2026-10-19 - Redevelopment Board

00:01[music]

00:07[music]

00:11[music]

00:17>> Welcome to the town of Islands and the

00:19future mall redevelopment board meeting

00:21on October 19th, 2026.

00:24I'd like to call this meeting to order.

00:26My name's Ken Lau, I'm the ARB chair.

00:29Can the other members of the board

00:30please introduce themselves?

00:32>> Steve.

00:32>> Steve Rubelack.

00:34>> Vincent Boduan.

00:35>> Michelle Schwartzleave.

00:37>> Shana Korman Houston.

00:39>> We're also joined here by Claire Ricker,

00:40director of planning community

00:42development, and assistant director

00:43Sarah Shores.

00:45>> Thank you.

00:47>> Uh first on the agenda

00:48tonight is the review of the minutes

00:51of September 14th.

00:54Does any of the board members have any

00:55comments on that or any changes starting

00:57with Steve?

00:58>> Uh none here, Mr. Chair.

01:00>> Vince?

01:01>> Nothing, no.

01:02>> Uh Michelle?

01:03>> No changes.

01:04>> Shana?

01:05>> I have none.

01:07>> I myself have none. Can I get a motion

01:09to approve?

01:11>> So moved.

01:11>> Second?

01:12>> Second.

01:14>> Steve?

01:14>> Yes.

01:15>> Vince?

01:16>> Yes.

01:17>> Uh Michelle?

01:18>> Yes.

01:18>> Shana?

01:19>> Yes.

01:20>> And I'm a yes, too.

01:22Okay, on the sec on the September 28th

01:26meeting,

01:28uh do we have any

01:29changes or any

01:31modifications? Steve?

01:33>> None here.

01:33>> Vince?

01:34>> None for me.

01:35>> Michelle?

01:36>> None here.

01:36>> Shana?

01:37>> No.

01:38>> I myself have none.

01:40Can I get a motion, please?

01:42>> I move to approve the minutes.

01:44>> Second.

01:45>> Thank you. Steve?

01:46>> Yes.

01:47>> [clears throat]

01:47>> Vince?

01:48>> Yes.

01:49>> Michelle?

01:49>> Yes.

01:50>> Shana?

01:51>> Yes.

01:51>> I'm a yes, too. Thank you very much. The

01:53minutes for September 14th and of 28th

01:56has been approved.

01:58Next on the our hearing docket is 339-17

02:0261

02:0463 Mass Ave.

02:07Um

02:10This is a special permit hearing for

02:11processing.

02:13Uh

02:15Claire, can you uh please introduce this

02:16project?

02:17>> Sure.

02:18>> [clears throat]

02:18>> Absolutely. So, this is an application

02:20by Ali uh Bakhtiari-Zadeh um at 63 Mass

02:25Ave. in Arlington. Um the applicant

02:27seeks to convert one of three existing

02:30commercial units to a residential unit

02:32at the property at 61 to 63 Mass Ave. in

02:35the B2A Major Business District and the

02:37applicant is here this evening.

02:40>> Thank you very much, Claire.

02:42Um

02:44The applicant has uh 10 minutes to

02:46introduce the project. Can um can you

02:47introduce yourself first and then uh

02:50>> Yeah, I'll start. I'll go right to

02:51>> Okay, you introduce yourself and then

02:53I'll go next.

02:53>> is Ali Bakhtiari-Zadeh.

02:55>> Yeah, I'm here.

02:55>> Can you speak in the mic, please, sir?

02:57>> Should I I should not eat it. Just Just

03:00talk [laughter] to it.

03:00>> I don't know.

03:01I I mumble myself.

03:03>> Um

03:04My name is Ali Bakhtiari-Zadeh. We have

03:06been uh

03:07uh the owner of that uh property for the

03:10past 20

03:1225 years.

03:13Um

03:14and uh two uh there are three rental

03:17units. One is uh

03:19uh

03:20a dental clinic upstairs and the the the

03:23one next next one uh

03:25we've called it 63B.

03:27Uh the building has got two numbers, 61,

03:29which is downstairs, and 63, which is

03:32upstairs. 63 consists of two parts, the

03:35dental clinic and also uh uh

03:39ultrasound uh service. [clears throat]

03:41Um downstairs uh uh it's got about uh

03:4520 uh 500 ft roughly. Uh

03:50and we would like to consider you

03:53consider it uh

03:54converting it to residential space.

03:59>> Uh my name is Ken File. I'm one of the

04:01owners of LYF Architects um out of

04:03Haverhill, Massachusetts.

04:04And uh as Ali had mentioned, the uh the

04:06lower level we're looking to to make

04:09into a a residential dwelling unit. Um

04:12and we're not making any changes to the

04:15exterior of the building. We're not

04:17changing anything around the uh

04:20about the building elevations. Um there

04:23are three existing parking spaces. Uh

04:25one will be dedicated um for the

04:27residential dwelling unit, though there

04:29would have to They're all tandem. So,

04:31there would have to be some coordination

04:32amongst all the tenants. Um we have a

04:34proposal location for long-term bike

04:37storage um that's lockable, as well as

04:40short-term bike storage as well.

04:42Um

04:44And uh the dwelling unit has um

04:47has two um means of egress um

04:52out of the building.

04:53And um

04:56there are several um sustainable

04:58elements to the building. Obviously,

05:00we're not changing anything to the

05:01exterior. Um there will be

05:03high-efficiency um

05:06uh

05:08hot water heater

05:10uh heat pumps and uh utility and also um

05:15the uh the solar is on the uh the roof

05:17as well.

05:18Um

05:20And uh and we're also using um Energy

05:22Star appliances.

05:25Um

05:27That's really

05:28what we're here to ask for is actually

05:30the use.

05:33>> Okay, so um just

05:34>> Happy to answer your questions.

05:35>> give you a quick synopsis. This right

05:37now is an existing

05:39office building.

05:40>> Correct.

05:41>> That you want to convert into a

05:42mixed-use building.

05:43>> Correct.

05:43>> Okay, so

05:45right now you're convert you're

05:46converting 1/4 of the square footage

05:50of the office building

05:52to housing.

05:54>> Approximately, yes.

05:55>> And you are asking for relief

05:58on the parking requirements.

06:02Is that correct or no?

06:05>> I don't I don't

06:06>> They're they're looking to approve the

06:08change in use

06:09>> Yes.

06:09>> from commercial to mixed.

06:11>> But okay, so you are saying that the 310

06:14parking spaces adequately meet the

06:16requirements for the office building and

06:20the one unit of housing.

06:22>> That is our understanding. Yes.

06:23>> Okay. So, the square footage for the

06:26office building

06:28falls under what? 3,000 square feet? So,

06:30they

06:31you guys are exempt from parking.

06:33Is that what you're what you're claiming

06:35right now?

06:37>> Actually,

06:38the building when we purchased it, it

06:40had no parking at all. I mean, it was a

06:43office building to begin with.

06:44>> Okay.

06:45>> And we introduced I introduced actually

06:47three parkings

06:49in the back. There was an elevated area.

06:51We contacted their national grid.

06:53>> Yes, I I asked you that.

06:55>> So,

06:56so right now, the the building is

06:59approximately

07:003

07:0240

07:065,000 square feet roughly.

07:08>> Okay.

07:08>> And we're looking to convert 2,000.

07:11>> So, the so the commercial space is below

07:133,000.

07:14>> The commercial space will be below

07:153,000.

07:16>> it it falls in

07:18it falls in the category that if it's

07:19below 3,000, you don't you no parking

07:22space is required.

07:23>> Correct.

07:24>> meet the parking So, you're not asking

07:25for relief then.

07:26>> That is our understanding. Yes.

07:27>> I'm just trying to get this straight.

07:28That's all.

07:28>> with you. Thank you very much for the

07:29clarification on

07:30>> we are all straight on what

07:32>> Thank you.

07:33>> So, you only asking for is the

07:34conversion from

07:35office building to a mixed-use building.

07:37>> That is correct.

07:37>> Okay. I'm going to open this up to the

07:39rest of the board starting with Steve.

07:42>> Uh you already addressed the one item

07:44that I was going to ask, so I have

07:45nothing further.

07:47>> Okay, thank you.

07:48Spence?

07:49>> [snorts]

07:49>> Thank you for coming in. I just a couple

07:51of questions. The submission didn't show

07:55interior floor plans, just an existing

07:57floor plan, and it's not extremely

08:00relevant to what we're doing. Um it

08:02That's correct. You didn't provide a

08:04floor plan.

08:04>> Yeah, I

08:05>> Um

08:08>> I could show you something potentially,

08:10but we have not There's nothing's been

08:11committed internal-wise.

08:13>> I I don't I don't think it's relevant.

08:14Um a couple of things that I think you

08:17should add to the plans. One is the

08:19location of the street tree you're

08:20proposing. It shows in this rendering

08:22here,

08:23>> Yes.

08:24>> but it doesn't show on your site plan,

08:25and I think you should add it to the

08:27site plan that you submit

08:28>> Okay.

08:28>> to the department.

08:30Um and for the species of that tree, I

08:33don't know if you've picked something,

08:34but coordinate with the tree warden.

08:36There are lists out there of appropriate

08:38and inappropriate trees.

08:40>> Okay.

08:41>> So that it's not an invasive species or

08:43>> Yeah.

08:44>> something we don't want.

08:46Um you submitted a couple of different

08:48bike lockers. The package was full of

08:50And I'm just curious which of the

08:52submitted bike lockers is the one you're

08:54proposing.

08:55>> All right. Hold on 1 second.

08:57>> The first one was like a rectangular

08:58one.

08:59>> Yeah, that's it's the rectangular one.

09:00>> Okay.

09:02Um

09:04The new deck, we also I understand

09:06you're extending this deck along the

09:08north side of that building.

09:10>> That's correct.

09:11>> is the intention just to kind of keep

09:13the same aesthetic? Okay.

09:15>> That is correct. It's actually to add a

09:16second means of egress out of the second

09:18tenant on the the floor above.

09:20>> Okay.

09:21And in this picture, we can also see

09:23there's some boarded-up windows on that

09:25north side and a couple on the west

09:26side. Is your intention to

09:29re

09:30>> The

09:30>> put windows

09:31>> are happening. There was a fire in the

09:32building, and so that's part of We're

09:34actually putting together uh

09:37con- uh construction documents for the

09:39renovation of that space, which includes

09:41new windows.

09:41>> Okay, so that's not part of this

09:43application in this case.

09:44>> application. This is about the use.

09:45>> Okay, thank you for all those

09:46clarifications. I I think that's it for

09:48me.

09:49>> Thank you.

09:49>> Thank you, Ms.

09:50>> Michelle.

09:51>> Great. Thank you. Thanks for coming in.

09:53Um I'm an East Arlington resident, so

09:55it's exciting to think that there might

09:56be um another use in this building. Just

09:59not entirely relevant, but just so I

10:00understand, are the um units the two

10:03commercial units uh occupied?

10:06>> The dentist is currently occupied, and

10:08then the one that had the fire in it

10:09>> Okay.

10:10>> we're actually putting drawings

10:11together, and there's a tenant that's

10:13going to go back in. The same same

10:15tenant is going to go back.

10:16>> great. Okay, so there won't be a vacant

10:17space. So,

10:19as I was looking at your plans,

10:21just thinking about the piece, you know,

10:23in the special permit about detrimental

10:25to health and wel- welfare,

10:27I I definitely

10:29pride myself on not imposing my thoughts

10:33on others. If someone wants to live in

10:34Arlington and have great schools and

10:37live in what was an office, they should

10:38be able to do that. Um but there's a

10:40conference room in the middle of your of

10:42the space. So, I just and there's no

10:45square footage, and I guess it's perhaps

10:47maybe more of the building department's

10:48issue to make sure that,

10:50you know, a bedroom in Massachusetts has

10:52to either be 70 square feet or it has to

10:55if it's shared, you know, be 50.

