A Nov. 6 state hearing will focus on reviewing a redesigned Arlington Center, and after it concludes that evening, discussion is planned about moving seven parking spots from Mass. Ave. to Swan Place.
Laura Wiener of the town planning office wrote in an email Monday, Oct. 28: “We will have a discussion about replacement parking at the end of the public meeting on Nov. 6. MassDOT will close their public meeting and then we will talk about the parking.”
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Wiener had told YourArlington: “Technically, Swan Place parking is not in the scope of the MassDOT hearing,” but those involved in the hearing plan to allow the issue to be raised and discussed.
The next day, Chris Loreti, a Town Meeting member and former member of the Redevelopment Board, wrote on the Arlington email list:
“Several people suggested going to the November 6 Mass DOT meeting about the traffic plans for Arlington center if you had concerns about the parking spaces that will result in cars backing into the bike path on Swan Place. The MassDOT project manager suggests otherwise. (And note that this new parking is not shown in the link to the updated plans given with the notice below.)
“Here is what he wrote to me in an email:
“‘We will not be discussing the location of the new parking at this meeting. The construction of the parking will be a ‘Standalone Project’ that will be designed and permitted by the Town. Any inquiries about this should be directed to the Town after the hearing.’
“I don’t see any need to wait until after November 6. I’d suggest anyone with comments email the Town Manager, Planning Department, and Selectmen now.”
Loreti did not name project manager, and YourArlington asked him. Loreti said it was David Shedd, who told YourArlington Friday that town and state officials were trying to work out how the issues would be handled. Wiener’s comment Oct. 28 indicated a way had been found to discuss both issues.
Swan Place parking has come up in comments at Word on the Street, Adam Auster blog, which provided the first detailed report about the hearing.
One commenter at the blog expressed concern about the location of the Swan Place parking spaces, “where drivers could back directly into path users.”
Another commenter wrote: “Are you sure the Swan Place parking will be considered at this MassDOT hearing? Those spaces are not required by MassDOT and will not be funded by the state.” That commenter turned out to be Loreti.
Wiener said parking will be discussed and that the cost of the Swan Place parking comes under a deal worked out by the town and the private owner. A federal grant will pay for the changes to Mass. Ave.
An Oct. 7 memo from Mike Rademacher, director of public works, and Wiener, senior planner, says that following a hearing last April, the town has been negotiating with Paul Campbell, owner of 590-600 Mass. Ave. The Portland, Maine, resident has agreed to lease an area of his parking lot to the town to create seven new parking spaces.
In return, the town would repave his lot for a value up to $10,000, make improvements to the small park at the comer of Swan Place and Mass. Ave. and pay him $1,000 a year. The term of the lease is 10 years, with an option to renew. “This arrangement will allow a full replacement of the parking spaces lost by removing the parking on Mass. Ave.,” the memo says.
The lot involved near the East Arlington entrance to the Minuteman Bikeway is near Jam ‘n Java, which is closed for renovations to create the Kick Stand Cafe, and Anton’s Cleaners.
Auster wrote that the new parking will also require approval from the Arlington Redevelopment Board, according to Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine.
Auster’s blog, which includes schematic drawings of the work released at Town Day, says the design would create bike lanes to help cyclists navigate the town’s central intersection at Mass. Ave. and Route 60, add a new signal for a pedestrian crossing on Mass. Ave. by Swan Place and lengthen the southbound left-turn lane from Medford Street.
Other changes include curb extensions that reduce crossing distances at the intersection and a dedicated cycle track through Uncle Sam Park that will connect Mass. Ave. to the Minuteman Path.
With this version, the town reverses itself on a plan floated briefly last spring to accomplish the above without removing six parking spaces and a taxi stand from Mass. Ave. eastbound.
Read the complete blog entry here >>
See the updated plans here
Read MassDOT’s full meeting notice here
This story was published Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, and updated Oct. 31.
NOTE: This story was updated Oct. 31 to provide a full quotation from Chris Loreti, which had been left out of an earlier version. The publisher apologizes for this error.
