark Ride Media - Report
June 19, 2019
Clover Food Lab - 496 Mass Ave
Agenda
Clover Food Lab - Plans
Clover Food Lab - BZA Application
Clover Food Lab - Report
May 8, 2019
Cambridge Brands - 810 Main St

Home Grown 617 - 580 Mass Ave

Western Front LLC - 567 Mass Ave
Agenda

Cambridge Brands - Presentation

Home Grown - Project Summary
Home Grown - Floor Plan

Western Front - Presentation
Western Front - First Floor
Western Front - Elevations
Western Front - Historical Photos
Cambridge Brands - Report


Home Grown 617 - Report


Western Front LLC - Report
April 17, 2019
Santander Bank - 599 Mass Ave
Agenda
Building Permit Application
Project Plans and Drawings
Building Storefront
Exterior Signage
Santander Bank - Report
November 28, 2018
600 Mass Ave
Agenda
Special Permit Narrative
Zoning Narrative
 
November 7, 2018
Placemaking in Central Square - CSAC/TAC
Agenda
Overview of Placemaking in Central Square
 
October 24, 2018
Amazon - 624 Mass Ave
Agenda
Special Permit Application
Project Plans and Drawings
Amazon Pickup Points, LLC - Report
October 17, 2018
Placemaking in Central Square - Public Health
Agenda
 
September 26, 2018
Placemaking in Central Square - Arts + Programming
Agenda
 
August 29, 2018
Revolutionary Clinics - 541 Mass Ave
Notice
Agenda
Special Permit Application
Project Plans and Drawings
Revolutionary Clinics - Report
August 22, 2018
Placemaking in Central Square - Public Safety
Agenda
 
July 18, 2018
Placemaking in Central Square - Transportation
Agenda
• Transportation and the Public Realm - Presentation

June 20, 2018
Placemaking in Central Square - Urban Design
Agenda
Overview of Placemaking in Central Square

May 30, 2018
Central Square District Assessment
Agenda
• Central Square District Assessment Report
February 15, 2018
Cambridge Brands Inc. - 810 Main St
Notice
Agenda
Cambridge Brands Report
January 17, 2018
Non-Zoning Recommendations (Update)
Agenda
Meeting Summary
November 1, 2017
Central Square Walking Tour
Walking Tour Agenda
Walking Tour Notes
September 27, 2017
907 Main Street
• Notice
• Agenda
• Special Permit Application
• Project Plans
• 907 Main Street - Report
June 28, 2017
Non-Zoning Recommendations (Update)
• Agenda
• CDD Presentation

• Meeting Summary
January 4, 2017
907 Main Street
• Agenda 
• 907 Main Street Report
November 28, 2016
907 Main Street
• 907 Main Street Meeting Notice
• 907 Main Street Special Permit Application
• 907 Main Street Plans
 
November 2, 2016
47 Bishop Allen Drive
Mass + Main
• 47 Bishop Allen Drive Meeting Notice 
• 47 Bishop Allen Special Permit Application 
• Mass + Main Meeting Notice 
• Mass + Main Special Permit Application 
• Mass + Main Special Permit Criteria 
• Mass + Main Plans
• 47 Bishop Allen Drive Report
• Mass + Main Report
February 4, 2016
907 Main Street
• Agenda 
• 907 Main Street Project Plans 
• 907 Main Street Updated Project Plans 
• Meeting Summary
November 19, 2015
Central Square Public Library
• Agenda
 
October 26, 2015
Frank J. Manning Apartments
• Agenda
• Special Permit Application Summary
• Meeting Summary
September 15, 2015
Central Square Walking Tour
  • Meeting Summary
July 21, 2015
Central Square Updates
• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
January 7, 2015
Central Square Updates
• Agenda
 
October 28, 2014
Non-Zoning Recommendations (Update)
• Agenda
 
January 27, 2014
541 Mass Ave
• Notice and Agenda
• 541 Massachusetts Avenue Report
December 2, 2013
10 Essex Street
• Notice and Agenda 
• Special Permit Application
• Project Plans
• 10 Essex Street Meeting Notes
June 27, 2013
300 Mass Ave
Notice and Agenda
Planning Board Hearing Notice
• Special Permit Application
300 Massachusetts Avenue Report

Central Square Documents and Information

For More Information

For more information about the Central Square Advisory Committee, please contact Mason Wells by email at mwells@cambridgema.gov or by phone at 617.349.9794.

• Agenda 
• Agenda