10:57And I guess that's not particularly part

10:59of our purview, but I I would just

11:01maybe I also pose to the staff and to

11:03the board whether if we don't even have

11:05that information, if we can approve

11:07this. Um so, I would just really

11:09appreciate seeing what the inside

11:12could look like or what you've you know,

11:16what concept you could do so that we

11:18understand that it can

11:20get a building permit. Um so, that was

11:23my main concern. Um

11:26I'd also love to see two street trees

11:28there, but I don't have the power to

11:29make you do that, but that could be a

11:30nice goodwill for the tenants who who

11:33can live there.

11:34So that those were my thoughts.

11:36>> Thank you, Michelle.

11:36>> Is there something that we could make

11:37that a condition?

11:39>> Let us finish our discussions and then

11:40we'll we'll we'll talk about this.

11:42>> Oh, I'm sorry. I did have one other. I

11:44also had a concern about the parking

11:46because it's not reasonable really if

11:48there's

11:49Well, I don't know who is going to have

11:51those other units if those are staff

11:53people. Doesn't feel particularly

11:55reasonable to have a residential person

11:57like either they're going to have to be

11:57the last car in and therefore gets to

12:00use the other ones or like they can't be

12:02sort of moving their car all the time. I

12:04wonder if you've considered if there any

12:05businesses around or even people around

12:07that have an extra spot in their

12:08driveway. Would there be a opportunity

12:10for someone to rent a spot or something

12:12along those lines?

12:14Okay, that's my last thought.

12:17>> Thank you, Michelle. Shana.

12:19>> So

12:21So

12:23my colleagues have raised most of my

12:25questions.

12:27I just want to dig into the parking a

12:29little bit more.

12:32In part because if you look at this

12:35picture here,

12:37that car doesn't fit on the driveway and

12:40and

12:41those parking spaces are as they stand

12:44now

12:45non-conforming which you know, they're

12:47pre-existing non-conforming. That's

12:49fine. There it is.

12:51Um

12:53but

12:54I don't I mean I don't think you could

12:57make them conforming. I think you could

12:59get one conforming parking space and all

13:02you need is one parking space

13:05now that you've changed your use.

13:08And

13:11so I actually want to put to my

13:12colleagues

13:14if if you all have thoughts about this

13:18because there are three non-conforming

13:20parking spaces. I'm pretty sure one of

13:23those one of those spaces is in the

13:26setback.

13:28And

13:30um

13:31And

13:33so that there's that piece. The

13:36driveway, I believe, has to be

13:39um

13:40has to

13:43believe the driveway has to be at least

13:47Well, the minimum space size is 8 and

13:501/2 ft, so the drive um

13:52wide, except for a compact space, but

13:56they could only have one compact space.

13:59So, an 8 and 1/2 ft driveway

14:02And then

14:046.1

14:0611A says that if it's preexisting

14:11with the R district, it could be 7 and

14:131/2 ft, but that's not an R district

14:16abutting it. So

14:19So, I'm wondering about about that

14:21driveway.

14:22Um and what my colleagues think about

14:24it. Um the rest of it

14:27I think my colleagues have raised.

14:30So.

14:30>> Thank you, Shayna. You actually hit my

14:32topic earlier.

14:34Um which I was trying to get at. Um

14:38Essentially

14:39you do meet the requirements of a

14:40mixed-use building because the office

14:42space don't require any parking.

14:44>> [snorts]

14:44>> So, I would like you to change

14:48your submittal saying that you have one

14:50parking space

14:52for the residential.

14:54Now, if

14:55if you have some other preexisting or or

14:59uh

15:00if the people that in that office wants

15:02to find parking, they can park on the

15:03street like everybody else does. That's

15:05fine.

15:06Um it's just that

15:08it's not really a true true parking

15:10space because if someone's going to live

15:12there

15:14and surely live there, you can't have

15:15people coming and going from the office

15:18saying, "I need to move." Or whatever.

15:19It doesn't work that way. The

15:21requirement is one parking space for

15:22that unit. So, you create one unit for

15:25that parking space, okay?

15:27The other thing I would request is

15:29you're you're putting a fence in at the

15:32uh

15:33the border along your um

15:36your parking space and your neighbor?

15:38>> No.

15:39>> There's not going to be a fence there?

15:41>> No. No, actually I have talked to the

15:43neighbors and uh it was a

15:46That's what you see on the right-hand

15:48side

15:49uh is actually the the neighbor's uh

15:52parking at our driveway.

15:53>> Okay.

15:54>> They have the parking in the back. That

15:56area that you see that's full of gravel

15:58Yep.

15:59Uh that's it uh border area. And where

16:03they actually they come and they

16:04sometimes use our parking. We use We uh

16:08the if somebody's parking in the back uh

16:11and nobody actually parks on this

16:14driveway. They parking in the back, so

16:16it's always clear.

16:19Uh so, uh so, somebody who has parked in

16:21the back can actually use it right with

16:24the permission from the

16:25owner of the property next door, our

16:28neighbor.

16:28>> Mhm.

16:29>> And they can come and leave.

16:31So, there's no There has not been any

16:33issue.

16:35>> Okay.

16:36>> And there's no proposal for a fence up,

16:37right?

16:38No.

16:39Yeah, there's no proposal to put a fence

16:40up.

16:41>> Okay, I thought [clears throat] I read

16:42something about a fence and I was I

16:45would say if a fence does go up along

16:47that property line there, that it has

16:50stop or be lowered so it doesn't block

16:52view. So, when somebody coming out of

16:54the driveway

16:56will see what's happening in the street.

16:58But if there's no fence there

16:59>> There's no There was no pro- I

17:01the the the intent was no no fence.

17:03>> Okay.

17:04But then it brings up another issue.

17:07When you have parking within

17:105 ft of the property line,

17:12there has to be some sort of headlight

17:14um

17:16blocking.

17:17You know how it's going to have to stay

17:18in my

17:19>> So, there is

17:19>> a

17:20There is a requirement for vegetated

17:22buffers. I'm not sure if it I don't know

17:25remember off hand if it's our district's

17:26only, but it's a it's a 30-in um

17:30Let me find it.

17:31>> our district's only. I was looking at

17:33this

17:34>> Okay, then it might be my

17:36I I I will I will withdraw that. I just

17:38don't I'm just thinking of these things,

17:40you know, and I just want to make sure

17:42you know, we're crossing Ts and dotting

17:44the Is here.

17:44>> Thank you.

17:45>> Um so

17:48>> [snorts]

17:49>> I'm on the fence right now with the

17:51three town spaces, but

17:53I I can convince you either way of

17:55depending which how how the board

17:56thinks.

17:57>> So, I will put out there that

18:03there are

18:04plenty of places where

18:08uh how shall I put this?

18:11I have a neighbor who has a driveway

18:15that clearly can accommodate one car

18:19and they frequently park two cars in

18:23that driveway. They could not advertise

18:26that house for sale saying that there

18:29were two

18:31saying that there were two parking

18:33spaces. They could not lease that

18:38that place and advertise two parking

18:41spaces or ask someone to pay for two

18:44parking spaces.

18:46Um

18:47we could not

18:49uh if two parking spaces were required

18:53um

18:55they they by code they

18:58would not be meeting code. However,

19:01they're only required to have one

19:04parking space and no one

19:06uh and the board does not opine on how

19:08many cars go in their driveway.

19:12>> You are correct there.

19:15>> That's

19:15>> I'm going to

19:16>> All I have to say about that.

19:17>> I'm going to ask Michelle

19:20what's your legal

19:21>> [laughter]

19:22>> opinion on this because uh

19:24>> Yeah, I I'd prefer there was one spot

19:27there. Um you know, just because I don't

19:29think we you can make a residential

19:30tenant move. Um you only need one spot.

19:35If the folks that you a butt

19:38have a different you know, if you have

19:39an arrangement with them, there's

19:40nothing

19:42that we can say about that. Um and

19:43that's great.

19:45But I would I'd love

19:47there to be

19:49I I'd love it to say one and that the

19:51residential with a clear understanding

19:52that the residential tenant does not

19:55need to move their car.

19:57So, I don't know if that's a condition

19:58or if that's just there's one spot and

20:00that's the end that's the condition. I

20:02don't I'm not sure.

20:04>> Thank you.

20:05This?

20:07>> I don't understand what we're trying to

20:08achieve here. I don't think this board

20:09needs to get involved in how they use

20:11their driveway. I'm fine with it the way

20:14it is and I trust Mr. Ficcardi that he

20:16can manage the parking appropriately.

20:19>> That's an opinion. Thank you.

20:21Steve?

20:22>> I would like to I would also like the

20:23application to

20:25reflect one parking space being

20:27provided. That is what they require, you

20:30know, with changing the mixed use,

20:31that's what they require.

20:34But if you know, if the occupants, if

20:37the commercial and residential tenants

20:39want to come to some other agreement,

20:41that's between them and you know, it's

20:44doesn't concern us.

20:46>> Thank you.

20:47All right, I'm going to open this up to

20:49the public uh for any public comment on

20:52this project.

20:53Uh anyone like to come up and speak on

20:55this project here? Please raise your

20:57hand.

21:03Seeing none, I close public Oh, okay.

21:06Uh do you mind I her to up for few

21:08minutes just so uh, we get her recorded

21:10on the

21:12on the ICMI?

21:18You're going to speak only about this

21:20project, right?

21:21>> Yes.

21:21>> Thank you.

21:23>> So, I've been designated timekeeper for

21:26the evening. I understand that everyone

21:28has 3 minutes and I'll give you about a

21:3115-second warning.

21:33>> Thank you. Can you state your name and

21:34address, please?

21:35>> Yes, my name is Bridget DeBlasi.

21:38Um,

21:39I

21:41am the property owner of 67 Mass Ave,

21:44which abuts the property at

21:4761-63.

21:50And that, if you look at the picture,

21:53that is my house in the right here is my

21:55driveway.

21:55>> Yep.

21:56>> And this is where a um,

21:59a dumpster associated with the work at

22:0163 Mass Ave was placed in the driveway

22:04serving um,

22:0667 Mass Ave without oh, serving their

22:09property without uh, our permission or

22:12prior knowledge

22:14or any permission and um,

22:17we'd like to confirm neither the their

22:19driveway, [snorts] our driveway, or any

22:21portion of 67 Mass Ave will be entered,

22:24occupied, blocked, or used for

22:26construction staging, deliveries,

22:29debris removal, or vehicle access

22:31without advance written notice

22:34from the owner.

22:35Um, and to provide uh, which we also had

22:38to call the police to have the dumpster

22:41removed.

22:42Um, and Mr. Ali did speak with the

22:46police officer and

22:49it was a contentious uh, conversation,

22:52which

22:53ended with the police officer having to

22:55end the call.

22:57Um, so moving forward,

22:59um,

23:01I'm kind of concerned as to any work

23:04that's going to be done there and as far

23:05as the um

23:08the bicycles, where they're going to be.

23:11And I agree with you as far as the

23:12parking spot. There's not much space

23:15there for

23:16more than one vehicle. And there is a

23:18condenser, AC condenser there, which I

23:21believe is really not on

23:24his property completely. So, I think a

23:27survey would be in the best

23:30for both of us.

23:32Um

23:35Yes. So,

23:37and I'd like to know if all the permits

23:39have been pulled

23:41for um the roofing and the solar moving

23:45forward.

23:48And that my tenants

23:51are, you know, not to be disturbed.

23:54And they have no authority to allow you

23:57to do any work on my property.

24:01Um

24:02So, please stop disturbing them and

24:04having them park in the street while you

24:07have work done from that side of the

24:09>> Would you use the microphone? I can't

24:11hear you well.

24:12>> Well, I don't know if the microphone is

24:14working or not, but

24:16I'm saying I do not want my tenants

24:18disturbed.

24:19>> Excuse me. Can you speak to us? I don't

24:21want this to be a dialogue between

24:22>> Oh, okay. Fine. That's fine.

24:23>> Speak to us and we will address your

24:25concerns.

24:25>> not want my tenants being disturbed as

24:28they have in the past cuz and they don't

24:30have authority to give him any

24:32approvals.

24:33>> Okay.

24:33>> to use the property.

24:34>> Thank you. Your your your time is up.

24:36But I will address that saying

24:38um

24:39the concerns you bring up is um a little

24:42beyond our jurisdiction.

