UPDATED, Oct. 13: Here come single-space parking meters to Arlington Center and nearby.
Following a 5-0 vote of the selectmen on Monday, Sept. 27, revising streets that get such meters and some that don’t, residents can expect to see a rollout in October of single-space units — completing a plan the board approved two years ago.
On Wednesday, Oct. 12, stems were installed in the Center, and they will be topped with meter heads.
Laura Wiener, assistant director of planning and community development, said that after walking the streets involved with a representative of the vendor, they decided that the on Broadway between Franklin and Webster streets was largely residential, have recommended no meters there. On another hand, single-space meters will be included between Academy Street/Central Street and Jason Street.
Here is the updated map showing parking-meter changes >>
Note: This map has been corrected, a town email said Sept. 30.
The email said the asterisk (*) noting that the first 15 minutes on a meter is free was removed and some labeling clarified. No other changes to fees were made.
The Parking Implementation and Governance Committee is further studying making the first 15 minutes free and may be given future consideration, the email said.
In October 2014, selectmen adopted the Arlington Center Parking Management Plan aiming to improve parking availability for shoppers, diners and employees in Arlington Center.
During this October, single-space parking meters will be installed in Arlington Center, from Franklin Street to Jason Street and in the parking lot at Robbins Library. New parking regulations will allow four-hour parking for $1 an hour. Credit cards will be accepted.
The new meters aim to help increase on-street parking availability by encouraging long-term parking in municipal lots, which have no hourly limit, and cost 50 cents an hour.
Parking changes that have already taken place are:
— Replacing the multispace parking meters in the Water Street and Russell Common municipal parking lots with modern meters that accept credit cards; and
— Additional changes include a more flexible parking-permit system and added taxi stand locations.
Marijuana measure tabled
In other business, selectmen voted, 5-0, to table discussion of Article 11 (medical-marijuana dispensary) following a discussion that twisted and turned like a swirl of smoke rising to the ceiling.
The article proposes a zoning bylaw amendment that aims to establish a town buffer zone of 500 feet from schools, and not within the same building as early education programs.
The Redevelopment Board, on the advice of Town Counsel Doug Heim, has postponed discussion of the dispensary proposed for Water Street by the Massachusetts Patient Foundation until Nov. 7, because of confusion at the state level about what a buffer zone means.
Citizens’ article 11, supported by at least 100 signatures of town of residents, aims to set up a local definition of a buffer zone.
Confusion by the state appeared to have filtered down to the local level, as Selectmen Chair Diane Mahon said she feared opening a Pandora’s Box if she commented on the issue.
Promising a “short version” of the issues, Heim took quite a few minutes to summarize the issue.
Following a meandering discussion, Heim advised: “You do not have to take a vote on anything …. You can leave this up to the ARB …. It’s totally up to you.”
Selectman Kevin Greeley recommended tabling the matter.
Selectman Joseph Curro Jr. said he agreed with that, adding, “I don’t like to tell other boards what to do.”
Asked whether the article’s lead petitioner is an Arlington voter, Heim said he is.
Discussion ended with the observation that the article lacks the traditional ending: “… or take any action related thereto.”
Other articles
Other articles received 5-0 votes of support:
— Article 7 Acceptance of Legislation/ Use of Parking Meter Revenue Without Appropriation (Heim said the measure, part of the Municipal Modernization Act, continues “what we have been doing”;
— Article 8 Acceptance of Legislation/Local Speed Limits; and
— Article 9 Acceptance of Legislation/ Local Speed Safety Zones
These companion pieces avoid the need for road-by-road analysis and allow the town to lower speed limit “almost anywhere” to 25 mph. Enacting these measures does not immediate lower the limit; it gives selectmen the ability to do so. If passed, they would be referred to the Transportation Advisory Committee.
Selectmen also voted, 5-0, to follow a recommendation from Treasurer Stephen Gilligan for the town to borrow $27,128,794. The money includes amounts paying for modular classrooms and town and school projects.
Borrowing now while interest rates remain low means a savings of $150,000, Gilligan in response to a question from Greeley.
Speaking a citizens’ open forum was Brucie Moulton, representing Sustainable Arlington and the Arlington chapter of Mothers Out Front, an environmental group. The groups are placing temporary tags on places in town identified as having gas leaks.
“It’s a bigger problem than we thought,” she said, noting 177 natural-gas leaks have been identified, some 20 years old. Learn more here >>
The groups’ campaign kickoff is 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, with Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine speaking at Town Hall. It continues the next day.
Oct. 1, 2015: Early steps to change Center parking taking shape
June 30, 2015: Town parking meters suspended
Oct. 8, 2014: Fresh focus on Center parking draws unanimous selectmen support
NelsonNygaard final report
April 9, 2014: Variety of fixes proposed
The project summary presented April 7 (town website)
Full report following the March 5 presentation (town website
Jan. 9, 2014, presentation (town website)
To see some ways that Nelson Nygaard has addressed parking issues in other communities, including Medford and Salem, read Jacobson’s 2011 report titled “Parking Management: A Key to Revitalizing Massachusetts Downtowns.”
This news summary was published Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 and updated Oct. 13.
