2008-02-06-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes for the Meeting of February 6, 2008 Page 5 Mr. Frank Sandy, Precinct 6, said some redevelopment could be desirable, but first the traffic problem needs to be addressed. There is a traffic problem now, and before rezoning, we need to know how to improve the road, how we are paying for it, and the offsets. Ms. Dawn McKenna, Precinct 6, said every time the Planning Board brings forth a special permit, each project should contribute to Lexpress in perpetuity with inflation escalators. Parking regulations in the center are arbitrary and do not work. It would be better to work on as a separate issue. 125 Spring Street came forward and wanted to destroy the vista and the FAR was the only thing that prevented it. Mr. Jim Osten, Precinct 8, said he tried to bike on Hartwell Avenue and it is dangerous. People get off at the bus stop and there is a wall of snow and then they walk into a pool of mud against a snow bank, there are no sidewalks and there is snow on the shoulders. He would be hesitant to approve anything that would increase traffic there. Board Questions and Comments: Mr. Canale said the Board and the Town know the traffic section doesn’t work. It was created when one could move traffic along and that is no longer true. What can be done to reduce auto trips? It would cost approximately $30 million to upgrade Hartwell Avenue and the jug handle, and it would not be for at least ten years unless the Town funded all the costs. The T has considered the possibility of extending the service of the red line. Mr. Canale said we need to accept the congestion and learn to deal with it if we wish to increase commercial development significantly. Putting band-aids on the situation is not enough. We need predictable enforcement and preserve the capacity we have now. He told Mr. Smith that it was very disappointing that he was putting this before Town Meeting now. There are a lot of options out there and they all need to be considered. This needs to be done correctly. Ms. Manz said she shares Mr. Canale’s concerns and that it is early for these proposals to go before Town Meeting, but she appreciated Mr. Smith’s efforts in bringing them forward for discussion.. Traffic management is a big sticking point. Redoing Hartwell Avenue is expensive and not within the Town’s capability. Should we increase density now or work further on details? She was also uncomfortable with the proposed changes to the SPS. Mr. Zurlo reiterated that he appreciates the amount of work done on this and stated his concern in picking