24:45Okay. We are only approving

24:47the project. Um my recommendation

24:51um

24:52is to talk to uh

24:54building commissioner.

24:56>> Which I have.

24:56>> Okay. Um Mike is a great guy and he will

25:00enforce all the construction rules as

25:02far as when they can start construction,

25:04where they can't start construction,

25:06where they can lay down their stuff,

25:08where they put dumpsters. All that stuff

25:10will be all done

25:11and if they if they don't follow the

25:13rules, I would give Mike a call or the

25:16building inspector himself a call that's

25:18signed the project. Un- unfortunately,

25:20we don't have enforcement rules here.

25:22>> Mhm.

25:22>> We're not That's not our role or our our

25:25charge. But,

25:28I feel for you. If that does happen,

25:29just call the building commissioner and

25:32they will They're really good about that

25:33kind of stuff and they'll they'll adjust

25:36that, okay? And

25:37as far as I know um

25:40what they're asking for mission for

25:42today, they have no permits to pull yet

25:43because they need our permit our

25:45approval first before they can pull a

25:46permit.

25:47>> Right.

25:47>> Okay? As far as the renovations to the

25:49inside because of fire damage and the

25:51solar,

25:52that's not within our purview and you

25:55can just check with the building

25:56commissioner. Have permits been pulled

25:59for those scope of work, too.

26:01Okay? And they will let you know it's

26:02it's it's live it's on the website.

26:05>> Mhm.

26:05>> It's a social So, it should be listed

26:07there, okay?

26:08>> Okay.

26:09>> Thank you very much.

26:12Is there anybody else who would like to

26:13speak?

26:15Seeing none, I close public comment and

26:17I'll return this back

26:19to the board.

26:20For discussions and any questions that

26:23still might be out there.

26:28Um okay, I'm going to say So, have we

26:31reached a consensus that we're okay with

26:32just showing

26:35one legal spot on on the plans and

26:37however they work it out uh with their

26:39neighbors and the other they they can

26:43park however they want

26:46it is fine and just this is in

26:48[clears throat] a business district and

26:49fencing for the

26:51park is not required. And they meet all

26:54the requirements as far as

26:56changing it to mixed use.

26:58From a 100% commercial.

27:01Is that correct?

27:03>> I believe so, yes.

27:05>> Okay.

27:06Um

27:08Do you have any follow-up questions?

27:11>> No, I think it seems like they will have

27:13to do some kind of resubmission to show

27:16show the one parking spot and the

27:20the species and show on the plan the the

27:23tree.

27:24>> Yes, we're going to make that

27:27a condition and then make it an

27:29administrative approval and we won't

27:31hold you up. So, what we'll do is uh

27:35Can I get a motion for that?

27:37>> I move

27:40um

27:40I move that we

27:43appr-

27:44uh approve

27:45docket 3917-61-63

27:50Mass Ave with the conditions listed in

27:54EDR memo, the EDR memo um of

27:5910/15/26

28:02um and also that um

28:05there's administrative approval of um a

28:09change to reduction of parking to just

28:13one space as

28:15uh as required under the regs um as well

28:21as

28:23um

28:23as well as showing the required street

28:26trees on the plans.

28:28>> So,

28:29cover it?

28:30>> Yep.

28:31So, it's my motion.

28:32>> Can I get a second, please?

28:34>> Second.

28:36>> Steve?

28:36>> Yes.

28:37>> Vince?

28:38>> Yes.

28:38>> Michelle?

28:39>> Yes.

28:40>> Tina?

28:40>> Yes.

28:41>> I'm a yes, too. Thank you very much.

28:43>> Thank you very much for your time.

28:44>> You'll get all the You'll get all our

28:45minute notes and all the requirements

28:47from the planning department. And if you

28:49could resubmit for them, it would be

28:50great.

28:50>> Okay, thank you very much for your time.

28:52>> very much.

28:58>> Uh next on the agenda is public hearing

29:00docket number 3915

29:04259 Broadway. Will the opponents please

29:06come up and take a seat here?

29:09Uh Claire, do you want to introduce this

29:10project?

29:11>> Sure.

29:12>> [clears throat and cough]

29:18>> Here's the camera. You see. Um so uh

29:21this is a property that the board is uh

29:24familiar with.

29:25Um this is a new application uh by Steve

29:29uh Baboulis um of 259 Broadway Realty

29:32Trust. Uh the applicant proposes to

29:34construct an addition primarily to

29:36provide secondary egress and renovate

29:38the interior of a non-conforming

29:40multi-family building on a corner lot,

29:42which will add one additional

29:44residential unit for a total of five at

29:47259 Broadway in the residential

29:49two-family [clears throat] district and

29:51the MassAve Broadway multi-family

29:53housing overlay district under the

29:54proposal. A new fence, two EV chargers,

29:57and new landscaping including three

29:58trees would be installed.

30:00The detached garage would be demolished.

30:02Uh the application has requested a

30:04reduction from the required five parking

30:06spaces to three spaces under section

30:086.1.5 of the zoning bylaw.

30:14>> Thank you, Claire.

30:15>> Sure.

30:16>> Um will opponents please introduce

30:18themselves and uh you have 10 minutes to

30:20uh uh

30:21show us the project. Yes.

30:23>> I'm Zeke Brown. I'm the architect

30:24working with the owners.

30:29I'm Zeke Brown. I'm the architect

30:31working with the owner on this project.

30:34Um

30:35259

30:37>> [clears throat]

30:37>> you're probably familiar with is gone

30:39through a couple of iterations.

30:42We are back to a five-unit structure. Uh

30:46it currently has four units in it. There

30:49are

30:50there's one very large unit on the

30:53Palmer side. So,

30:56Broadway's here, Palmer's here.

31:00There's a a quite a large unit located

31:03right here, and then there are three

31:04units sort of stacked

31:06um on this side. And And part of the

31:08plan here

31:10the building also has one means of

31:12egress internally. So, the whole genesis

31:15of this project was to get a second

31:17legal stair egress stair.

31:19And And to sort [clears throat] of

31:21equally distribute the apartments within

31:24the building. So,

31:26the new version, we have two units on

31:29each side, and then a fifth one on the

31:31third floor going all the way across.

31:33And we've we've taken a sort of a junky

31:37um screen porch off the back, and we

31:41want to take the garage down. And what

31:43this will allow us to do is to build a

31:46a

31:47an enclosed stair off of the back. And

31:50with the removal of the garage, we'll

31:52have three legal parking spots. So,

31:55I'll just show you.

32:04So, this is

32:06Broadway side.

32:08This is on the Palmer side.

32:11So, looking at the driveway. And what

32:13what we're trying to do is just extend

32:15this volume out about 8 ft, and it'll

32:18have an enclosed stair.

32:20Um

32:22We met with historic

32:25and they approved

32:30they approved the drawings with some

32:31modifications.

32:33Um when they pulled off the siding,

32:36there was uh shingles on the upper two

32:39levels and claps on the lower, so we're

32:41going to mimic that with

32:44Hardie Plank

32:46um claps and a Hardie shingles with a

32:49smooth edge. Um

32:52and a and a 5/4 PVC trim with a historic

32:56sill.

32:57So, the idea here is

33:00um with the new piece, we want to sort

33:02of set a precedent for the rest of the

33:04building in the event that the vinyl

33:06comes off in the future.

33:08He'll have a a sort of a road map for

33:11how this building ought to look. Um

33:15>> [clears throat]

33:16>> And

33:18if you want to see the plans

33:21We can go over the plans, but

33:24um really I'm here to ask for a

33:26reduction in parking.

33:29From five to three.

33:32>> Thank you.

33:36Um Steve?

33:38>> Yeah, um

33:41I

33:43do have one basic question and it's you

33:46know, it's it's it's for my it's for my

33:47curiosity.

33:48>> Okay.

33:49>> Um cuz of course this property has been

33:51before us two other on two other

33:53occasions.

33:54>> Yeah.

33:54>> And this what's proposed here it seems

33:56remarkably similar to the first

33:58iteration and I'm just wondering if um

34:02you could speak a little bit to

34:05uh the motivation for the uh change in

34:08plans from a mixed-use building to

34:12to basically back to the original more

34:14or less to the original proposal.

34:16>> Yeah, I I mean I [clears throat] should

34:18probably let the owner explain, but

34:21um my understanding is that the cost

34:24came back for the second iteration,

34:27which was the five or six story version

34:31and it was incredibly high. So, we

34:35you know, they they came back to the

34:37drawing board

34:38and

34:40we were we're back to a five-unit

34:42building and keep keeping the existing

34:44structure largely.

34:45So, it it mostly came down to cost.

34:48>> Okay, and your TDM plan was, if [snorts]

34:52I recall correctly, proximity to the 77

34:55bus and unbundling parking.

34:59>> Yeah, so

35:01the owners agreed to charge tenants for

35:03parking.

35:05And

35:06it's, you know, right on Broadway. So,

35:08that I think it's the 87 is the bus that

35:11runs down Broadway.

35:12>> Right, to get heat for the TDM to

35:15uh to for a bus proximity to a bus line

35:18to count as a TDM measure, there's a

35:20frequency involved. The 87 doesn't quite

35:23meet it.

35:23>> Doesn't meet it.

35:24>> But the 77 is within the distance and

35:27>> Yeah.

35:28>> That's all I have, Mr. Chair.

35:30>> Uh thank you.

35:32Vince.

35:33>> Thank you for coming in. So,

35:35I agree it's just well, I'm not sure if

35:37Steve said this. It's disappointing to

35:38see the previous project not move

35:40forward, but I understand. Thank you for

35:43explaining about the cost.

35:45Um the parking reduction is fine with

35:47me.

35:48Um there was a note from the staff that

35:51I'll just echo that the fence height the

35:54fence along the

35:56Palmer Street side

35:58that fence needs to step down as you

36:01reach the street. I think there's a

36:02maximum height of 3 ft or something like

36:05that within a certain distance from the

36:06street.

36:08>> Yeah, right here.

36:08>> So, you just want to make sure it steps

36:09down.

36:12Um

36:14there's EV charging stations mentioned.

36:16Uh can you point to their locations just

36:19for curiosity?

36:20>> I they'd be right next to the right next

36:23to the structure.

36:25>> Okay.

36:25>> So, easily accessible by the cars.

36:28>> Um and then trash receptacles, so I

36:32understand there's a little area there,

36:33right? How many How are they going to

36:37manage this? So, there's five units.

36:39>> [snorts]

36:39>> If each unit has a 65-gallon trash and

36:42recycling bin, that's 10

36:44of those wheely bins.

36:46Is that how you're going to manage it,

36:47or what's the plan?

36:50>> We have four bins.

36:52>> Four 65-gallon bins and the

36:56>> So, two and two.

36:58Uh and there's there's space.

37:01Those are located here, covered. And

37:04there's additional space back here where

37:06we could we could put we could put some

37:09more.

37:09>> Uncovered, but but there.

37:11>> Yeah.

37:11>> Okay. So, in your experience, that that

37:15seems like it's going to be adequate.

37:17>> Yeah.

37:19>> Um

37:21I think I'm okay with the rest, the

37:23solar waiver, fine. Um

37:26the plantings should consist of native

37:30non-invasive species. You didn't

37:32provide, I think, a full list.

37:34Um

37:36And in terms of trees, I do believe we

37:39require one street tree per 25 square

37:42feet of uh

37:43lot frontage.

37:45>> Yeah.

37:45>> And so, I'm counting five and my

37:48calculation makes me think there should

37:49be six. Do you have a plan to address

37:51that?

37:52>> Uh we're adding a couple of trees,

37:55street trees, on the Palmer side.

37:57>> Yep.

37:58>> And we'll add another one on Broadway,

38:01and there two already there.

38:02>> So, that gets you to five.

38:04>> But what How are you coming up with

38:07>> six?

38:07>> Just measuring the frontage, divide by

38:0925. I I got to a number that was pretty

38:12close to 150.

38:15>> Okay, yeah. I I haven't I haven't

38:18calculated it like that. I'm thinking a

38:20bit more as where the existing existing

38:23ones sit

38:24and then where the curb cuts are. So,

38:26maybe maybe it has to do with where the

38:29curb cut is down on this corner. And I

38:31can't locate one in the middle of the

38:33driveway.

