Busa Land Use Proposal Committee Report 03-14-2011

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of the Busa Land purchase, from a concept of athletic field(s) (with some variations on accompanying affordable housing, community gardens, and a tot lot) presented by the Recreation Department to the CPC, to a vote at Town Meeting which left determination of the usage to a future process that resulted in the formation of the BLUPC. a) Town Manager Carl Valente described a proposal for the Busa Land to the CPC on April 27, 2009. Minutes of the meeting summarize the description as follows: "There would be three primary purposes for the land: recreation, affordable housing, and open space. The recreation needs could possibly be met with the purchase of the land included a soccer field, a little league lot, a tot lot, community gardens, and their combined parking. The housing portion of the land may include two lots with frontage on Lowell Street. The open space portion of the land might include trail connections to other conservation or recreation parcels, and buffers to the Arlington Reservoir and /or Munroe Brook." The minutes of the CPC on April 27, 2009, also state that the CPC took a straw vote on the proposed project to purchase the Busa land for the possible purposes of recreation, community housing, and open space. The straw vote was 8 -0 in favor. The minutes also note that the neighborhood had not yet been involved in the process. b) A Selectmen's meeting was held on April 30, 2009, "to discuss with the abutters the possible purchase of the Busa farm (approximately 8 acres) and what the Town is thinking of using the land for." Conceptual drawings by Sasaki Associates were presented that showed two configurations of athletic fields (one with a baseball field overlapping a multisport field, one with only the multisport field) along with a tot lot and community gardens. The proposal also suggested setting aside 31,000 square feet of land for affordable housing. Excerpts from the minutes also include the following: The Town showed a few options for possible uses of the land that included: affordable housing units, community gardens, playgrounds, soccer /little league fields, walking trail and parking. Mr. Valente explained that the Busas contacted the Town in December 2008 to see if the Town was interested in purchasing the land. The land is Chapter 60A Land, which means it has reduced tax status due to its agricultural use, and so the Town has the right of first refusal to match any bona fide offer. Neighborhood residents, and at least one Arlington resident, raised questions about the size of affordable housing (considering a duplex or single family house, not sure, perhaps two lots of 15,500 square feet; would be rentals; would have driveways), concern for the environs (keep the area natural /a farm, concern about traffic and parking — no study done but there is time; land would need to be leveled and drainage work done; concern for impact on Arlington Reservoir), concern that the farm should be kept up; proposed use of Rindge Ave for a field — too small; and cost ($350 -500K for the full -size field). Busa Land Use Proposal Committee Report Page 5 / 52