Remote Planning Board Meetings

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 Cambridge Planning Board. 

Members of the public can download meeting documents and materials online, send written comments by e-mail, watch meetings online or on cable television within Cambridge, and attend virtually online or by telephone.

How to Find Meeting Materials

Materials for Planning Board cases – including application documents, project plans, and staff reports – can be found in a few ways:

  • Planning Board Meetings has a preview of upcoming agenda items, with links to case materials.
  • Planning Board Special Permit Cases has all special permit materials listed by case number, and is searchable by address and other keywords.
  • Open Meeting Portal is where the Agenda for each meeting will be posted in advance, which will link to online materials for each case. You can also create an account and sign up to get Planning Board Agendas by e-mail.

How to Send Written Comments

Send an e-mail to planningboardcomment@cambridgema.gov. Address your comments to the Planning Board and include the agenda item by title, case number, or address in the subject line. E-mail is preferred, but comments may also be mailed to Cambridge Planning Board, 344 Broadway, Third Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139.

Planning Board Members will get all written comments received by 5:00 PM the day before the meeting. If possible, e-mail comments at least 5 days in advance so that Board Members have more time to review.

How to Watch the Meeting

If you do not want to comment in real time during the meeting, there are two ways to watch:

  • Stream Online: Visit the City Meeting Video Link. The live video link will appear once the meeting has started.
  • Cable Television: Tune to Channel 22 within Cambridge at the time of the meeting.

How to Participate/Comment in Real Time (ONLY IF MEETING IS BEING HELD REMOTELY)

To attend the meeting virtually by computer and/or telephone:

  1. Select the meeting date from the Planning Board Meetings page or Open Meeting Portal to open the Agenda.
  2. Use the link to “Register for Zoom Webinar,” either before or during the meeting.
  3. Check your e-mail for instructions to join the meeting by computer and/or telephone. If you don’t see it at first, check your “junk” or “spam” folder.

To comment in real time:

  • Note that the Planning Board will always hear comments during a “Public Hearing” agenda item. The Board can decide to hear comments on items that are not listed as a “Hearing” but does not always take comments on those items.
  • Be sure that your computer has a working microphone and speakers. If not, you can listen and speak by telephone. The registration e-mail will have instructions.
  • For Public Hearing agenda items, public comment will be heard. For General Business agenda items, the Board will decide whether or not to hear public comment.
  • The Meeting Chair will say when public comment is about to start. Your sound will be muted until it is time for public comment.
  • Select “Raise Hand” to speak during public comment time. You can find the “Raise Hand” icon at the bottom of your Zoom screen. If you are calling by phone, press *9 to raise your hand.
  • When it is your turn, a staff member will read your name, then ask you to say your name and address to confirm you can be heard. You might need to unmute your microphone.
  • The Meeting Chair will say how much time each speaker has. You will usually have up to 3 minutes to speak, but that might change based on the number of speakers.
  • Address all comments to the Meeting Chair.
  • You may only speak once on each agenda item, unless the Board decides to take additional comment.

If you do not have a computer or e-mail address to register for the Zoom Webinar, please call Swaathi Joseph at 617-349-4668.

Questions?

Contact Community Development Department staff a cddzoning@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4600.