38:34>> I don't see it as being you need a tree

38:36within every 25-ft segment. I just think

38:38you take the length of your frontage,

38:41it's 150 ft give or take, you divide by

38:4325, that gives you six trees, and then

38:45you kind of figure out where you want to

38:46put them. Unless I'll let the rest of

38:48the board

38:49respond maybe before we make any

38:51decisions on that. Um

38:54that's all I've got for comments. Thank

38:55you.

38:56>> Thank you, Vince.

38:57Uh Michelle.

38:59>> Um I also just was interested to hear

39:01your thoughts about the the bins just

39:02because it seems like two is probably

39:04not sufficient. Um but it sounds like

39:06there's space for more, which is great.

39:08Um and then I would also ask that you

39:10meet the six trees, but perhaps if you

39:13don't feel that you can put them all in

39:14the street,

39:15you could consider I don't know if we're

39:17allowed to, but you're you're welcome to

39:18put one in your big yards there. There's

39:20a lot of space. Um

39:23>> Yeah, we're going to have a tree in the

39:24yard over here for sure.

39:26>> I

39:26>> I mean, there's already one on the

39:27corner.

39:28>> And I'd be fine with

39:30allowing you to put your sixth tree, you

39:32know, in your yard or something along

39:33those lines. Um seems like a great space

39:36for even more trees actually, and that's

39:37a hot area, so.

39:39That's all I have.

39:41>> Thank you, Michelle.

39:42Shana.

39:44>> Um

39:46Uh my colleagues have covered all of my

39:50questions except for one, which is that

39:53could you um could you point out the

39:56cargo bike space to me?

40:00>> Yeah.

40:01I I have uh they're they're right here.

40:04>> Okay.

40:05>> Sort of along the fence line. I've got

40:07uh space for enough space for a cargo

40:10bike rack

40:11plus

40:13Yeah.

40:14Plus a regular

40:16rack there or

40:18you know, we could have three. There's

40:20There's enough space in that zone to add

40:23more if we need, but

40:25>> Okay.

40:26Um

40:27it's I'm I'm very happy to see you

40:32uh including including space for cargo

40:35bike. Uh

40:38uh with all of the trash can activity um

40:43and car activity in the like over there.

40:46I just love to see

40:48um a little bit more detail about what

40:50that what's happening what's going on

40:53with that

40:54um cargo bike space.

40:57What is the What is the

41:00um

41:00bike parking space, but um

41:03but happy [snorts] to see that it's

41:04there. So.

41:08>> Thank you, Shane.

41:08>> I have nothing further.

41:09>> Okay.

41:10>> Uh I can have a couple small questions.

41:12I too echo the the response of the board

41:15members that

41:16um

41:19we regret the fact that you can't build

41:20uh your second project.

41:22Uh I think that would have been nice,

41:24but we can respect um the fact that it

41:27wasn't economically feasible to you

41:29guys, and well, that's it is what it is.

41:34Uh my question is you have you show five

41:37um condensers, right? So, I'm assuming

41:40all the public spaces just heat, no air

41:42conditioning, right?

41:46Okay, so you so it'll just be some sort

41:49of electric resistance heater that just

41:52I don't know, maybe lower floors, and

41:53maybe one in the middle just to heat up

41:55the

41:56>> Sure.

41:56>> um

41:57in the vestibules, whatever, just so

41:58there's no it's not an ice box in the

42:01hallways.

42:02>> It's not totally thought through to that

42:05level of uh detail, but yeah, that

42:07sounds about what will happen, yeah.

42:09>> I'm just thinking in terms of

42:11five versus six, cuz if you're going to

42:13have if you're going to have a heat pump

42:15in the hallway then you need six.

42:17>> Yeah.

42:18>> But if you can take care of that with

42:20electric heat then I'm okay with that,

42:21okay?

42:21>> Yeah.

42:22>> Is that fence adequate to block?

42:28>> It's a It's a solid PVC fence.

42:30>> And six It's five feet high, six feet

42:32high?

42:32>> Something like that, yeah. I haven't

42:33measured it, yep.

42:34>> [snorts]

42:34>> I just don't like

42:36the condenser to be blowing hot air into

42:38your neighbor.

42:39>> Yeah. Yeah.

42:40>> So it's it's the fence, that's fine,

42:42okay.

42:43Um

42:45The only thing I question is and I'm

42:49going to talk to my other board members

42:51about this is

42:53I know you're listening to what the

42:54historic commission said

42:55and putting up the shingles

42:57and the clapboard siding and then only

43:00on the new portion of the addition.

43:04The rest of the house is still be the

43:05vinyl siding.

43:07And

43:10I'm assuming when I looked at it it's

43:11it's four-inch vinyl siding.

43:13And you're putting in five-inch cement

43:15board siding.

43:16>> Oh, four.

43:17>> Four inch, okay. So

43:20it's it's still to me looks like

43:22weird. It is awkward to me, okay?

43:26Um cuz

43:28you have

43:31one

43:32older building that has vinyl siding on

43:34it then you're adding an addition that

43:36has cement board siding on it.

43:38And I always

43:40would think that's awkward.

43:42You either do all vinyl siding or you do

43:44all cement board siding, you know?

43:46And

43:47what does the rest of the board

43:49think about something like that? I'm

43:50just looking at the character of the

43:52building, you know,

43:53you're an architect, you know what I'm

43:54talking about. When you have

43:56two buildings meshing to each other and

43:58they have different coats.

43:59And they have they have different

44:01different coats.

44:02>> Yeah. So so the idea is that

44:06>> let me

44:06>> I know

44:07>> Yeah.

44:08>> uh

44:08what was told to you and what you're

44:09doing. But I just want to see what how

44:11the rest of the board feel about that

44:12and I'll start with Vince.

44:14>> Um

44:16Ob- obviously the building will look

44:17best when and if it gets the full

44:20treatment, but I'm comfortable allowing

44:22them to do this in phases as they have

44:24the money.

44:25>> You're not.

44:27Uh Steve?

44:28>> I agree with Mr. Bodine.

44:30>> Michelle?

44:32>> I also agree.

44:34>> Jen?

44:34>> Yeah, I agree. It's not great, but

44:37but not a big deal.

44:39>> Then I will draw that um

44:42the the condition or the comment and I

44:44will follow the rest of the board.

44:46>> I did have one other note that I had

44:48forgotten to make if that works. Um you

44:49had noted in your application that

44:52lighting would be

44:53um

44:54motion activated until midnight. Uh

44:58it's important to for there to be safety

45:00and whatnot, but that is pretty late and

45:02like honestly animals run around and

45:04whatnot. So, I mean that the lighting is

45:08I actually I'm not sure that's actually

45:09in our purview. Um maybe more in the

45:11building inspector, but consider

45:14a different way of you know, sort of let

45:16external lights being off by 10:00 so

45:19people can go to sleep around it.

45:20>> they're fully programmable, so you know,

45:23that's easy.

45:25>> Yeah.

45:27>> That it?

45:30>> One other thing which was I'm okay with

45:31the reduction to three cars and

45:35um I have a small pet peeve about those

45:37ramps with the bikes, which is that I'm

45:39a righty and at work it's set so that it

45:42works for a lefty. Um and since it's so

45:44small, consider putting them on both

45:46sides so that people can

45:48>> The um the stairs are pretty wide, so we

45:51might be able to do that. I don't I

45:53don't know the dimension off the top of

45:55my head, but they are wide.

45:56>> I'm not sure I'm going to make that an

45:58condition of [clears throat] of yours,

45:59but it it's it's a pet peeve of mine.

46:02>> Thank you.

46:04Uh I'm going to open this up to the

46:05public.

46:06Um does anybody in the public want to uh

46:09comment on this? Um you have uh 3

46:11minutes, and please speak to us only.

46:17Seeing none, I uh close public comment

46:19and return to the board for a final

46:21decision.

46:25Any

46:27final comments?

46:28Then can I

46:31>> So So I believe the street tree was the

46:35only item we flagged. Is Is that

46:37correct?

46:39Okay.

46:39>> Mhm.

46:40>> Um

46:42Cool.

46:43Great. In In that case, uh

46:47I move that we approve docket 3915

46:52259 Broadway uh with the conditions in

46:58um the SPR memo um of

47:02of 10 15 2026

47:05um

47:07uh as well as the condition that one

47:10additional street tree is added uh to be

47:15to be verified um administratively

47:19by uh the planning department.

47:22Um

47:23>> In case I'm wrong in my math, the

47:24condition should be that the bylaw

47:26required number of street trees be

47:28provided.

47:29>> Yes.

47:30>> Agreed.

47:33>> And if they don't feel that they can put

47:34it on the street, is it okay?

47:36>> Uh sorry.

47:37>> So

47:38>> start again? I've I've lost my way along

47:39the way. I've got lost somewhere along

47:41the way.

47:42>> I move that

47:45um

47:46I move that we approve docket

47:503915

47:52259 Broadway

47:54uh with the conditions laid out in the

47:57site plan review memo of October 15th.

48:04And

48:06and that the applicant

48:10um

48:10confirm they have the appropriate number

48:13of street trees

48:16and revise

48:20if they do not

48:22um to be

48:23to be approved administratively by the

48:27planning department.

48:32>> Do I have a second on this?

48:33>> Second.

48:37>> It's or Steve.

48:38>> Yeah, I was just going to say the No, we

48:40do have I double-checked and we it when

48:44there is not sufficient space in the

48:45public right-of-way

48:47we can approve it a street tree

48:50on a different location on the lot. So

48:53>> [clears throat]

48:55>> So second came from Steve.

48:56>> It came from Vince.

48:57>> From Vince, okay.

48:59>> [laughter]

48:59>> Sorry, you guys came up I I just want to

49:01make sure it's on the docket correctly,

49:02that's all.

49:03Um

49:05Steve?

49:05>> Yes.

49:06>> Vince?

49:07>> Yes.

49:08>> Joe?

49:08>> Yes.

49:09>> Shannon?

49:09>> Yes.

49:10>> I'm a yes, too. Thank you very much.

49:12>> Thank you.

49:14>> Uh it is

49:17>> [snorts]

49:18>> I was it really

49:18>> No, 634E.

49:22>> That's a special talent to find in those

49:25on Shore Road.

49:27>> I need to print I have it printed out. I

49:29don't have to bring me today. I'm just a

49:31PDF just really

49:32>> All right, next on our agenda is public

49:33hearing docket number

49:353916

49:3731 Walnut Street.

49:39This is a site plan review hearing.

49:41I'll turn this over to Claire to

49:43introduce the project. And will the

49:44opponents please step up and

49:46take the desk here?

49:54>> Okay.

49:57>> Um, Mr. Mahoney hasn't arrived yet.

49:59>> He has not.

50:00>> Oh.

50:02But, we'll we'll start.

50:04>> want to start? You want us to wait? I

50:06can take them stuff out of out of order

50:07here.

50:08>> Oh, you have all the stuff that you can

50:10do?

50:11That would be good.

50:11>> Well, not much, but yeah.

50:12>> Okay. Thank you. We've [laughter] texted

50:14him.

50:15>> Okay.

50:17Um, we will take this out of order. I'm

50:18going to go on the next on our agenda.

50:21Uh, number five.

50:25Um, is

50:27uh, board discussion on 80 Broadway.

50:30Uh, this is another public hearing and

50:32there will be no opportunities for

50:33public comment on this project. We just

50:35want to hear a report from Claire Wright

50:37to provide us a background on the

50:38project to give us a status update.

50:40>> Great. Thank you, Ken.

