Support Rezoning

THE REZONING of sections of the Agassiz community, which comes before the city council tonight, is necessary to protect the neighborhood from large-scale commercial development and uncontrolled University expansion.

Two commercial developers are planning to put high-rise luxury housing units in the midst of a community of mostly one-family frame houses. Under the present zoning regulations, there are no restrictions on building height and housing density may be as high as 144 units an acre.

Harvard has indicated that it plans to build dormitories for married students and faculty on what is now the Agassiz neighborhood playground and several houses.

Donald C. Moulton, assistant vice president for community affairs, has said that the University prefers a "design review approach" to inflexible zoning regulations. He promises to work out a plan acceptable to the community.

In response, Agassiz leaders have indicated their willingness to negotiate with the University to arrive at a plan allowing Harvard to build but leaving schoolchildren a place to play and preserving the quiet residential character of the area.

Without the rezoning, the Agassiz residents will be in a weak bargaining position, unable to stop the University from going ahead with construction regardless of community sentiment.

If the rezoning measure fails tonight, Cambridge law prohibits reconsideration of the measure for two years--enough time to let the private developers in and possibly put the university, too, beyond the reach of community control. On the other hand, if the land is rezoned and Harvard comes up with a specific plan for the area, the area's residents will be able to approve it through a second zoning change. The 1000 Agassiz residents who petitioned the council to preserve the character of their neighborhood from unwanted development deserve support at tonight's council meeting.