"From our perspective, the introduction of a building moratorium at this moment can only serve to undermine the openness of a collaborative dialogue," the letter read.

Travis McCready, Harvard's director of community relations for Cambridge, said yesterday that a moratorium is unneeded because no development will occur in Riverside in the next 18 months anyway.

"Even if we got the green light to develop from residents tomorrow, it would take two years before we got a shovel in the ground," McCready said.

But councilors said that there were no negative consequences to passing the moratorium.

"The only time negotiations are successful is when the playing field is level," said councilor Jim Braude, who agreed with residents that the neighborhood needed time to evaluate the area. "All this moratorium does is level the playing field."

"It buys time for an overburdened neighborhood," said councilor David P. Maher, who co-chaired the ordinance committee meeting.

The proposed moratorium will now go to Cambridge's planning board for discussion Aug. 8 before it is brought before the entire council in September.

While the moratorium will most likely pass easily, McCready said he hopes it does not stifle discussions with the community.