50:42Uh, Mr. Lyle. Um, I wanted to provide

50:45the board with an update uh, to the

50:47project at 80 Broadway. Um, uh, there

50:51uh, I uh, received a uh,

50:53a few pieces of correspondence from

50:55members of the board asking um, for an

50:57update on this project and I figured it

50:58was time to provide one. Um,

51:0180 Broadway was approved in 2022. Um,

51:04they came back in for a permit

51:06modification in 2024

51:09um, where they increased the number of

51:11affordable housing units in that project

51:13from one to two. Um, that project was

51:15only required to have one affordable

51:17unit. Um, they did um, ultimately um,

51:20decide to provide two um,

51:22uh, affordable units um, with a uh,

51:25$200,000 uh, award uh, supported by the

51:28Arlington Affordable Housing Trust uh,

51:30from the American Rescue Plan Act or

51:32ARPA funds. Um, there are nine

51:35residential units in 80 Broadway. Three

51:38of the market rate units have been

51:39converted to condominiums.

51:41The remaining six units, rental units

51:43including the two affordable units will

51:45remain rentals per the conditions of the

51:48special permit.

51:49The affordable housing deed restrictions

51:51for the two affordable rental units have

51:52not yet been recorded. We're waiting for

51:54final approval from Executive Office of

51:56Housing and Livable Communities, EOHLC.

51:59That is pending. The approval is

52:01required before those affordable units

52:04can be rented and before the town can

52:05release that $200,000 award.

52:10We signed the the town signed and

52:12approved these deed restrictions last

52:13May.

52:14We are still awaiting that state

52:16approval before they can be recorded at

52:18the registry.

52:19ISD has not issued certificates of

52:21occupancy for the two affordable units

52:23and will not do so until the deed

52:24restrictions have been recorded for the

52:26conditions of the special permit. We are

52:28hopeful that

52:30approval will be

52:32forthcoming very shortly.

52:34We continue to work with EOHLC to

52:36resolve the outstanding approval and to

52:37facilitate the occupancy of those

52:39affordable units.

52:41>> Thank you, Claire.

52:42>> Thank you.

52:43>> Are there any questions from the board?

52:45>> Do we have any information on what's

52:47holding up HLC? They're usually pretty

52:49efficient. So, if there's something

52:51substantive, I wonder if we should get

52:53to the bottom of it.

52:54>> I think that that's a great question. We

52:56have been in

52:58very regular contact with EOHLC and they

53:01are just saying that their law is still

53:03reviewing their law department is still

53:05reviewing the projects. Evidently, there

53:07have been several applications that over

53:08the summer

53:10and we are in the queue

53:12for our for our approval at this point.

53:15>> Okay.

53:17So,

53:19>> [clears throat]

53:19>> So, I would add on to that something

53:22that that

53:23I imagine you're aware of and EOHLC is

53:26aware of, but but I believe that

53:30ARPA money needs to be spent by the end

53:33of this year, out the door and spent by

53:35the end of this year. So, as I'm sure

53:37you're aware.

53:39So,

53:40uh

53:41So, they need to hurry up.

53:43>> they do. Yes, they do. They're aware.

53:45They

53:46Yes.

53:48>> Interesting.

53:49>> Anything else?

53:51Okay, I'm going to move on to the next

53:53uh on our agenda.

53:55Yeah, is uh new business.

53:58Um does anybody have any new business,

54:00Claire?

54:01>> Yes, I do. Um I a few members noted and

54:04I wanted to to um

54:06quickly talk about and perhaps this

54:08could be a discussion item for a a

54:10broader discussion later. Um the

54:13building at 111 Broadway uh has been

54:16demolished um

54:18at last, I think uh you know, as some

54:20people may may be feeling. Um we uh at

54:23DPCD and and Sarah and I have not heard

54:27anything about plans for that site at

54:29this point. Um the owner has um you

54:33know, off and on been in contact with

54:35with the town uh with DPCD about, you

54:37know, uh potential projects on the site,

54:39but nothing um substantial and nothing

54:42um has been um submitted at this point.

54:45I think um you know, we could certainly

54:48uh

54:49reach out to the owner uh and see if if

54:52there are any uh plans or or if there is

54:54a project uh

54:56uh contemplated for the site, but at

54:57this point I'm I think it's uh a little

54:59premature

55:03for the board to start talking about

55:05this site as as as one that you know,

55:07has a a project um you know, proposed or

55:10even conceptualized at this point. I

55:12think that we are just at the stage

55:14where the building has been demoed and

55:16um you know, uh future future plans are

55:20are TBD.

55:21>> Thank you, Claire.

55:23I'll I'll follow up on that a little

55:24bit. I I did meet with um

55:26the building commissioner on this.

55:28And um

55:30the building commissioner had uh

55:31condemned the building as unsafe.

55:34And the owner of the property had

55:36demolished the building based on that

55:38order of uh

55:40of the building being unsafe.

55:41>> Mhm.

55:42>> So,

55:43as of I believe last week, the buildings

55:46were down and they were still working on

55:48underground demolition.

55:50And [clears throat] once that is done,

55:53um

55:54I was told that or at least I was told

55:57by the

55:58building inspector building commissioner

56:00that the the site will be left

56:02secured and and safe.

56:05And [snorts]

56:06the owner has not decided what he want

56:08to do with that yet.

56:09>> Yes.

56:09>> Um concurring to what you just said.

56:11>> Yes.

56:12That sounds correct. Yes.

56:14>> Is there anything else the board want to

56:16ask?

56:17>> On that same property

56:20that

56:21On that same property, that that

56:23building was an eyesore and threat to

56:25public safety because it was totally

56:27unsecured and there's an elementary

56:29school right next door where where the

56:31kids would sneak into the the building.

56:33Um so, I'm

56:35it it's it's progress, but I'm concerned

56:37that the demolition does not move us any

56:40closer to having redevelopment done on

56:43that site.

56:44And what I think I I need to understand

56:47is

56:50I'd like to get an understanding of what

56:51the town's and the board's options are

56:54in terms of

56:57seeing that something is done

56:59within a reasonable amount of time.

57:02Um

57:04if property owner has plans or can be

57:08persuaded to make plans, that's great.

57:11If not, I think I would like to

57:13understand what our other options might

57:14be.

57:15And so,

57:17perhaps I could ask the the department

57:20or town council or someone just provide

57:22some guidance on that and maybe the next

57:25time the board puts this on the agenda,

57:27we could discuss that a little bit

57:29further.

57:30Does that sound

57:31possible?

57:32>> Sure.

57:32>> Thank you, Vince.

57:33>> Yeah.

57:34>> Uh Steve?

57:35>> Uh I have no new business this week.

57:37>> Okay.

57:39Uh Vince?

57:40>> Nothing else for me.

57:43>> Michelle?

57:44>> No.

57:44>> Gina?

57:45>> Nothing.

57:46>> Uh I'm just going to bring up one small

57:48subject. I

57:49I was going to but then I was I decided

57:51I'm going to.

57:52Um while visiting my mother this

57:54weekend,

57:55um

57:57yeah, I was driving by um

58:00um Harvard Street in Brookline.

58:02They had this little small retail store

58:05uh up and it was um

58:08I don't know if I get the name of it.

58:09Was it

58:10>> Pop-up.

58:11>> Pop-up. Um

58:13>> Something retail? Pop-up?

58:15>> Uh Pop-up it was

58:17um something inclusionary retail,

58:19something like that.

58:19>> Mhm.

58:20>> Um

58:21but what it is is they uh it's a

58:23it's a company that rents vacant

58:26storefronts

58:27and they they're in six cities right

58:29now, like Lowell, Lexington, Newton,

58:33um

58:34and

58:35they uh will rent the space out with in

58:38conjunction with the town. Um I'm not

58:40sure what the

58:41the work-around the town is, but I'd

58:42like to investigate investigate that.

58:45And they have four or five startup

58:46companies in there.

58:48And um what the one that that was in

58:50Brookline was a I believe a yarn

58:54um knitting place. One was uh signage.

58:59Uh the other one was graphics

59:01um

59:02design and the other one was um

59:05I don't I don't know what you call it,

59:06the smelly soap stuff.

59:08Um but there was that and I thought that

59:11was great.

59:12Um it's sponsoring

59:15startup companies and

59:17uh

59:18the companies that weren't

59:20uh signed to a 10-year lease or 5-year

59:22lease. They were just 6 months.

59:23And and and their rent was fairly

59:25economic. So it gave a chance to go. And

59:29there's been like six of those in in six

59:31cities right now, and I think who we

59:32should get part of that.

59:34So, I'm encouraged to

59:36that we look into that more.

59:38That's all I had for new business.

59:40>> [clears throat and cough]

59:41>> I'm going to

59:42return back to our regular meeting. I'm

59:44going to return back to open forum later

59:46on.

59:48Mary, you want to come up and um

59:52I want to call next on our agenda

59:54meeting is um

59:56document three

59:593916 31 Walnut Street.

1:00:02Um this is a site plan review hearing.

1:00:06Um I'll turn this over to Claire to

1:00:07introduce the project.

1:00:09>> Great. Thank you. Um this is an

1:00:11application by 31 Walnut Street LLC in

1:00:14Arlington.

1:00:15The applicant proposes to demolish an

1:00:16existing single-family dwelling and

1:00:18construct four units in two duplex

1:00:21dwellings with each unit consisting of

1:00:232,400 square feet on the property at 31

1:00:26Walnut Street in a residential

1:00:27two-family district and the neighborhood

1:00:29multi-family housing overlay district um

1:00:33which the applicant is electing um to

1:00:36use

1:00:37um for this project.

1:00:39Um

1:00:42Couple of things in the staff memo I uh

1:00:45kind of I I would like to point out um

1:00:48one is um

1:00:50uh the location of uh street trees. Um

1:00:53the applicant has indicated they will

1:00:55plant uh required street trees, but

1:00:56[snorts] um at least in my review of the

1:00:59plans, I didn't see sidewalk street

1:01:00trees necessarily. However, two trees

1:01:02are proposed in the front setback

1:01:04adjacent to the sidewalk. Um and you

1:01:06know, maybe there's not enough room in

1:01:08the sidewalk um to do a a true street

1:01:10tree, but there are two trees proposed

1:01:12um

1:01:13near very near the right-of-way.

1:01:16The applicant should also clarify if

1:01:18existing fencing will be maintained or

1:01:19if new fencing will be included as part

1:01:21of the project.

1:01:23The uh project requires four

1:01:27parking spaces. Um

1:01:30In different places in the application,

1:01:33two vehicle parking spaces are proposed

1:01:35under each townhouse unit. However, the

1:01:37drawings only show

1:01:39one one car is one car only is showed

1:01:42shown on the garage plans.

1:01:45I think that is all the notes I have

1:01:48from the

1:01:50staff memo. Yes, thank you.

1:01:53>> Thank you, Claire.

1:01:55I'm going to turn this over to the

1:01:56board, but I also want to reiterate

1:01:59this is a site plan review.

1:02:02It falls under the MPTE communities.

1:02:05It's a as of right project. We are

1:02:07reviewing

1:02:08the site plan for appropriateness of

1:02:10zoning

1:02:11and fit into the character of the

1:02:13neighborhood.

1:02:15I'll start with Shana.

1:02:18>> So, thank you for bringing this project.

1:02:22I had just a few things. Um

1:02:27Um

1:02:28and I apologize if if there are things

1:02:31on your plans I'm asking about and I

1:02:33just missed. So,

1:02:36can you point out your bike parking

1:02:39where the bike parking is located?

1:02:41>> No, it's not on the plan. I was under

1:02:43the impression that we don't need bike

1:02:44parking as long as we have at least one

1:02:46car per unit. I'm happy to add a little

1:02:48if you guys think it's necessary.

1:02:50>> They certainly have plenty of room

1:02:51inside to put

1:02:52>> You are correct.

1:02:53>> Yeah. Yeah.

1:02:54It it is not required, but but was just

1:02:58wondering if there was bike parking.

1:02:59Okay, that's fine.

1:03:02Solar is required. I I understand that

1:03:06you

1:03:07that you do intend to have solar. If you

1:03:10could indicate that on the roof, um

1:03:14that would be great.

1:03:16>> I'm not sure we haven't made a decision,

1:03:17but I do have the pricing on the solar.

1:03:20>> Okay, great. So so you're required

1:03:23I believe it's 6.4.1.

1:03:26You're required to have 50% of the roof

1:03:31be solar and if 50% isn't feasible have

1:03:35a have a proposal or study that that

1:03:38indicates that it's not feasible and how

1:03:40much you're going to do.

