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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-26-HATS-min HANSCOM AREA TOWNS COMMITTEE NOTES OF MEETING Held at 7:30 PM on February 26, 2009 At Lincoln Town Offices PRESENT: Jeanne Krieger Lexington Board of Selectmen (Chair) Sara Mattes Lincoln Board of Selectmen Robert Domnitz Lincoln Planning Board Lisa Mustapich Bedford Planning Board Richard Canale Lexington Planning Board Wendy Manz Lexington Planning Board Margaret Coppe Lexington HATS Dorothy Steele Massport/ OGCA Sara Arnold Massport Hanscom Col. David Orr Hanscom Air Force Mission Commander J.C. Corcoran Hanscom Air Force Base, Community Relations Lou Sideris Minuteman National Historic Park Ken Bassett Lincoln 7:30 PM INTRODUCTION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman welcomed attendees, especially Colonel Orr who has agreed to give an update on military base activities. th There will be a meeting of MAGIC on Thursday March 12 in Lincoln to discuss transportation issues, including the TIP and stimulus funding. Richard Canale reported that a contract has been drawn up for the Battle Road Scenic Byway management study. The team will be led by Christine Wallace and Mark Racicot of MAPC staff. The working group will also include members from each town and the National Park Service. Towns are asked to designate two representatives, of which one should preferably be a selectman at least initially, and one is likely to be a Planning Board member. Two meetings are being planned, in April and May, prior to a public kick-off meeting in June to discuss goals and parameters. Although town staff will need to assist by providing information from existing sources, it is intended that any new work will be done by MAPC. 7:35 PM UPDATE ON BASE ACTIVITIES Colonel Orr, Hanscom Air Force Mission Commander thanked the HATS communities for their cooperative attitude towards his efforts to improve the base in his first six months as Commander. He provided an update on the housing situation, which he has met with the towns’ selectmen to discuss. The background was the military’s desire to improve the standard of its housing, and privatization was embarked on as part of this effort. The first contractor, American Eagle, failed and construction stopped with only a small number of homes completed. The new contractor, Hunt, Pinnacle and Falcon Properties, has taken on housing projects at several military bases. At Hanscom the 1 project is for 747 homes, of which 265 are larger new units and the balance are renovations. The few that have already been completed will be ready for occupation shortly, and by September 2011 it is hoped to have all the units occupied with military families. Colonel Orr felt that there were benefits to military families from living on the base and also that the families strengthen the local area by supporting businesses etc. Referring to the “waterfall” mechanism for identifying occupants if there is not enough demand from the active military, he stressed that the list of eligible groups begins with military-related ones. He noted that if some homes end up being occupied by the general public, this will raise issues such as security and access. He hopes to avoid this situation. The reason for this possibility being included now is to achieve a viable contract. The contractor will own the homes and needs to obtain financing. An occupancy level of less than 95% triggers the next level on the list. Sara Mattes welcomed Colonel Orr’s willingness to communicate candidly about the situation. The Commander also mentioned that a bid for economic stimulus funding to rebuild the school serving the base is being made. The school is operated under contract by Lincoln. Other stimulus projects put forward are to renew base infrastructure. A dormitory proposal did not go forward. In general terms, Col. Orr said that he aims to keep the base operating well and to keep it open. In a climate where base reductions are still being sought, it is important to avoid local conflicts. He welcomed the fact that the Hanscom area towns have expressed support for the base. He noted that business development proposals may raise some issues for the adjoining towns. An “enhanced use lease” idea is being developed to address a projected move of research operations to other bases. The addition of the National Guard function may strengthen the base. The towns could help to raise the profile of command and control activities. Col. Orr pointed out that Hanscom is now the only active duty military base for a seven state area and he felt it had an important role in supporting training units and other related organizations. Ms. Mattes suggested that it may be possible to revive the “build the base” campaign as an ongoing organization to support military activities in Massachusetts. The HATS Committee would welcome further regular updates. In terms of local community connections, Col. Orr mentioned that there will be Girl Scout cookie distribution event this weekend. The Committee offered to publicize future community events. The Commander mentioned that a good cause which the local community may be prepared to support is the shipping of care packages to active service personnel, which has to be paid for privately. Funds which can channel donations to this cause are “Operation Warmheart” and “Friends of Hanscom Families” (contact via Jim Corcoran’s office, 781- 377-6851). 