HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-11-GCC-min.docx
Minutes of Greenways Corridor Committee Meeting 11 December 2025
Present in person: Keith Ohmart (chair), Alex Dohan, Eileen Entin, David Frohman, Bob
Hausslein,
Daisy Liu, Bobak Moshiri, Stephen Perkins, Mike Tabaczynski (nonvoting)
Present virtually: Peggy Enders, Susan Kenyon (nonvoting), Joe Pato
1. Votes:
a. 13 November 2025 minutes approved unanimously
2. Reports/Updates
a. Minuteman Bikeway closure update (Stephen, Keith): Stephen and Keith
rerouted using signs to avoid the closed bike path from Cataldo to Fottler and
keep Route C as a loop. It now avoids a large portion of Arlington Great
Meadows as a byproduct of not using the bikeway. It still includes the smaller
eastern part of AGM. No more news on project duration; next step is to wait for
the project to conclude and the bike path to reopen.
b. Safe Routes to School issues (Bobak): Fiske accident raised in the meeting and
the idea of adding signage. Also, the consideration of advisory bike lanes for
North St and Burlington as there are on Shade St. Betty Gau mentioned as a
resource for the history of the project along with the need to connect with the
Transport Safety Group.
c. Transportation Safety Advisory Group Report (Peggy): Topic of concern was the
intersection of Clarke and Muzzey Streets at Forest. Many options were
discussed, but conversation moved to 4 crosswalks as a solution. Adding a
multiuse path connecting the high school and center was also brought up. The
need for traffic calming on Walnut St and adding a median as a solution was also
raised.
3. Ongoing Business
a. Review of current routes in development:
i. Discussion about the process to refill Erica Herrera’s position which will
give needed bandwidth to Karen and the Conservation Department. The
job position was pulled from the website, so there is hope that filling the
position is close.
ii. 114 Wood St proposed development: currently waiting on Planning Board
review
iii. Follen/Summit: easement permission is moving forward with Sacred
Heart
iv. 475 Bedford/former BSC: Mike and Keith had a meeting with the builder
and learned they are proposing a walking path to connect Bedford St to
the social path. If this moves forward, there is potential to tie to the trails
on Simonds Brook Forest and create a new route.
v. Question was raised about a plan for improving the intersection at
Hartwell and Bedford: Joe mentioned long term plans for that area and
Bedford St/95 connections, but not likely until 2030s given such a major
redevelopment.
vi. Brochure redesign:
1. Final photos choices were reviewed and a few more photos were
added. There is a good variety of seasons, people/non,
walkers/bikers/dogs, etc.
2. Draft of direction to Jon Sachs (designer) for photo choice was
accepted
3. Brochure photos and cover photo along with direction document
will be sent to designer
4. A task force was formed to review drafts from designer: Eileen,
Bobak, Mike. The small group will iterate and then a draft will go to
the entire GCC committee
5. Proposal to print 5000, same as last March was accepted
6. The main addition to this version will be Route Q. The 250th
anniversary logo will remain
7. Goal is to have the new brochures in hand March/April ahead of
walking weather
vii. Points of Interest (POI) for the brochure
1. Drafts of POI text were sent out and some feedback was received
2. Goals for the POI were discussed and how it was not necessary to
make them as short as possible given the opportunity to link
online. No reason to cut POIs given that, but just shorten
descriptions. One view of removing all descriptions and just linking
was raised, but a blended approach was preferred.
3. There was interest in adding 11 new sites and the Women’s
Monument (“Something is Being Done”) as well.
4. Consistency of types of sites was mentioned (e.g. all playgrounds)
and also the idea to err on the side of inclusion rather than
exclusion given the varied interests of people. A few sites may be
omitted due to lack of accessibility and their POI numbers will be
reassigned to the newly added sites to keep them in use.
5. Big renumbering job of the POIs will wait until later given the
obsolescence impact to other items that use this numbering
scheme.
6. A small group will continue to review the POIs and associated text
and have a goal of being finished by the next meeting.
7. Mike will have the final text to send to the designer.
8. The reason for a final review by the committee is the importance
of catching errors big and small.
9. The importance of this effort to the town was discussed and how
other committees could take this on, but GCC is doing it. It’s a big
task and valuable to the town.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 pm.
Next Meeting: 15 January 2026, 4-6 pm in the Parker Room