1:03:43So

1:03:45Um

1:03:50>> I didn't realize so I

1:03:51>> No not at all. Not at all. So so you can

1:03:55so

1:03:56okay.

1:03:56So

1:03:58um

1:03:59Can

1:04:01you

1:04:02can you provide some details about about

1:04:04the fencing around the property?

1:04:07>> Right now there isn't fencing and I'm

1:04:09certainly going to add some at some

1:04:10point in the very rear of the property.

1:04:12I was actually just out there with with

1:04:14one of the others over the weekend. We

1:04:16actually talked about a fence.

1:04:19Certainly willing to put a fence up and

1:04:21probably talk to some of the neighbors

1:04:22about that. I'm pretty much something

1:04:23that's needed anyway. There's one

1:04:25already existing I could probably leave

1:04:26in the very rear of the property and

1:04:29>> [snorts]

1:04:29>> I didn't talk to that about her but

1:04:31when I was over here

1:04:33we talked about she was talking about a

1:04:34wood fence for the rest of what's left

1:04:36cuz it's there's two abutters there and

1:04:39I haven't made any final decisions on

1:04:41the fence. I mean you guys talked about

1:04:42it in a previous project with a which

1:04:44yeah definitely makes sense and I have

1:04:45no issue adding that at all.

1:04:47>> Okay, great. We we got a fair bit of

1:04:51feedback from from

1:04:53neighbors and abutters about

1:04:56privacy considerations and and I

1:04:58understand what a tight sight it is but

1:05:00I think a fence would be would be a nice

1:05:03way to

1:05:05a nice step on that front. Um

1:05:08Um

1:05:10let's see.

1:05:12Uh

1:05:13And and just you know up up around the

1:05:16front driveway,

1:05:18um fence will need to drop down, I think

1:05:21below 3 ft um for sight lines, but um so

1:05:25when you when you look at that um

1:05:29Have you Have you identified um a place

1:05:34for for trash and recycling toters?

1:05:38>> Um

1:05:39Joe

1:05:39>> Hi.

1:05:40Hi. I'm Charles Barton with the Active

1:05:42Project.

1:05:43>> Hi there.

1:05:43>> Okay, each owner would have the trash if

1:05:46you can microphone, please.

1:05:52Uh [snorts]

1:05:53what we're envisioning on each owner has

1:05:55their own trash and recycling bins

1:05:58within their garage.

1:05:59>> Mhm. [laughter]

1:06:00>> There's plenty of space in the back side

1:06:01for that. And that's what those actual

1:06:02squares symbols on the back side of the

1:06:05garage are.

1:06:07>> So and and so the car would need to pull

1:06:11out um for them to to get the toter out.

1:06:14Is that

1:06:14>> No, there's plenty of width in the

1:06:15garage.

1:06:16>> Okay. Um Okay.

1:06:20Um

1:06:22Sounds good. Could you Could you talk

1:06:25about um exterior lighting? Um what what

1:06:29the idea is for

1:06:32um any outdoor lighting on the building?

1:06:35>> Uh right now with the the stairways

1:06:37going up to each unit has a

1:06:39[clears throat] canopy over it and I

1:06:40would assume the underside of the canopy

1:06:42would be lit as well as maybe some

1:06:43sconces on the columns. Uh I don't Yeah,

1:06:47the the elevations show the sconces on

1:06:50the front entryway. And of course there

1:06:52is an exit door on the back side which

1:06:54would also have a light over it.

1:06:56>> Mhm. Great. So

1:06:58um it would be great again in the vein

1:07:02of um of concern from neigh from

1:07:05neighbors about something nice and

1:07:07residential and and

1:07:09um as uninvasive as possible to to

1:07:13understand a little bit more about those

1:07:16lights and and how they're going to um

1:07:19of course serve the property

1:07:21appropriately but also in a way that's

1:07:23that's

1:07:24um not invasive to the neighbors at at

1:07:27um late at night. So, um you know, uh

1:07:31nobody wants spotlights um on their

1:07:33house. So,

1:07:34>> them on the side of the house.

1:07:35>> [laughter]

1:07:36>> No, I I understand. Um I understand

1:07:38that. Uh but just a few details on that

1:07:42front.

1:07:43Um

1:07:44and

1:07:46um and then going back to uh

1:07:50to what the director mentioned about the

1:07:54trees. Um I understand the sidewalks are

1:07:57very narrow and you really cannot fit

1:08:00street trees on

1:08:02the street. Um

1:08:04in cases like that, you are you are able

1:08:08to

1:08:09um I think it's called back of sidewalk

1:08:12in the um

1:08:13uh you are able to locate trees

1:08:16somewhere else like in the yard like you

1:08:18did. You just have to

1:08:20request you just have to request a

1:08:22waiver for that. So, so

1:08:24make a specific request put them there

1:08:26and and I think that's probably fine.

1:08:29>> I know you said excuse me but some of

1:08:31the trees that I'm trying to I went

1:08:34exhausted myself and an arborist more

1:08:36than one visit here trying to leave as

1:08:38much as we could. It's not that

1:08:39difficult. It's pretty difficult. But

1:08:41there's already some existing that are

1:08:42going to remain in right just literally

1:08:45pretty much a budding the sidewalk on

1:08:47the property. I mean the street's got

1:08:49you know, 16 inches. I'm happy to put a

1:08:51couple of ones that you know, a couple

1:08:52of small ones there too. But I just feel

1:08:54like they they're not very big and seems

1:08:57like they don't provide too much and it

1:08:58don't take a long time to grow.

1:08:59>> Let's let's let's keep keep No, I I I

1:09:01think I think you're right. The sidewalk

1:09:04itself is an inappropriate place for for

1:09:06trees. Um, but uh but to get as many

1:09:11trees as possible and and to accommodate

1:09:14the the need for street trees as close

1:09:17to the street as possible in the front

1:09:20yard or or where be it um is great and

1:09:24that's all I have.

1:09:25>> Thank you. Uh Michelle.

1:09:27>> Um great. Thank you for coming in. This

1:09:30is a well thought out plan obviously. Um

1:09:34so thank you for bringing that. Really

1:09:36also appreciate hearing that you've met

1:09:37with various

1:09:39the neighbors um and trying to make

1:09:41things work. That is always very

1:09:43helpful. Um so you know in looking at

1:09:46what's in our purview with um kind of

1:09:49site plan review and then the EDR

1:09:51standards. I mean the the one thing that

1:09:53we've been hearing a lot about from the

1:09:54abutters and that I also feel concerned

1:09:56about is the trees, right? So trying to

1:10:00and I understand what you're saying that

1:10:01the existing mature trees probably

1:10:03couldn't make it through construction.

1:10:04They couldn't you know some of them

1:10:06might be in the footprint. Um

1:10:09but I just wanted to understand how many

1:10:11trees cuz you know one of the things

1:10:13we're looking at is you know landscape

1:10:14should be preserved in its natural state

1:10:15to the extent it can be. Um is there a

1:10:18way so obviously if during construction

1:10:20the trees can't be preserved, is there a

1:10:23way to put some trees after construction

1:10:26that are you know not baby trees maybe

1:10:29partially grown?

1:10:30Um

1:10:31on the in the back

1:10:33uh area. It looks like I mean you have

1:10:35those you have balconies right now um

1:10:37and one of the abutters has

1:10:40expressed concerns about that. I guess

1:10:41what have you looked at and is there a

1:10:42way once construction is done to add

1:10:45trees

1:10:46kind of to the the back property line?

1:10:48>> Okay, I just want to make sure we kind

1:10:50of identify what the back is. You're

1:10:51saying

1:10:52>> abutting 33. I think it's

1:10:5430 so on the left side of the drawing.

1:10:57>> Can I So, on the left so

1:10:59>> Yeah.

1:10:59>> I would like to stop amongst us for now.

1:11:01>> Okay.

1:11:02>> I apologize.

1:11:02>> Okay. Okay.

1:11:03>> We will get to that and we we'll have a

1:11:05chance to talk but but I just want to

1:11:07keep

1:11:08bring up the issues and not I don't want

1:11:10to dialogue with them.

1:11:11>> Totally fine. Totally fine. Mhm.

1:11:13>> Is that

1:11:14>> Um that was my main concern. Give me

1:11:18just a second.

1:11:19Uh

1:11:20Yeah, that was my main concern.

1:11:22>> Okay, thank you.

1:11:23Vince.

1:11:25>> I thank you, Mr. Chair.

1:11:28Thank you, Mr. Chair. Background on my

1:11:29thought process.

1:11:32So, town meeting created this

1:11:33multi-family housing overlay district

1:11:35with the purpose of creating additional

1:11:37housing units. And so, this development

1:11:39would create a net of three new

1:11:43family-size housing units for the town

1:11:44of Arlington. And it's a location that's

1:11:47convenient to schools, public

1:11:48transportation, and other amenities. So,

1:11:50I think that's a real argument for this.

1:11:52Um on the other hand, like the existing

1:11:55house that was there is a charming

1:11:56building and the lot is a real asset in

1:11:59terms of the mature trees that are

1:12:00there. It's providing ecosystem

1:12:03services.

1:12:04So,

1:12:05there's a real trade-off.

1:12:08>> [clears throat]

1:12:08>> The new buildings are not aesthetically

1:12:11awful. They're kind of beige and bland.

1:12:15And the landscaping is really

1:12:17pretty generic and sterile. And I'm just

1:12:20not

1:12:21convinced at this point that we're

1:12:22getting

1:12:24a good enough proposal in the first two

1:12:27environmental design review criteria,

1:12:29which are about the aesthetics and how

1:12:31it fits into the neighborhood, and about

1:12:33whether it's making an effort to

1:12:35preserve existing landscaping and to

1:12:39improve the site conditions. So,

1:12:42I'm

1:12:42trying to think about a few things we

1:12:44could ask for that might address that.

1:12:47First,

1:12:49don't treat the Walnut Street side of

1:12:52building B as a side of a house. It's

1:12:55facing the street.

1:12:57I'd like to see it treated as a front of

1:12:59a house.

1:13:00So, you've already got Would you Sarah

1:13:03mind pulling up the rendering?

1:13:08>> You want the rendering?

1:13:09>> Yes, please.

1:13:10>> Okay.

1:13:13I got it.

1:13:19>> Thank you. So, you've you've already got

1:13:21an entrance on the Walnut Street side. I

1:13:23think that's

1:13:24a good move.

1:13:26And

1:13:27but the windows, the symmetry, it's just

1:13:29not treated as the front of a house. And

1:13:31I'd like to see some more effort put

1:13:33into making that look like it's not just

1:13:35turning its shoulder

1:13:37to the neighborhood.

1:13:39Um

1:13:41I have a question. What

1:13:43So, the basement level has siding come

1:13:46down on the garage door side. And on the

1:13:49other three sides, what's that material?

1:13:51Is that just a bare concrete?

1:13:55>> It's concrete.

1:13:56>> It's kind of shown as a white material.

1:13:58>> That would be the foundation. That's the

1:13:59foundation.

1:14:00>> Concrete?

1:14:00>> Yes.

1:14:01>> Okay. So, my request there is to think

1:14:04about on the garage side where it's just

1:14:07vinyl coming down down to the ground is

1:14:09maybe think about a different material

1:14:12for the garage level, something that

1:14:14would not just give us three stories of

1:14:17of of of beige siding, but give a

1:14:19different treatment to the ground level.

1:14:22That might

1:14:23might be an improvement. I'd like the

1:14:25architect to just take a look at that if

1:14:27possible.

1:14:28Um

1:14:29you know, color

1:14:31Anything you can do to to cheer this up

1:14:33a little bit might be helpful.

1:14:36Um

1:14:37And then the big question for me is

1:14:39trees. So, I understand that you can't

1:14:41keep all of the trees.

1:14:44The way you're you're to add all of this

1:14:45parking and this driveway to reach the

1:14:47parking and makes it very difficult for

1:14:49you to keep any trees. I understand

1:14:51that.

