Glossary

Pursuant to Lawrence Zoning Ordinance and M.G.L. c. 40A, the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) hears and decides appeals cases, applications for special permits, and appeals or petitions for variances including variances for use, with respect to particular land or structures

A special district in which all property owners pay additional fees, usually based on property value, for services and projects within the district. Services and projects may include street cleaning, marketing, events, capital improvements, beautification, and security and support for community members and businesses alike. At least 51% of the property owners or owners representing at least 61% of the assessed value must agree to form a district. The services provided by BIDs are supplemental to those already provided by the municipality.

A former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination.

Urban renewal is a strategy for redeveloping and revitalizing substandard, decadent and blighted open areas for residential, commercial, industrial, business, governmental, recreational, educational, hospital or other uses.  Under M.G.L. Chapter 121B municipalities, through their urban renewal agencies, are authorized to undertake a wide range of public actions to address these conditions and to create the environment needed to attract and support private development and promote sound growth in designated neighborhoods.  DHCD’s Division of Community Services administers the urban renewal program, including assisting municipalities to establish and strengthen urban renewal agencies, and providing assistance and resources to prepare and implement urban renewal plans.

The Community Development Department is the planning agency for the City of Lawrece. The mission of the Community Development Department (CDD) is to enhance the character and diversity of the city’s neighborhoods and support sustainable economic growth that expands opportunities for residents, enables a high quality of life within the community, and contributes to a healthy environment.

A covenant is a promise in a written contract or a deed. There are different types of covenants, such as a promise agreeing to joint use of an easement for access to a property, or mutual covenants which are promises to respect certain rules of conduct or restrictions on use of a property. Covenants which run with the land, such as permanent easement of access or restrictions on use, are binding on future owners of the property. Covenants can be concurrent (mutual promises to be performed at the same time), dependent (one promise need be performed if the other party performs his/hers), or independent (a promise to be honored without reference to any other promise).

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is a Massachusetts state department that through its community and business partners, provides affordable housing options, financial assistance, and other support to Massachusetts communities.  DHCD oversee different types of assistance and funding for consumers, businesses, and non-profit partners.
 

DHCD’s Division of Community Services administers the urban renewal program and provides assistance and resources to prepare and implement urban renewal plans, and oversees Redevelopment Authorities like the LRA.

A development agreement is a contractual obligation between the LRA and a designated development entity that maps out a vision and plan for the development of an area of land. The agreement provides assurances to the LRA and developer entity, commits resources, and establishes mechanisms to address either party’s failure to live up to its responsibilities agreed upon in the development agreement. 

A power of the LRA derived from Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 121B, Section 46(f) to create a plan for a specific parcel to enable development outside of an urban renewal area.

The LRA has design review authority of development projects including mixed-use residential and commercial projects, public and private open spaces and other permanent improvements made in the MXD District of the Kendall Square Urban Renewal Plan. Project design review consists of three distinct components, approval of the Infill Development Concept Plan (IDCP), Schematic Design approval and Building Design Review, which consists of two parts, first Design Development Documents approval and Construction Document approval.

Easements are a right given to another person or entity to trespass upon or use land owned by somebody else. Easements can be used for roads, pedestrian access or given to utility companies for the right to bury cables or access utility lines. Easements run with the land but can also expire after a certain time period.

An Environmental Impact Report is a written record of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) that identifies and examines the likely environmental effects of the continuing operations of an existing facility or those of a proposed project, and proposes measures to avoid, mitigate, or offset them. In Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office reviews EIRs and issues a certificate with a scope for a Single Environmental Impact Review (SEIR), Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) or a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report.

The floor area ratio (FAR) is the relationship between the total amount of usable floor area that a building has, or has been permitted for, and the total area of the lot on which the building stands. This ratio is determined by dividing the total, or gross, floor area of the building by the gross area of the lot.

A technology that uses hardware and software to collect, analyze, display and store geographically referenced information in maps, tables, 3-D displays, and other formats. 

Gross floor area is the total floor area inside the building envelope, including the external walls, and excluding the roof. Definitions of GFA vary around the world, but in Cambridge GFA includes: (a) roofed porches and balconies whether enclosed or unclosed; (b) unroofed porches and balconies above third floor, with the exception of porch and balcony spaces associated with Functional Green Roof Area (c) elevator shafts and stairwells on each floor (d) attic space, whether finished or unfinished, within the area of a horizontal plane that is five (5) feet above the attic floor and which touches the side walls and/or the underside of the roof rafters (e) interior balconies, mezzanines, and penthouses (f) area of parking facilities in structures and (g) any accessory parking spaces not in above ground structures if in excess of the maximum number permitted on the premises.

A City of Lawrence department which administers the Cambridge Zoning Code and the State Building Code and issues all building, use, and occupancy permits. If a project requires development review under Article 80, ISD will not issue a permit until the LRA and the Zoning Commission (if necessary) have completed the required review and the LRA has certified that the project described in the permit application is consistent with the project approved through development review. 

An agreement with the LRA that governs the transfer and use of LRA owned parcels; typically recorded with the deed.

LEED is an ecology-oriented building certification program run under the auspices of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

A license agreement is a legal contract between two parties, known as the licensor and the licensee. In a typical license agreement at the LRA, the licensor (LRA) grants the licensee the right to produce and sell goods or use the LRA's land.

