HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-23-HATS-minHANSCOM AREA TOWNS COMMITTEE (HATS)
May 23, 2024 at 7:00 pm
Meeting MINUTES
Pursuant to a notice duly filed with the Town Clerks of HATS member towns, the HATS meeting
convened virtually by Zoom video conference.
Present:
Select Board Members: Mark Sandeen, Lexington Select Board and HATS Chair; Emily Mitchell,
Bedford Select Board; Jim Hutchinson, Lincoln Select Board.
Other HATS Members: Margaret Coppe, Lexington at -large; Charles Hornig, Lexington Planning
Board Member; Steven Hagan, Bedford Planning Board; Ephraim Flint, Lincoln Planning Board;
Gary Taylor, Lincoln Planning Board.
Guests: Simone Monteleone, Superintendent Minuteman National Park; Jessica Casserly, HAFB
Public Affairs; Amber Goodspeed, Massport Government and Community Relations; Anne
Sobol, Lincoln resident; Jennifer Boles, Bedford resident; Barbara Katzenberg, HFAC; Ingrid
Klimoff; Jane Herlacher; Jeanne Krieger; Lara Sullivan; Phil Thayer, MCAN, Concord.
AGENDA
Welcome and Introductions: Mark Sandeen, HATS Chair welcomed the meeting attendees and
briefly outlined the meeting agenda. Mark welcomed Terri Ackerman as the new Select Board
representative to HATS from the Town of Concord, and noted she was traveling and unable to
attend tonight.
Minutes: Postponed review and approval of April 25, 2024 minutes to our next meeting.
Minute Man NHP update by Simone Monteleone, Superintendent: The Park encompasses
1,000 acres within their boundary. The Park was awarded $27 million thru Great American
Outdoors Act for rehabilitation of park, battlefield landscapes, historical houses, and signage.
The contractor for phase 1 work is wrapping up their efforts by end of September. Various
houses will be rehabilitated and brought into the park experience. A number of boardwalks
have been closed during this period, and the Park appreciates residents' patience. They also ask
residents to please be sure to respect trail closures. Want to keep visitors safe. Phase 2 work is
slated to be completed by end of this calendar year, and that work currently is in the Fiske Hill
area and will be moving to pathways including tunnel under Hanscom Drive, where they will be
improving surface material in and around tunnel. Phase 3 work is ongoing and includes tree
pruning and removals, meadow restoration, stone wall work, and also septic work for homes
renovated in Phase 1. All work will be completed in time for the 250th anniversary. Ms.
Monteleone then gave a brief description of festivities planned for 250th anniversary.
Anne Sobol, Lincoln resident, asked Ms. Monteleone about what impact Hanscom Airfield
operations has on the Park. Ms. Monteleone said that they are formulating comments on the
North Airfield Draft Environment Impact Report now and they will submit them before the June
14, 2024 deadline. Ms. Sobol then asked if the recent designation of the Park as an endangered
historic site by the National Trust for Historic Preservation will help the park. Ms. Monteleone
agreed it was great to be selected, and she thinks it will help others beyond the local area
become aware of impact of the airfield on the Park.
Margaret Coppe, Lexington HFAC representative asked why the 2A visitor center slated to have
such limited openings during the 250th anniversary celebration period? Ms. Monteleone
explained that the Park is usually open May — Oct with seasonal staffing to handle that, but that
due to FY24 budget constraints, they were unable to hire the eight seasonal staff members they
normally do, and could only hire one seasonal employee. This impacts their ability to have
visitor center open, although they were able to retain special programming at Hartwell Tavern.
They are hoping their FY25 budget will be more robust. Ms. Coppe opined that perhaps the
Town of Lexington could help with staffing during the 2501h events if needed, and offered to
pursue that idea offline with Mr. Sandeen.
Lexington MBTA Community Zoning Update by Charles Hornig: Lexington did a comprehensive
housing plan in 2022, which fed into their MBTA Community Zoning process. Lexington was
trying to allow as much actual housing development as they could, not simply "check the box"
and do as little as possible. The Town adopted its zoning bylaw in April 2023, but their first
application for site plan review was not until a year later, in April 2024. At this point they have
now received 3 applications. Mr. Hornig gave a brief overview of their zoning rules: three
overlay districts, simple zoning requirements with detailed standards in site plan review
regulations, limited dimensional controls, parking 1 space/unit. Lexington is still going back and
forth with EOHLC about whether they can require 15% affordable or just 10%. Their total new
zoning covers 279 lots on 227 acres, about 2% of Town's land area. They deliberately chose to
include a wide variety of lot types, including developed, underdeveloped, and vacant lots. Their
first site plan review application is for 5-7 Piper Road, 59 units in 2 new buildings. Ground +
storm water issues on this project might change what is actually done. Their second application
is for 89-91 Bedford St, 31 units in 1 new building. Their third application is for 231 Bedford St, 9
units in 1 new building, and includes ground floor retail and thus are allowed to go to 5 stories.