1:14:52Um

1:14:53my question and we can get to this

1:14:55perhaps in public comment. I I just like

1:14:57to know which because we didn't get

1:14:59really a tree a survey of the trees that

1:15:01are there. I could see the diameters.

1:15:03I I'd like to know which are the highest

1:15:05value trees and see if there's a way to

1:15:09save one or two of them of the highest

1:15:12value ones the biggest the biggest ones.

1:15:15Um

1:15:16and then if not or you know

1:15:19we can have both have a slightly more

1:15:21robust planting plan. You know, some of

1:15:23the abutters requested like evergreen

1:15:26planting along the property line. Um

1:15:29that could be in combination with a

1:15:30fence or an and instead of a fence.

1:15:33Um I just like to see something that

1:15:36shows that you're you're not just kind

1:15:37of clear cutting the site and then

1:15:39putting in a few shrubs

1:15:42to pretty it up.

1:15:44Um So before I could vote yes, I I mean

1:15:48I think I'm going to ask that this come

1:15:49back. I I just like to see some

1:15:50attention given to those uh and that's

1:15:53all for me.

1:15:54Thank you.

1:15:55>> Thank you, Vince.

1:15:57Uh Steve.

1:15:57>> Yeah, a couple of things going to

1:15:59circling back to solar energy.

1:16:02Uh

1:16:03the

1:16:04looking it up uh

1:16:05the solar in the multi-family overlay.

1:16:09Solar is only required in the Mass. Ave.

1:16:11Broadway district but not for the

1:16:13neighborhood family. Um it's 584 H to

1:16:17give the to give the letter of it.

1:16:19Um

1:16:21regarding Yeah, in terms of fencing.

1:16:24Um I would

1:16:27encourage something. Uh could we could

1:16:31Can sta- Can would it be possible to

1:16:33show the site plan? Okay. So on the

1:16:35right at on the right side of the

1:16:37property, I would encourage um

1:16:39you know, that you can you to consider a

1:16:41fence there.

1:16:42Uh the way I see the parking and sort of

1:16:45circulation, someone can pull in.

1:16:48Um

1:16:49there they can either have a choice of

1:16:51driving down driving into the garage or,

1:16:54you know, sort of K-turning and backing

1:16:56in. There's there it looks like there's

1:16:58enough of a little bump at the, you

1:17:00know, the on the Walnut Street side.

1:17:02Yeah, right there to to accommodate

1:17:04that.

1:17:05Um so, I I'd like to, you know, fencing

1:17:08or something solid so that the

1:17:11the abutters downhill are not getting uh

1:17:13you know, to just sort of take the

1:17:15headlights off

1:17:16block the headlights.

1:17:17Um and I was wondering what will there

1:17:20be on the third floor of the the little

1:17:23balconies?

1:17:25Um what's the lighting going to be

1:17:26there? It [clears throat] looks like

1:17:27they're covered. Is it just going to be

1:17:28downlighting?

1:17:29>> Yeah, just strictly downlighting.

1:17:31>> Okay.

1:17:32And that's all I have.

1:17:34>> Thank you, Steve.

1:17:35>> Um

1:17:37I have similar

1:17:39comments

1:17:41that that Vince had, but I'm going to be

1:17:42a little more

1:17:45give you more instructions a little bit

1:17:46more than just study.

1:17:49Um I would like to request

1:17:52um you

1:17:53uh paint the two buildings different

1:17:55colors.

1:17:56So, it doesn't So, it doesn't look as um

1:17:59like one big project. It It It looks It

1:18:02may look like it

1:18:04happened over time.

1:18:06Uh that's just

1:18:08uh I I think it's a simple request and

1:18:09it's not There's no real heavy cost in

1:18:11that, okay?

1:18:13And I will I trust the architect to pick

1:18:15a nice color that's more

1:18:16um

1:18:18colorful, you know? Don't be bold. Don't

1:18:19be afraid. Don't pick yellow or or tan,

1:18:22okay? I mean, have some colors that, you

1:18:24know, at Look at the neighborhood, you

1:18:25know? It's It's going to only help.

1:18:28Um the other thing is what uh mentioned

1:18:32about is the Walnut side elevation.

1:18:34Um can we just get to the elevation

1:18:36itself?

1:18:42Okay.

1:18:43Um,

1:18:46if you can align the windows a little

1:18:48better.

1:18:50I know what you're trying to do, but

1:18:52just so it looks like it's not like

1:18:54uh, someone thought about the elevation

1:18:56facing the street.

1:18:58This is a front street. It's not the

1:19:00side of a house.

1:19:02Okay? So, the center windows those three

1:19:05center windows. I know the middle one on

1:19:07top is a say, you can slide the other

1:19:09one over that's a bedroom. The other

1:19:11one's a kitchen, living room, whatever

1:19:12you so they align a little better. And

1:19:14then the one that's right above the

1:19:16entry of the door, it's not quite

1:19:18centered. If you move it over a couple

1:19:20more inches. Okay, it would just it just

1:19:23look like someone deliberately did what

1:19:24they did, okay? Instead of

1:19:26um, you know, some

1:19:28something happened there, okay?

1:19:30And then if you bring up the height of

1:19:31the building and I think this is 100%

1:19:34correct.

1:19:35Um,

1:19:37the bottom floor you have concrete floor

1:19:39there. That and then you turn the corner

1:19:41right at the garage door there.

1:19:43You you can if you're going to have if

1:19:45you're going to continue your siding

1:19:46down, that means you're going to have to

1:19:47pad that concrete out. You have to bring

1:19:49the

1:19:50the the top elevation out further so you

1:19:52can bring that siding down.

1:19:54Well, why don't we just cut it off like

1:19:56it is and just make it a different

1:19:58material? Um, if you can do some um,

1:20:01stone face or some brick face or

1:20:04something creative just so it gives it

1:20:06three levels. Yeah, it'll break the

1:20:08scale of the building down quite a bit.

1:20:11Okay? And that is a suggestion.

1:20:15Um, I do understand that um,

1:20:18there is uh,

1:20:22you know, to build this in and I I I

1:20:23believe I drove by there over the

1:20:26weekend and 35 ft to me is reasonable,

1:20:29especially on on seeing what some of the

1:20:32other heights that other buildings are.

1:20:34And

1:20:36uh

1:20:37the site is difficult cuz they're very

1:20:39tight sites and it's on a hill.

1:20:41So, some buildings are higher, some

1:20:43buildings are lower. So, it's you can't

1:20:45really say

1:20:46you're looking into my bedroom. You're

1:20:48looking here cuz it's all

1:20:50that way anyways. So, you you you're

1:20:52doing it anyways. So, I'm

1:20:54comfortable with the height.

1:20:56I'm just

1:20:57I think if you just give the impression

1:20:59of it just being a little scaled down a

1:21:00little bit more.

1:21:01Um

1:21:04and in terms of maybe not making all the

1:21:06buildings look alike.

1:21:07Now that you have the front entrance

1:21:09here, you don't have to make a

1:21:10symmetrical entrance at the front corner

1:21:12building. It could be

1:21:14you could get rid of that entrance and

1:21:15make it a side porch or something or or

1:21:16something that comes out to a little

1:21:17small deck. It doesn't have to be a

1:21:20cookie cutter.

1:21:22Boom, boom. That's what it looks like to

1:21:23me, okay? Looks like someone took a

1:21:24stamp and just boom, boom and then

1:21:26that's it.

1:21:29You can comment. I'm just

1:21:30>> I have so many things I want to say, but

1:21:32I'm trying not to interrupt you.

1:21:33>> I'm I'm just I'm just saying my ideas,

1:21:35okay?

1:21:35>> Yeah.

1:21:36>> And I'm just trying to give you some hit

1:21:37some suggestions, okay? Cuz

1:21:39um I understand this project is by

1:21:41right, okay? So, I I

1:21:43and I I know

1:21:45what MBTA communities want to do and and

1:21:47encourage this and I don't want to

1:21:49discourage it by making it so onerous to

1:21:52to do this.

1:21:53So, I'm

1:21:55I'm saying this in in the nicest way and

1:21:57also in the uh

1:21:58in a way where it doesn't really affect

1:22:01the project. So, I don't want I don't

1:22:02want to discourage projects cuz but I do

1:22:05also I don't want to ignore neighbors

1:22:08too, okay?

1:22:09>> Sure.

1:22:09>> So, if you can just make that front

1:22:12entrance on side or corner a little

1:22:14different

1:22:15so that it doesn't look like a cookie

1:22:16cutter

1:22:18two buildings, okay?

1:22:19I'm sure you can do it, okay?

1:22:21Um and it it you know, you'll

1:22:24you know, I don't think it'll cost you

1:22:26It will just be nicer.

1:22:29Um

1:22:31Bless you.

1:22:33>> Bless you.

1:22:33>> Thank you.

1:22:35This might be

1:22:36a drafting error.

1:22:38But if you go to the basement

1:22:42Excuse me.

1:22:42>> Bless you.

1:22:43>> Uh the corner building

1:22:48See how you have that one unit all the

1:22:50way to the right?

1:22:52There's no way that stair can work with

1:22:54with floor above.

1:22:56It has to match the one on the left.

1:23:05This configuration cannot happen.

1:23:09Go up to the next floor.

1:23:13And

1:23:15make that work.

1:23:16>> That's the wrong floor plan.

1:23:18>> Something's wrong.

1:23:19>> Yeah, no, that's that's because that's

1:23:20the wrong floor plan.

1:23:22>> That's

1:23:23>> That's

1:23:23>> Correct.

1:23:24>> Yes.

1:23:25>> Okay, cuz when I look at that

1:23:26>> Yeah, no, no, that that whole thing I

1:23:27changed because of the stairs.

1:23:29>> Yes, but both don't They don't align.

1:23:31>> No, I get it.

1:23:31>> Okay?

1:23:32So, um

1:23:36That's not going to cause me to approve

1:23:39the project, okay?

1:23:40Uh I'm just saying that is uh something

1:23:42that you have to

1:23:44I recommend that you you change for the

1:23:46formal submittal, okay?

1:23:48Um

1:23:51For now, um you had some comments from

1:23:53someone else?

1:23:54>> Could I also one more question to add to

1:23:56it?

1:23:56>> Yeah, I didn't see

1:23:57>> anywhere Sorry.

1:23:58>> [laughter]

1:23:59>> Sorry. Yeah. Okay. Um I didn't see

1:24:02anywhere where you said so one of our

1:24:04things is we're supposed to be thinking

1:24:05about preserving the landscape, but I

1:24:06didn't see anywhere where it said how

1:24:07many trees exist, and I may have missed

1:24:09it, but how many exist now?

1:24:11>> I don't have the number in my head, but

1:24:13I

1:24:14I don't know. Didn't I give um the tree

1:24:16plan? Do you guys have that in this

1:24:18packet?

1:24:18>> I don't think we have it.

1:24:19>> to say it again.

1:24:19>> Okay, I I I it.

1:24:20>> You didn't give it to me. I don't have

1:24:22it.

1:24:22>> Okay, I I've got a tree plan that's been

1:24:24I sent to the tree warden, too.

1:24:26>> Okay.

1:24:26>> Sometime back and I have no problem

1:24:28sending it on you guys. This is several

1:24:30trees that are coming down. Uh like I

1:24:32said, you guys know I met with some of

1:24:33the neighbors the other day. So, on the

1:24:35left side that you're looking at the

1:24:37with this I'm going to

1:24:38And there's one other thing that I

1:24:39wanted to share, too, that I've got some

1:24:41updated drawings for based on the

1:24:43meeting we had just Saturday, so we

1:24:45really not a lot of time to get it in.

1:24:46Um

1:24:47There are some mature trees on the left

1:24:49side that you have that, you know, uh

1:24:51And there's one of I'm saving one you'll

1:24:53see I think it's See that left corner?

1:24:56That's I'm trying to save it No, no, no.

1:24:58Closer to the building I want to say

1:24:59it's

1:24:59>> Mhm.

1:25:00>> I I again I have another plan here and I

1:25:02I forgive me, I thought you guys already

1:25:03had it. I think I sent it to some of

1:25:04these neighbors in an email several

1:25:06weeks back.

1:25:07Um

1:25:07>> Possibly.

