Remarks by H Theodore Cohen
26 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
- Play at 51:43
“Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I guess I have the $64,000 question. What is the rationale for any cap on short-term rentals? And what is the rationale for limiting it to 90 days? Because I was, you know, we haven't seen anything that says there's a problem that needs to be addressed i mean one of the comments was that it was a solution in search of a problem and uh i i'd really like to know if there is some problem that this 90-day cap or any cap is trying to address so i guess it's for the law committee”
Planning Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 55:05
“Well, can I follow up? Has the city council or ordinance committee articulated any rationale for the cap or for the 90 days to the law department?”
Planning Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 56:42
“Well, unless I misunderstand it for the autonomous category does not have to be the owner's primary residence who happens to not be there. So, I mean, I don't understand if there's fear that they're just going to rent things out while not living there. I mean, it has to be their primary residence.”
Planning Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 57:53
“All right. I would still like to know what the problem is and why the 90 days was selected rather than 120 days, 180 or none whatsoever. And I'm not sure if.”
Planning Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 1:15:19
“Sitting the wrong thing. So of the 500 estimated unregistered STRs, are they listing things on Airbnb and VRBO? And so if that's the case, there's no way to have pulled them in now. And that's what the whole point of this registration and the booking agency is going to do. I mean, I guess that's two parts. But are they listed now on the big three, let's say?”
Planning Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 1:16:06
“And there's no way now of insisting that they get registered?”
Planning Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 1:30:54
“Thank you. I think Mary Flynn has articulated all of my positions on this. I think giving ISD the power to enforce and to pick up the 500 unregistered SRTs is really the need and the purpose of this zoning ordinance. I don't see any reason for any cap without having heard any real rationale for it. Certainly for the owner occupied and owner adjacent, and given that the autonomous has to be the owner's primary resident, but they happen not to be there for some particular period of time, I don't really see a need for any cap there either. If there was going to be any cap, I guess, you know, the…”
Planning Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 1:42:54
“Mr. Chair, I have a question. Sure. For Swathi, probably, maybe Jeff. It was particularly noticeable in the comments we got today that a lot of the emails only had the sender's first name and no address. I was wondering if there was some way that when we get emails, that we can see who they are actually from and the address. Because, you know, when they speak here, they are supposed to be doing that.”
Planning Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 1:29:43
“Thank you, Mr. Chair. A number of things. I would like to see the 3D model.”
Planning Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:29:51
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Planning Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:38:22
“Well, I've read the memo from your department and understand that, you know, perfect study had been certified, but there, you know, there was a lot of issue comments today, uh, basically about parking, uh, especially with regard to whether the new project on new street had been included or not included. Uh, and also with regard to, uh, you know, traffic in the area. I'm familiar with the area, driven there many times. So I just wondered if you had any additional comments today after hearing the comments from the proponent and also from the public.”
Planning Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 2:25:12
“Go ahead, Ted. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, my comments are pretty much the same as all my colleagues. In general, I think it's a handsome building. It is very brown. And I think Ashley's comment about perhaps DIFFERENT COLORS FOR THE DIFFERENT WINGS MIGHT BE AN INTERESTING THING TO EXPLORE. I CERTAINLY APPLAUD HOUSING AND THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE FAMILY SIZED UNITS. I UNDERSTAND Uh, now I understand, uh, what your demographic is and who you're looking to, to rent or sell to, but it is such a wonderful location, uh, near the parks and, uh, fresh pond that it would be…”
Planning Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 2:32:37
“Ted. Well, I hear what Evan is saying, but since we can condition special permits all the time, I cannot imagine why we couldn't give a condition that we would waive the requirement, but no more than X percentage. You know, maybe it is uncharted territory under the Cambridge and the zoning ordinance, which I don't have before me right now, but I don't see how we could not put a condition on it like we put conditions on many other special permits. Great.”
Planning Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 2:38:46
“I think it would be great to see it again. I mean, just as in the, you know, the affordable housing overlays, we have two meetings to discuss design. And this is a big project. And I'm very comfortable with a lot of it. But I think there are issues that are outstanding. And you know, the proponent can go away with knowing that, in general, we're very positive about it. But there's, we'd like more information about.”
Planning Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:14:05
“Well, I'd say two factors. The one is when special permit was required for everything. It really put the proponents at great risk. I live near the Beach Street buildings that was made and took 10 years from when we approved it to when all the litigation about it was resolved. And so if it's if it's purely discretionary on the board, Yes, we seem to have more power because we can say no to something, but even if we don't do that and say yes, it butters and other people can challenge it and it just drags on for a long, long time. I think we have a tremendous housing crisis. and that that was…”
Planning Commission · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:24:04
“Yeah, there's no question that there went through many, many months and years of discussions. And I guess my feeling about this petition is that it's really too soon, that we haven't had enough time. From what I've seen, being built so far I've been happy with. And, you know, I like tall buildings, but I think, you know, we have such a housing crisis that we can't stand still. And this petition feels to me like it's a rollback. um you know many years ago when i first got on the board i thought six stories all along mass ave from one end to the other would be great i don't think six stories is…”
Planning Commission · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:35:34
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Planning Commission · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:37:52
“I would so move the motion as you've laid it out.”
Planning Commission · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:56:16
“Yeah, thank you. The question is about the dentist's office. Could you go back to the slide which would say show to further back? I just want to see. So this is Parcel JK?”
Planning Commission · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:56:39
“And the dentist's office would be on the left-hand side. Okay, great. And then my other question is, what does HIPAA actually require?”
Planning Commission · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:57:24
“And a follow up to that, if you are a patient inside, can you see out through the film or it's going to be opaque from both directions?”
Planning Commission · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 30:43
“I'M SORRY, MADAM CHAIR, THAT WAS AN ERROR.”
Planning Commission · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 46:08
“Ted. Thank you. So I don't know if this is for staff or for the proponent. If zoning had not changed and I understand there would have been a four story building, what under the current proposal, other than or in addition to the two additional height stories, what other changes are there from the original proposal that got the variance and the issuance of the building permit?”
Planning Commission · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 48:26
“uh partly so i i understand it's the two additional stories and now you're saying it's it's the issue of the first floor height yeah are there any other changes uh as to the say the envelope of the building The abutters are complaining about various things, about access and other issues about the access way. Were those issues, have those been changed from when the variance was granted?”
Planning Commission · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:09:03
“Well, thank you. Yeah, I'm fine with the design of the building. Yes, there's a lot in the staff memo that I hope the developers will look at. But in terms of what they're seeking in terms of the special permits and the changes in the zoning going back and forth, it seems to me this is a situation where they shouldn't be penalized by everything that has gone forward. And from my point of view, the addition of the two stories looks like it will add another eight housing units. And so I'm all in favor of that, that, you know, going from four to six stories, I think is actually a good idea. And…”
Planning Commission · Jun 16, 2026