> Since everything in Cambridge is done with special permits, you can't even look at the zoning map to be able to tell. That's less of a planning issue and mor

> Since everything in Cambridge is done with special permits, you can't even look at the zoning map to be able to tell. That's less of a planning issue and more of a natural result of game theory. Updating the zoning map is much more difficult (supermajority vote) than issuing zoning variances, and the process of zoning variance appeals offers the city a chance to wring favorable concessions from developers. (of course, as it happens these concessions and the appeals process come at cost to the developer, which over the long term translates to less construction and higher per-unit prices. I'd like to see the state find a way to change the way this works, but I'm not holding my breath!) All of this to say that planning exists, but it might not be available to the public easily or at all.