Councillor Timothy J. Toomey Jr., who represents East Cambridge, said overdevelopment is a major problem in his district.

"It's just about over in our part of the city," Toomey said. "If this fails tonight, there's nothing left except to pave the Charles River."

Councillor Marjorie C. Decker said she will work on comprehensive long-term planning for the entire city, not just East Cambridge, in upcoming months.

"The rest of this city needs this kind of planning and needs this kind of funding," Decker said.

Born gave an impassioned speech attacking Galluccio's proposed exemption, saying that it would put to "non-use" a place that could have affordable housing, schools, artists' studios or any number of other uses.

"The economy in Cambridge is changing, the population is changing," Born said, adding that the Larkin petition was the first step for the council to create a new vision for the city that valued quality of life in addition to commercial developement.

Deputy City Solicitor Donald Drisdell added that the amendment may not be legally sound.