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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-09-08-HATSII-min.pdf MEETING OF HATS II WORKING GROUP September 8, 1988 800 a m Lexington Town Offices PRESENT John Eddison, Chairman HATS II , Lexington Richard White, Town Mgr , Lexington Robert Bowyer, Planning Dir , Lexington John Caswell , Selectman, Lincoln David Ramsey, Executive Secretary, Lincoln Elizabeth Corcoran, Planning Bd , Lincoln Alan Edmon, Town Manager, Concord Judith Chanoux, Planning Dir , Concord Betsey Anderson, Selectman, Bedford Richard Reed, Town Administrator, Bedford Joseph Buckley, Supt , Schools, Bedford Mr Eddison opened the meeting and asked the representatives from each Town to report on conclusions reached as to the impact on their towns of the proposed expansion of Hanscom Field as shown on the draft Master Plan and suggested that comments be made after all reports had been given LEXINGTON Robert Bowyer review his August 23rd memo to the Town Manager, covering his recommendations on the scope of work that should be covered by an Environmental Impact Report to be prepared by the Air Force on the proposed expansion of the Base Mr Bowyer outlined his list of information to be requested in the areas of new construction; major rehabilitation, employment; housing; traffic impact; development procedures; and impact on utilities BEDFORD Richard Reed reviewed the comments of the Bedford Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Town Administrator and himself on the Hanscom Master Plan, dated August 29th Bedford' s recommendations covered the following impact area; impact on Rte 3; public transportation; traffic impact analysis; traffic management programs; housing analysis; public services, payment in lieu of taxes; sewer and water supply impacts, impact of vacated office space; groundwater impacts ; wetland impacts; flooding impacts; coordination with other studies; access to proposed buildings; and relevant studies CONCORD Judith Chanoux presented her notes , dated September 7th, on the Air Force Expan- sion Proposal She noted that although Hanscom Field is not located within Concord, the primary concern of that town is traffic impact on Rte 2 and the local streets She raised questions to be answered on potential Short- and long-term traffic impacts of Air Force personnel living off base; off-peak hour traffic volume projec- tions, construction traffic; mitigating roadway improvements; alternative scenarios -2- relative to plans for Routes 2 and 2A; and information to help determine traffic origin as well as impact on the local housing markets She felt that consideration should be given to mitigation of mandatory off-peak travel ; mandatory car and van pooling; provision of public transportation as well as on-base housing for those living off-base now; and traffic safety and capacity upgrades LINCOLN John Caswell reviewed a report by Traffic Consultant Walter Freeman on the Proposed Scope of Work for Hanscom Area Redevelopment The report contained recom- mendations that information be requested on aspects of the proposed development with respect to location and size; number of employees, type of activity; number and size of work shifts; hours of operation; number and size of parking areas and loading zones; and delivery schedules Mr Freeman had also recommended that questions be raised concerning trip genera- tion rates; trip distribution; traffic assignments; capacity and level of service analyses; and mitigating measures Mr Caswell stressed the importance of the proposed expansion in relationship with Route 128 and asked that information also be obtained on whether the Mitre facility planned is to be located on Air Force property Elizabeth Corcoran reported that the Benham Group, consultantsto the Air Force, will be in Lincoln on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the following week for dis- cussion of the proposed move by Mitre to the H A F B site She will try to arrange for a representative to address HATS II at its meeting on September 15th Mr Caswell raised the point of the impact of vacated off-base office space which would eventually be filled by additional workers He felt that an E I F should be demanded of the Air Force Ms Corcoran noted that construction of schools on the Base has been significantly delayed because of lack of funding and spoke of concerns because the Town of Lincoln administers the on-base schools Joseph Buckley voiced his concern about the potential impact on the Bedford School system due to the construction delay and the expected increase in Air Force enrollment He noted that Bedford receives $2,000 per Air Force student, which does not cover costs of $5,000 per student It was agreed that questions will be asked as to the scope of on-base family housing planned Mr Eddison suggested that Lexington work to pull together and attempt to priori- tize the information presented by the four towns, with a draft ready for distribution at the September 15th meeting of HATS II He felt it important that effort be made toward a common four-town statement as soon as possible for submission within the time allowed for comments on the draft Master Plan Mr Caswell recommended that a meeting be scheduled now with the new Hanscom General for presentation of the four towns' concerns Mr White saw no advantage in waiting for his arrival and felt that the Towns should deal with the current General on the matter Mr Eddison will ask Colonel Seifert if the Preliminary Draft Master Plan will be available for review at the September 15th HATS II meeting -3- Mr Bowyer questioned the need for prioritizing before receipt of all relevant data and suggested that it could be done editorially, not by numbering Mr Eddison agreed that it should be done on an editorial basis Mr Reed offered to explore the status of the Air Force request to be included in the MWRA system. He will work with Mr White on this Mr Edmon will obtain information as to the scope and status of funding of the Air Force project by Congress Mr Caswell felt that clarification should be sought as to whether Mitre, as a private concern, should be subject to local zoning regulations if its facility is built on Air Force land Mr Eddison thanked all represtnatives for the reports presented and urged attendance by all HATS II members at the meeting of the full committee on September 15th The meeting was adjourned at 8 45 a m.