As initially written by the city's Planning Board, the petition had proposed major changes to the city's zoning ordinance that would significantly effect the development potential of commercial properties here. Most contentious among the petition's issues was its proposed measure to limit the amount of rooftop mechanicals, which would have had a direct impact on the city's booming biotechnology industry.

In recent years the biotechnology surge has added to the city's congestion and construction. Some local residents had wanted the restrictions because the mechanicals increased the size of many of the buildings here.

Rather than limit the use of rooftop mechanicals, which biotech companies need to circulate fresh air through their laboratories, the council decided to remove that provision from the petition and subject buildings with that equipment to a special review process. The rezoning petition was part of a three-year process and is the first time in 50 years that this city considered revamping its zoning laws.