Busa Land Use Proposal Committee Report 03-14-2011

Browse Search

c) A Public Information Session, held by the CPC on May 5, 2009, was attended by 30 -40 members of the neighborhood and Town Meeting members, as well as Arlington residents and representatives. Minutes include the following: Mr. Valente explained that the possible uses for the property included recreation, housing, community gardens, and "other" uses. He specifically noted that the latter category had been added because of neighborhood input. He showed a concept plan for the land, which highlighted a full -size soccer field, two lots devoted to housing, and associated parking for the recreational use. Mr. Valente noted that new recreation fields had not been constructed in Lexington in many years, and pointed out that the Town had in fact lost soccer fields when the new Harrington School was built. He stressed, however, that the concept plan he showed was only one of many possibilities. Audience members asked specifically whether Mr. Valente's use of the "other" category included preservation as a farm and wanted to be sure that the wording of the motion to be made at Town Meeting was flexible enough to allow that potential use, such as a farm with an educational component. A Town Meeting Member also asked whether the motion would be flexible. The minutes note that: Mr. Cohen, Selectman, addressed this issue by stating that the motion had been worded to include "recreation, and /or affordable housing, and /or open space purposes." And later: Mr. Burnell, Selectman, stressed here that the Town would decide at Special Town Meeting to purchase or not purchase the land, but would not decide its specific use. He stressed that most of what neighbors were concerned about is what would come before Town Meeting in future years, not at the Special Town Meeting scheduled for the following night. The topics of affordable housing (whether it could be removed from the article or not), farming, traffic, and preservation of the Arlington Reservoir all were recorded in the minutes. d) On May 5, 2009, The CPC voted unanimously, 9 -0,to approve the purchase of the Busa land by the Town. e) Town Meeting approved the purchase of the land on May 6, 2009. 1.2 Board of Selectmen Charge This charge was adopted by the Board of Selectmen on March 22, 2010: Description: • To invite, receive and evaluate proposals from Town residents, Town departments, Town boards and committees, and other persons and entities at the discretion of the Committee, regarding possible uses of the parcel of land known as "the Busa property' *. Evaluation criteria shall include, but not be limited to: 1. Whom the use(s) will serve; 2. How the use(s) is (are) consistent with any Town master plans; 3. Impact the use(s) will have on abutters and the surrounding neighborhood; 4. Environmental impact use(s) will have (such as, but not limited to, traffic, noise, dust, and stormwater runoff); Busa Land Use Proposal Committee Report Page 6 / 52