When Harvard approached the Cambridge community with its proposal for the Knafel Center for Government and International Study, University administrators already had a building in mind.

Some neighbors found the University's approach overbearing, and opposition to the project was strong.

This time around, Harvard is doing things differently.

The parking lot at the corner of Oxford and Hammond streets, a prime building space on the edge of campus, is now set to be the location of the new University Information Services building. But instead of approaching local residents with completed plans for the building, Harvard sought their input up front to make sure the eventual construction would fit with the character of the neighborhood.

The University agreed to restrict the height of their buildings at the edge of the residential neighborhood, a plan reviewed by the Cambridge planning board last night. This downzoning alays neighbors' main fear, that Harvard could build a 120 ft tall building right across the street from their houses, which are restricted to a height of 35 ft.

"It sets a new standard for Harvard," said John Pitkin, president of the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Association. "It's not what happened with the Knafel Center."

Two years ago, a city-wide growth management commission identified five problematic transition zones in Cambridge--or areas in which the allowable height restrictions under current zoning in a certain area is incongruent with the zoning in surrounding areas.

One was Harvard's Hammond Street location and its parking lot behind Leverett Towers between Athens and Banks Street.