HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-22-TAC-min Transportation Advisory Committee
Date September 22, 2009
Members Present: Sara Arnold, Sally Castleman, Elaine Dratch, Bill Levison, Francine
Stieglitz
Staff: Gail Wagner. Carl alente (Town Manager). Maryann McCall-Taylor(Planning
Dept). Susan I anofsky (Economic Development)
TAC Charge
Carl I alente commented on TAC s suggested edits to its mission statement.
Several town committees address traffic, such as Traffic Mitigation, Traffic
Safety and the town needs to look at TAC s mission in that context
TAC commented that TAC deals with 'bigger picture transportation issues.
although Lexpress is a major focus because of its need for annual operating funds.
Cubist Traffic mitigation Proposal
Carl I alente gave an overview of Cubist mitigation agreement discussion items.
Agreement covers 45 55 and 65 Hayden Avenue.
Cubist proposed expansion covers office and multi-level parking structure.
Adding 121 parking spaces to current 79 with potential to increase to 450 parking
spaces, potential height of seven (7) stories.
If the Town uses the recent zoning standard set for Beal of$1,900 per new
parking space. Town stands to receive approximately $230,000 from Cubist
($1,900 per parking space x 121 spaces).
The Town Manager favors lump sum mitigation payments.
The Town Manager favors Cubist pays $80.000,to be put in the Transportation
Demand Management (TDM) stabilization fund rather than continuing the zoning
agreement for 55 Hayden from 1997 that established an annual $4,000 payment to
Lexpress.
The Town Manager is interested in having the town join 128 Business Council
(128 BC). Transportation Management Association (TMA) of which Cubist is a
member Membership for the Town is estimated at $10,000 per year and a four (4)
year commitment is being considered. No other town or city is a member of 128
BC The Town feels it would gain leverage in developing TMA policy beneficial
to the Town. $40,000 of the funds coming from Cubist could go into the TDM
stabilization fund and then dues could be paid from the fund each year
The balance of funds received from Cubist could go to the town s traffic
mitigation stabilization fund for infrastructure improvements overseen by
Engineering Dept.
Town Meeting votes on any addition or subtraction to a town stabilization fund.
Stabilization funds accrue interest which at today s rates is approximately 1°0.
Carl alente asked TAC to comment on the idea of changing the current annual
$4,000 payment (from Cubist)to an $80,000 upfront payment, allocating $40,000
of newly negotiated funds from Cubist to the TDM Stabilization fund for TMA
membership for four years, and allocating the balance of newly negotiated funds
from Cubist to the Traffic Mitigation stabilization fund.
Cubist Traffic mitigation Discussion
TAC as a Selectmen advisory committee, will make a recommendation on the
Cubist mitigation proposal. Selectmen negotiate traffic mitigation terms that are
presented to Town meeting for final approval. The breakdown of funds from a
developer is determined by the Selectmen and Town Meeting, not the developer
TAC commented that Lexpress is the only public transit service in the Hayden
Avenue area and it should be preserved for both employees of the businesses and
residents in adjacent neighborhoods.
Established zoning agreements with traffic mitigation requirements should not be
renegotiated if additional rezoning is sought.
Cubist Traffic mitigation Vote
TAC does not believe previously negotiated agreements should be changed, but
given the complexity of Cubist s rezoning proposal in terms of land holdings and
the Town Manager s strong preference for converting the $4000 a year into an
$80,000 up front payment for the transportation stabilization flid. TAC voted to
reluctantly accept the Town Manager s proposal to make this conversion.
TAC voted to support the Town s membership in 128 BC with the understanding
that the Town would gain leverage with the TMA. TAC supported not using
entire funds from Cubist for this endeavor
TAC strongly opposed the balance of new funds from Cubist (the total minus
$40,000 for TMA membership) going to the Traffic Mitigation Stabilization Fund
for infrastructure improvements. TAC believes that some additional funds should
go into the TDM stabilization fund for Lexpress.
Sara will compose a summary of the TAC positions to submit to the Selectmen
via Town Manager
Recorder Gail Wagner
Editor Sara Arnold and Bill Levison