When Five Feet Isn’t Enough: How Cambridge Zoning Changes Put Trees and Flood Resilience at Risk

An important  short  video posted on Facebook and other Social Media in mid-July, 2026 addresses the  serious  flood risks posed by the city's   Multi-Family  Housing Upzoning.
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Here is the link:  https://www.facebook.com/reel/1753385475651432

Below is the  transcript. 

Hi, fellow Cambridge residents. I’m Karen. I’m here in front of 18 Thingvalla [in Strawberry Hill].

As you can see, this whole plot is clear-cut, with the exception of a few trees remaining in the back that don’t look so healthy. This fence line over here used to be chock-full of mature trees, but has been stripped by the developers.

This is happening all over our city because of the new five-foot setbacks that are now allowed due to multi-family housing zoning changes. Within five feet, you can have a pathway which takes up three and a half feet, and then you’re simply left with one and a half feet of space. It’s not enough for any trees to grow, and barely even any shrubs or plants to grow.

By filling up our lots, we’re taking away our permeable space. Permeable space and mature trees are what make our stormwater system work. They are the first line of defense to prevent flooding in low-lying areas of the city, like The Port and Alewife.
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My background is actually in mechanical engineering, and I’ve run a utility’s wastewater plant, so I have a background in stormwater management. And if we get rid of this critical city infrastructure—our mature trees and our green open space—we’re now sending a ton more water off to the city, which will result in more frequent and more severe flooding in low-lying areas.

This water isn’t just water. It can be stormwater mixed with sewage, so it’s a hazard and a safety risk as well.

We need to ask our City Council members to protect our residents and amend multi-family housing zoning and our tree protection ordinance so that we can have the climate resiliency we deserve and the safety our community needs.