The state agency responsible for ensuring clean air and water, the safe management of toxics and hazards, the recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, the timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources. 

The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act requires a review process that provides meaningful opportunities for public review of potential environmental impacts of certain projects for which certain actions by state agencies are required. It requires state agencies to study the environmental impacts of projects requiring state permitting, financial assistance or land disposition, and to use all feasible measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate damage to the environment or, to the extent damage to the environment cannot be avoided, to minimize and mitigate damage to the environment to the maximum extent practicable.

A Minority Business Enterprise is an entity that is at least 51% owned and/or controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual as described by Title X of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 7601 note), and Public Law 102- 389 (42 U.S.C. 4370d), respectively

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a nonbinding agreement between two or more parties outlining the terms and details of an understanding, including each parties' requirements and responsibilities. An MOU is often the first stage in the formation of a formal contract.

A network of transportation options typically including transit, pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular travel. 

Letter from an entity or organization to a contractor, consultant or vendor stating the date they can begin work subject to the conditions of the contract.

A Notice of Project Change is needed if there is any material change to a project needing approval or review by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office. A Notice of Project Change is also needed if there has been a lapse of time since the issuance of the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) Certificate, which initiates MEPA's review of a project.

Placemaking involves the planning, design, management and programming of shared use spaces. More than just designing spaces, placemaking brings together diverse people (including professionals, elected officials, residents, and businesses) to improve a community’s cultural, economic, social and ecological situation. 

The Lawrence Planning Board reviews plans and proposals under the Special Permit provisions of the Lawrence Zoning Ordinance and Chapter 40A of the Massachusetts General Laws, proposes or reviews zoning amendments, makes recommendations to the City Council about proposed revisions to the Zoning Ordinance, and engages in general planning efforts to improve the physical environment of the City.

Privately owned public spaces (sometimes referred to as POPS) are a type of land area that while privately owned, have been set aside for public benefit through land-use restriction, development agreements or zoning requirements.  

The RFI is a solicitation document used to obtain general information about products, services, or suppliers. The RFI process may help in the decision making process by developing a well-conceived solicitation document (RFP, RFQ) and clarifying the competitive requirements.

A document issued by the LRA when it requires goods or services from an outside contractor. The RFP outlines the scope of work required in detail. Generally, RFP responses (or "bids") are reviewed by committee, and a shortlist of proponents are invited to the LRA to interview before a final proponent is selected. 

A preliminary document issued by the LRA when it requires goods or services from an outside consultant or contractor. An RFQ describes the type of qualifications for which the LRA requires expertise, and invites proponents to submit information about their experience. An RFQ may be used to narrow the pool of proponents for a subsequent RFP.

New construction on a site that has pre-existing uses. Variations of redevelopment include urban infill on vacant parcels that have no existing activity but were previously developed, especially on brownfield land, construction with a denser land usage or adaptive reuse, where older structures are converted for improved current market use.

The Lawfence Zoning Ordinance describes when a special permit is required. A special permit is required where a particular use is permitted but only after certain conditions are met. The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is the authority that holds public hearings and decides whether to grant or deny a special permit. The BZA also hears appeals of zoning related decisions made by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services (Superintendent of Buildings). It should be noted that Planning Board is also a hearing authority for certain special permit matters as defined in the Zoning Ordinance. Information concerning Planning Board matters can be obtained by contacting the Community Development Department.

STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) as access points to guide student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. The end results are students who engage in experiential learning, can problem-solve, can work collaboratively, and work creatively.

Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) is a voluntary, incentive based program that allows landowners to sell development rights from their land to a developer or other interested party who then can use these rights to increase the density of development at another designated location.

TOD is a type of urban development that maximizes the amount of residential, business and leisure space within walking distance of public transport.

A federal government funding program that began with the passage of the Housing Act of 1949.  Designed to create housing and promote economic development within the nation’s rapidly deteriorating inner cities, Urban Renewal was introduced to Boston in the 1950s and 1960s. The Urban Renewal program allows the LRA certain tools to catalyze development within an Urban Renewal area such as eminent domain, zoning controls, housing affordability restrictions, federal and state funding and the opportunity to develop demonstration projects to enhance these neighborhoods.

A variance is required if the proposed use or development is prohibited by the Ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance describes when a variance is required. A variance is required when the action desired violates the dimensional requirements or use provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is the authority that holds public hearings and decides whether to grant or deny a variance. The BZA also hears appeals of zoning related decisions made by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services (Superintendent of Buildings).

Wayfinding refers to information systems that guide people through a physical environment and enhance their understanding and experience of the space. In urban settings, wayfinding specialists develop signage and information systems to help people develop “mental maps” of the terrain and simplify their routes to the extent possible.

A Women’s Business Enterprise is an entity that is at least 51% owned and/or controlled by women (under the 10% and 8% statutes).

A tool used by the City to dictate the allowed shape, density, and use of development in a given area. Lawrence's Zoning Ordinance incorporates a written code (describing setbacks, heights, allowed uses, densities, etc.) and maps which indicate which geographic areas are subject to which zoning guidelines.

Map documents which correspond with Cambridge's written Zoning Ordinance to indicate which zoning requirements apply to which geographic area.