Board of Zoning Appeals
Councilor Kelley's concerns about Yerxa Road Roof deck request
Dear Board Members:
I write to express my concern about application 9761, an application for a variance to, among other things construct roof decks on 45-47 Yerxa Road.
As you know, Cambridge is a very dense city, with virtually every resident having multiple neighbors. 120 Rindge Ave/45-47 Yerxa Road is no different, in that there are many other residences within a short distance of these buildings. As a result, an addition or expansion of roof decks will have an impact on a fairly significant number of people. I know, both from personal experience and from having attended countless meetings all over town, that the noise of patios and roof decks is something that bothers a lot of people. Even a quiet conversation from a roof deck sixty feet away can mean the difference between falling asleep or staying awake during a summer night. And many roof deck or back porch events are anything but quiet conversations.
Given the lack of a legal requirement to allow the new roof decks or to modify the ones currently in the project, I hope that the Board will consider carefully neighborhood testimony on the matter and, absent clear and unequivocal support for this variance request, will deny the application.
Once the buildings are completed and the unit occupied, neighbors will have to live with whatever happens on the property. In my experience, roof decks and party-sized patios, while making the properties with these amenities more attractive and more valuable (thus creating more wealth for the developers), generally leads to a decline in the quality of life for other neighbors as people string lights, host parties or practice music late at night in these outdoor venues.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have about my thoughts on this issue.
Many thanks.
Craig Kelley
6 St. Gerard Terrace
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-354-8353