Gary Taylor, Lincoln Planning Board, noted that Lincoln concentrated its HCA zone around
Lincoln Station area. They haven't heard from EOHLC yet, he asked what Lexington's experience
has been with them. Mr. Hornig said Lexington submitted a feasibility study for 15% affordable,
which EOHLC said worked okay for large developments, but was not sufficient for other types of
development. Lexington did another study but have not heard back from EOHLC about that one
yet. Lexington wrote their rules with a fallback to 10% affordable if 15% isn't approved. Mr.
Taylor notes that Lincoln did the same. Mr. Hornig notes that Lexington's first two applicants
are voluntarily following the 15% guideline.
Emily Mitchell, Bedford Select Board, asked how long Lexington's site plan reviews will take.
Mr. Hornig said he expects a typical review will involve three sessions, each a month apart, so
perhaps four months from filing to site plan approval. But he noted that the applicant would
then need to go through the other Town permitting and approval processes. He said that one of
their current applicants believes they will be breaking ground next year.
Municipal updates:
Lincoln, Jim Hutchinson: Town Meeting in March approved an HCA/MBTA zone around
the train station, as well as approving a $24 million Community Center building project, which is
more expensive that anyone hoped for, but nonetheless approved with strong majority.
Bedford, Emily Mitchell: Unexpected special education expenses have caused a need for
a reserve fund transfer. They are also constructing a new fire station, with cost estimates
coming in at $32mil with contingencies. Steve Hagan added that they are taking soil samples
and checking for PFAS and other chemicals in town gardens due to some fear from residents
about the safety of growing food there.
Lexington, Mark Sandeen: 44 municipalities have now adopted the Specialized Code
covering around 30% of the state's population, including Lexington. Lexington has started
participating in the 10 -town fossil fuel free demonstration program in March 2024. Lexington
Town Meeting approved an affordable housing trust article to build approximately 40 units of
100% affordable housing on 3 acres of town owned property. Lexington's all -electric Police
Station is nearing completion, with ribbon cutting this summer. Lexington's High School project,
is expected to be 475,000 square feet, all electric, net zero, with 3MW of solar and a large
battery storage system which will potentially save over $1 million per year in operating costs.
The estimated cost ranges from $600 to 700 million for the 5 options under consideration.
Finally, the newest reason to visit Lexington: their new women's monument was dedicated in
town center honoring 20 amazing women from Lexington's history.
Hanscom update, Jessica Casserly: Hanscom held a civilian hiring event for 100 open positions:
800 people attended and Hanscom made 47 job offers! Thanks to all for help getting word out
about that event. Ms. Casserly then gave a few construction updates regarding the Sartain Gate
project, and noted that there is expected to be lane shift and traffic re-routing in the Hanscom
Drive / Bedford Rd area on the evening of Tuesday, May 28, from 6pm on for about 8 hours.
The commercial vehicle search area is done and will be opening on June 3. Ms. Casserly noted
however that until the roundabout project is done at the end of June, residents may notice a bit
more truck traffic. Ms. Casserly then thanked the HATS communities for welcoming HAFB
personnel to participate in upcoming Memorial Day events in each town.
Emily Mitchell asked about an issue mentioned at the last HFAC meeting about construction
lighting shining into Battle Rd Farm condos. Ms. Casserly agreed she would investigate.
Massport update, Amber Goodspeed: Work will be commencing this summer on the northern
section of the Runway 5/23 project. Last year they did the southern end, working thru Lincoln,
and things went smoothly. Now they will be doing the Bedford end, and traffic from this work
will take place in August, M -F only. In other news, Massport released the Environment Status
and Planning Report (ESPR) on their website on May 15, 2024, and they will hold two
information sessions on June 10 and 11, both 6pm via Zoom, which is posted on the Massport
website. About the North Airfield proposed project, the Draft Environmental Impact Report
deadline for comments was extended to June 14, 2024, and the project proponents will be
holding a public meeting about the project on May 30. Ms. Goodspeed also noted that the salt
storage shed project begins in June.
Jennifer Boles, Bedford resident, noted that there is a really nice article in Concord Bridge
online media outlet yesterday covering the recent HFAC meeting and a conversation about jet
noise over MMNHP during 250th celebration events. What may have come out of that meeting,
according to Jennifer Mehegan of Massport, is that Massport plans to make a request to the
FAA to use a less impactful runway configuration during those events to minimize noise.
Anne Sobol, Lincoln resident asked if the North Airfield May 30 meeting will allow resident
questions? Ms. Goodspeed noted that it is not Massport's meeting, but she imagines the
proponents will allow resident questions. She will check and let Ms. Sobol and Christopher Eliot,
HFAC Chair, know.
Mark Sandeen asked about the fuel tank being added by Atlantic Aviation, and Ms. Goodspeed
confirmed there will be a 20,000 -gallon jet fuel tank added by them in the fall to their existing
fuel farm.
Hanscom Field North Airfield update: Mr. Sandeen noted this agenda item was on the agenda
so that residents could comment as desired, but no further comments were made at this time.
Future meeting schedule: Members stated a desire for another meeting to discuss a possible
HATS comment letter to Massport regarding the ESPR, and they agreed to set the next HATS
meeting for 7pm on Wednesday July 10, 2024.
Adjournment: Jim Hutchinson moved to adjourn, seconded by Emily Mitchell, and roll call vote
was unanimous, meeting adjourned at 8:12pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by
Jim Hutchinson
Lincoln Select Board
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