Joseph believes that the Planning Board or the City Council may revise some of the "zoning and bonuses and categories that can be incorporated into the general zoning laws to encourage planning options that were considered."

The time schedule for council consideration of the plan "depends on the outcome of next Tuesday's [hearing]," Flynn said. "If the changes are minor or few, then [the plan will go to the council] shortly after, but if there are major changes then it will take longer."

When asked if the City Council would approve the plan, Ginsberg said, "I am not good at predicting the future."

"No one ever knows what the Cambridge City Council will do," Wilson said.

Flynn said that the plan will be submitted to the City Council in draft form so they can make changes as well.

Neighborhood Initiative

The Community Development Department originally came up with the plan after an earlier study in which the North Cambridge neighborhood asked the city to reexamine the previous plan, according to Flynn.

"We knew this was the last area to be developed and a number of activists were concerned about what would happen here," said Spartichino.

"The history of business in Cambridge is to overrun the neighborhood," but Spartichino stressed that "a Kendall Square type atmosphere is not wanted here. We prefer quiet at night and non-existence on weekends."