8:00 PM WORKSHOP: PROPOSED CHANGES IN STATE ZONING CODE Copies of a fact sheet on the proposed Land Use Partnership Act and a summary of th its effects on municipalities, based on the December 8 draft, were distributed. These were prepared for a scheduled discussion by MAPC, which was deferred as transportation issues took precedence. Richard Canale reported that a chart comparing LUPA with the earlier CPA II was also prepared by MAPC. Mr. Canale explained that a zoning reform task force led by APA planners and interested parties has been filing bills for many years but received little attention. In the 2 last two years the Governor’s task force has examined the issues and filed LUPA. Communities need to look at both bills and consider what they would support. LUPA may be more likely to get legislative attention, and may also evolve in the process. The Governor is known to be interested in economic development and the streamlining approach. The task force is led by Greg Bialecki of the Housing and Economic Development Department. The planning community considers LUPA to be developer- oriented. It was reported that MAGIC held a discussion on LUPA in the fall and that the communities’ reaction was negative, especially to expedited permitting. One comment was that some of the things that are offered as ‘incentives’ to municipalities should apply anyway. Mr. Canale explained that LUPA is structured in two parts: one that would apply to all areas and one that has to be earned and opted into by municipalities. The group looked at the summary but considered that it would need more of an explanation from first principles. Planning members observed that LUPA reduces appeal rights and could sweep away a large body of case law leaving a vacuum; that it sets formal and difficult procedures for levying impact fees, for example for traffic mitigation, whereas it would be helpful to have the authority for such fees confirmed; that it offers some improvements to problematic zoning and subdivision laws but that they are mostly of minor significance in areas that are largely built out; and that details of final wording will be important. It was agreed that the Planning Board representatives would compile a summary of concerns in the form of a statement that HATS, MAGIC and legislative representatives could be asked to support. Other HATS members will endeavor to learn more about the issues. Mr. Canale mentioned that the town of Dennis has done an analysis from a town’s point of view. 9:00 PM ROUTE 128 CENTRAL CORRIDOR COALITION Sara Mattes reported that the Coalition met the previous Friday. She offered thanks to Barbara Lucas for setting up the meetings that led to the group’s establishment. The meeting discussed the Supplementary Program Draft Environmental Impact Report for the development of the Polaroid site, which states that it should not do anything to impede the development of a multi-modal interchange. Local congressmen are interested in upgrading the Fitchburg line. A dedicated bus/HOV lane could link to it and it is hoped that a regional mitigation bank and a corridor plan could be developed. However, the state is currently not interested in cooperating on a plan unless it incorporates zoning changes and housing development. 9:05 PM HANSCOM FIELD ADVISORY COMMISSION Jeanne Krieger reported that the recent meeting received a report on operations which indicated reduced activity. Studies of taxiway repaving were discussed. In connection with vegetation management, Massport reported that it is working with Lexington on the designation of wetlands and trees. Massport reported on a package of economic stimulus measures to be managed by the FAA, which is separate from the state government’s list. Mr. Domnitz commented on a recent noise study for further development at Hanscom, which came close to a previously used baseline. Massport responded that the 3 ESPR looks at further studies and goes into more detail, and that there was no commitment to adhere to the one measure. 9:20 PM ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROJECTS Mr. Canale reported that there is currently an unreviewed and a reviewed list of projects for the state. It is hard to discern a logical pattern at this stage. OTHER BUSINESS: TRANSPORTATION FINANCE PROPOSALS Mr. Canale reported on a Power Point presentation given at the MAPC Council meeting on the state’s ideas for reforming and renewing the transportation system. The Move Massachusetts website (www.youmovemassachusetts.org) has long lists of proposals. They include abolition of MAC and changes to Massport’s role including buying Worcester Airport (of which it recently took over operation), selling the Tobin Bridge to the road authority, and providing additional funding for transit operations serving Logan Airport. There are differences in proposals from the Senate and the Governor at this point. The Senate wishes to address organizational issues before considering increased revenue, while the Governor favors a gas tax increase. Various bills propose a range of gas tax levels. The MAPC Council supported a high level. The bills are being analyzed and a summary will be available shortly. NEXT MEETING th The next meeting will be on Thursday March 26 at 7:30 PM. The discussion topic will be regional cooperation as well as further discussion of planning and transportation. The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 PM. Submitted by Catherine Perry Accepted as amended, as notes of meeting, March 26, 2009 (insufficient quorum for formal minutes) 4