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Home My WebLink About2010-10-27-BLUPC-min Busa Land Use Proposal Committtee (BLUPC) Report of Forum Conducted by the Town of Arlington Arlington Town Hall Moderator, Carol Kowalski, Director of Planning & Community Development, for the Town of Arlington Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 Time: 7 00 p.m. —8 50 p.m. Members of the BLUPC in attendance: Bill Dailey, David Horton, Ginna Johnson, Pam Shadley, Deborah Strod, and Al Zabin. Absent: Ric Fulop. The Forum - There were 55± people in attendance, including 5± Lexington residents - The purpose of the forum was to provide Arlington residents with the opportunity to express their views regarding the reuse of the Busa land - 34± people came to a microphone and expressed their views about the reuse of the land. Affordable Housing. Views expressed included - keep any housing far away from the edge of the reservoir [the speaker expressed an interest in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), too] - if there is a complex, that it allows nature to exist, too, keeping in mind the great variety of birds in the vicinity and the existence of Munroe Brook - consider the least dense housing as possible and away from reservoir (the speaker really prefers no housing) Recreation Views expressed included - no support for playing fields (density of recreational facilities there now on either side of the Arlington Reservoir) - do not build affordable housing there, but a farm is OK. Multi-use: - shared gardening space for educational use by students, educational/recreational gardening to teach people about food/gardening - make farm land more accessible to people using Arlington land, keep as a farm with open space for picnics and other"passive" recreational activities - the `Bigger Idea" a multi-community opportunity for Arlington and Lexington to collaborate Open Space: Views expressed included - strongly favor keeping the land as open space, as much as possible in its natural state, farming is OK to produce sustainable, local produce - keep unpaved to protect water resources, keep as farm, remember to prevent effluent from getting into water sources, prevent flooding (that housing might create) - create a green cemetery in combination with open space for birds and walking - keep CSA going - keep open space and the farm 1 - if developed, think of impact on Arlington Reservoir—wildlife corridor to Whipple Hill - maintain and enhance that corridor by not developing it - volunteers at farm add quality to life of family, keep as community farm - CSAs promote healthy lifestyle, community farm run by non-profit group (self- sustaining, town not pay for operation of the farm) - below a certain size (acreage), CSA might not be self-sustaining - a farm will benefit community as a whole, consider its proximity and relationship to the Arlington Reservoir; Arlington residents to work on the farm - CSA at Busa Farm now; keep as a community farm with educational opportunities for children, a farm correlates with state's educational goals, would hate to see loss of farmland to recreation - has a CSA membership at Waltham and likes it, demand to join is huge, $600 membership fee - good place for adolescents to have a hands-on activity (son has worked there, always able to find peer volunteers) - provide people with hands-on work opportunities in an"urban" setting, benefits to community are vast - keep as farm and to demonstrate how food is produced, land is accessible by bike path, reservoir, Great Meadows, bus - customer of current farm, appreciates opportunity to bring children to farm stand, provide educational opportunities and volunteer opportunities for adults and children - David White, Arlington Conservation Commission Arlington owns land along the farm (the reservoir)) and along Munroe Brook; loop trail that passes the edge of the farm, favorite birding spot, change would alter experience for Arlington residents - need for open space and healthier lifestyles, is a"backyard farmer" with 12 plots in Lexington, supplies fresh vegetables from small plots to people in the area, keep as farm and preserve Lexington's and Arlington's farming history - Chair of Open Space Committee reservoir is an important resource, walking trails, Munroe Brook nearby; natural resources, reservoir is heavily visited and utilized, highlight of open space plan, maintain eco-system, involved with Arlington Land Trust, coordinating with Lexington, member of Busa Farm CSA, member of Menotomy Bird Club and walks there, see lots of birds - person who spoke is a member of the Board of Climate Action Committee and the Minuteman Regional Career and Technical High School Parent Association, consider unintended consequences, such as the displacement of water; sell food to schools(?), impact on water in Arlington and Lexington, if fields are put down - destroy history, if you remove farm and farm stand, bring to and erect a historical barn on the property (cost9), erect housing for the farm manager; no soccer field - Ed Starr, Chair of the Transportation Advisory Committee change in use of land, be aware of traffic impact, recreation has a high impact on traffic, determine trip generation - Elisabeth Carr Jones, member of Transportation Advisory Committee has been in contact with Lexington's town engineer regarding traffic conditions in the 2 vicinity of the land, in particular, Westminster Avenue and Lowell Street, will give us reports, Lexington to coordinate with Arlington - birds in the vicinity of the Arlington reservoir and Busa land are ecologically connected - likes the farm and the continued use of the land as a farm - Arlington residents would be prepared to volunteer on a farm David Horton, Recorder 3