1:25:08>> And we just had a meeting a a few of us

1:25:10the other day about saving some of

1:25:11these, but

1:25:13those are going to get so damaged that

1:25:14are existing on the left because of the

1:25:16construction, they're just going to die

1:25:17in a year or two anyways. I have So, I

1:25:19have to take a lot of them down. It's

1:25:21unfortunate. Some of them are in the

1:25:23footprint, some of them are not. And I'm

1:25:24trying to save a few of the bit larger

1:25:26ones and I'm going to get an arborist

1:25:27there when we do do the digging to trim

1:25:29some of the roots and hopefully they

1:25:31survive. I'm not certain that they will,

1:25:32but

1:25:33>> No, I No, I appreciate that. I know a

1:25:34lot of developers would just say

1:25:36um

1:25:38the trunk of the tree is outside circle

1:25:41outside the

1:25:42the building footprint, but it's not

1:25:44that. It's the root It's the root circle

1:25:46and that and you know, yes, you can

1:25:48build it and leave the tree develop that

1:25:50in a couple of years and you'll be long

1:25:52gone and I appreciate the contract and

1:25:54the

1:25:54>> you know, we had this discussion on

1:25:55Saturday. I

1:25:57you I could leave all those trees and

1:25:59they're going to be dead in two or three

1:26:00And I know and I know keep going.

1:26:02I'm not supposed to talk too much, but

1:26:04uh

1:26:05I I had a meeting at my house 25 years

1:26:07ago. We had a beautiful tree. We dug a

1:26:08hole, built a new home and uh and 2

1:26:11years later it died. I couldn't believe

1:26:13it. That's how I knew that. And we also

1:26:16changed the third floor plan based on

1:26:18the conversation we had with some of the

1:26:19neighbors the other day.

1:26:21Um you guys haven't seen it. And it's

1:26:23not too drastic. It's basically flipped

1:26:24around that third floor. I'm happy to

1:26:27show you I don't know if you can put it

1:26:28up there if he has a copy now.

1:26:29>> This is the the copy.

1:26:31>> Does it flip the balcony to the other

1:26:33side?

1:26:33>> It does. So the balcony's going to be on

1:26:34the other side overlooking the driveway.

1:26:37Um you guys will see that. And he he has

1:26:39it. I don't know if you guys can get it

1:26:40up there but

1:26:41that was just basically very you know

1:26:44not a big deal but it is to those guys

1:26:46and so I figured I'd try and do what I

1:26:47could.

1:26:49I don't think there's too many people

1:26:50going to be happy. These are copies. You

1:26:52guys can have that. We I I'm trying to

1:26:54think I may have emailed it to today.

1:26:56>> That's fine. That's fine.

1:26:58>> I sent it to him later in the day so I'm

1:26:59not sure if everyone will have it.

1:27:00>> I'm going to

1:27:02Well let me I'm going to open this up to

1:27:03public comment right now. Uh do you mind

1:27:06just giving them a little a little room

1:27:07for them to come up and speak here? And

1:27:09then while these guys while these guys

1:27:12all this new stuff here

1:27:13Um [clears throat] we'll we'll we'll

1:27:15return back to our conversation, okay?

1:27:17Is there any public comment that wants

1:27:19to speak on behalf of this [snorts]

1:27:20project, Wendell?

1:27:28>> Hi, Wendell Evans, Orchard Place. Very

1:27:30quickly, is there a rear elevation

1:27:33available?

1:27:34I see the street facing. I see the side

1:27:38that faces 33. I see the side that faces

1:27:4129. And I see the elevation of the in

1:27:44between spaces but I don't see an

1:27:46elevation for the rear

1:27:48of building A. And that's that's what

1:27:50I'm going to be looking at.

1:27:51>> That's right there.

1:27:53>> Oh,

1:27:53sorry. I'm when I don't I'm trying to

1:27:55get this for you.

1:27:58That's between buildings rear side.

1:28:01>> That's that's actually the side that

1:28:03faces 33 Walnut, I believe.

1:28:06>> No, that's the back right there on the

1:28:07right hand side.

1:28:08>> No, that's [snorts] No, that that faces

1:28:12It'll It'll be a it'll be a single width

1:28:14>> Put in

1:28:14>> over the left save you the one on

1:28:16>> On the left.

1:28:17>> That's the between. So the So the rear

1:28:19elevation will be the same as the

1:28:21between buildings. Look, is is that what

1:28:24I'm seeing?

1:28:25>> It's probably going to be pretty close

1:28:26to that, I would say, based on the

1:28:28website.

1:28:29>> Yes, pretty fairly close, yeah.

1:28:31>> Okay, that's my question. Thank you.

1:28:32>> Thank you.

1:28:34Does anybody else want to

1:28:36Yes, please come please state your name

1:28:38and address.

1:28:47>> I'm Wendy Richter, 12 Meadow Place. Um

1:28:50I had a question about the driveway.

1:28:53Is the Are the um

1:28:55garage parking is that considered at

1:28:57grade? Because it looks like you have to

1:28:59slope down to get into

1:29:02um from

1:29:04the side elevation that faces the

1:29:07street.

1:29:08It looks like the garage door looks like

1:29:10it's half a floor down

1:29:13from

1:29:15>> Yeah, this is

1:29:16This is the slope. I think that's

1:29:18basement.

1:29:19>> But see where the retaining says slope

1:29:21retaining wall?

1:29:22>> Mhm.

1:29:23>> Retaining wall at the garage. From the

1:29:25street down to that first garage door,

1:29:28is that a slope driveway?

1:29:30>> Um yeah, there's going to be a retaining

1:29:32wall there.

1:29:34>> To answer your question, yes.

1:29:35>> Yes.

1:29:38>> So it is at grade?

1:29:40>> No.

1:29:41>> Okay.

1:29:41>> Do you have a question if there's a

1:29:42slope in it? It does slope.

1:29:44>> It does slope, but is it considered at

1:29:46grade? Because I thought the setback was

1:29:48dependent upon whether the

1:29:50garage doors are at grade.

1:29:53The rear setback.

1:29:54>> Um well, to answer your question

1:29:58Okay.

1:29:59The building meets setback requirements,

1:30:02period.

1:30:03Um

1:30:05So um I'm not sure what you mean by

1:30:07garage doors or at grade or anything

1:30:09else, okay?

1:30:10If you look at the If you look at the

1:30:12zoning,

1:30:13I believe it's um

1:30:1620 ft and as long as the two side yards

1:30:19add up to 20 ft with a minimum of five

1:30:21minimum on a five setback Yeah, 5-ft

1:30:24setback on one side, then they meet

1:30:27setback requirements and they do that.

1:30:30>> Okay, so it may not be the setback that

1:30:31I'm thinking of there I thought there

1:30:33was a 25-ft required area for landscaped

1:30:37usable landscaped area.

1:30:40>> That's not in MBTA.

1:30:41>> Not

1:30:42>> It's not a requirement for that in the

1:30:44MBTA.

1:30:44>> Just It's

1:30:45I know what she's talking about and that

1:30:47it's 20 now and it's it's in R2 and

1:30:49>> No, no, no. She's talking about

1:30:50something open space, okay? You're

1:30:53saying you're stating rear yard setback,

1:30:55okay? And that's something separate.

1:30:57>> No, I'm talking I know what she's

1:30:58talking about cuz I just looked that up

1:30:59the other day cuz I had something else

1:31:00going on.

1:31:01And it used to be 25 and now it's 20 for

1:31:03the open space, the width 20-ft wide and

1:31:0675% usable.

1:31:07>> Yeah.

1:31:08>> When the garage door is at at grade,

1:31:11that was what my question was about.

1:31:12>> It doesn't

1:31:13It doesn't It doesn't impact MBTA.

1:31:16>> Correct.

1:31:16>> Right, okay.

1:31:18>> Thank you.

1:31:20Is there anybody else that would like to

1:31:21speak up?

1:31:22Yes, please come up and um

1:31:24state your name and address and um

1:31:27Shannon here will be keeping keep track

1:31:28of the 3 minutes.

1:31:30>> Hi, Amy Goldstein. I live at 29

1:31:32Albemarle Street on the corner of Mount

1:31:34Vernon.

1:31:35Um I've lived directly next to a

1:31:37teardown and two houses up from a

1:31:40teardown in the last 2 years. I would

1:31:42like you to think about the neighborhood

1:31:45and this construction has a huge impact

1:31:49on the neighborhood and the one one of

1:31:52the things you can address is how having

1:31:55a the side of the house facing on the

1:31:58street is not taking into account that

1:32:01this is a neighborhood. And so I agree

1:32:04with all the concerns that you brought

1:32:05up that

1:32:07make and you also thank you making this

1:32:10look like some thought went into it

1:32:13because this is Walnut Street and that's

1:32:15the neighborhood. To have the windows

1:32:18look

1:32:19like they were planned to have a front

1:32:22door that looks like it's the front door

1:32:24of the house on Walnut Street.

1:32:28I will also say that once the

1:32:30construction starts

1:32:33can my experience is contractors do not

1:32:36follow the set rules about the timing of

1:32:39the construction and it's an ongoing

1:32:42problem and I think a strong statement

1:32:45from this body to developers is is

1:32:48necessary.

1:32:50I don't think I or other neighbors

1:32:52should be the ones who have to enforce

1:32:54the time restrictions on the building.

1:32:56Um

1:32:59I guess and and I will say that some of

1:33:01the contractors have been openly

1:33:03contemptuous of the neighbors.

1:33:06Um I guess the last thing I'd like to

1:33:08say is when you said about the color of

1:33:10the house

1:33:11there was a beautiful red house. There's

1:33:13a beautiful red house there now and

1:33:16you know

1:33:17wouldn't it be nice if we could have

1:33:19preserved that house and the trees that

1:33:21everyone's concerned about. Thank you.

1:33:24>> Thank you very much.

1:33:27>> Can may I I didn't get a chance to say a

1:33:29few words before

1:33:30>> Um let me see

1:33:32is there anybody else who wants Yes.

1:33:34I'll give you a chance to speak okay.

1:33:37Please state your name and address and

1:33:38you got 3 minutes. Thank you.

1:33:43>> Um my name is Carrie Finnison. I live at

1:33:4537 Walnut Street. So there's one house

1:33:48between me and 31.

1:33:50Um

1:33:52I guess I wanted to talk about I'm

1:33:53really glad to hear that the balconies

1:33:56were moved to the other side of the

1:33:58house because

1:34:00that would have they would have directly

1:34:02overlooked the yard of 33 Walnut and my

1:34:05yard. 33 is very small. So, that would

1:34:08have like really been overlooking my

1:34:10yard.

1:34:11I really wanted to also thank whoever

1:34:14brought up planting possibly some mature

1:34:18as mature as possible trees along that

1:34:20line

1:34:22and or trying to preserve the existing

1:34:24trees.

1:34:25I feel like when our houses were all

1:34:28built in these neighborhoods

1:34:31because of the zoning regulations and

1:34:33the way that they were built the

1:34:34backyards all line up, right? And so

1:34:36that makes it feel like when you're out

1:34:38in your yard that there's more space

1:34:39than there actually is because we're

1:34:41kind of all sharing that visual space,

1:34:44right? And so when these projects get

1:34:46approved that cut into that backyard

1:34:49area, it really has an impact on the

1:34:52neighbors. And I've seen it actually on

1:34:53Mount Vernon Street in your house and

1:34:56then a couple houses away from that

1:34:57where the new construction is absolutely

1:35:00looming over the yard of the neighbors.

1:35:03And it's I mean

1:35:05I mean you could speak to what that

1:35:06feels like when you're in that house.

1:35:08But um

1:35:10you know, to have that kind of very

1:35:12minimal setback, no trees in between you

1:35:15and just the wall of a building does not

1:35:18feel good.

1:35:19Um and that's not you know, I understand

1:35:22the need for more housing. I'm not

1:35:24trying to say we shouldn't build new

1:35:25things, but

1:35:28that really needs to be taken into

1:35:29consideration because when we bought

1:35:31into this neighborhood, that was the

1:35:33experience that we were kind of buying

1:35:35when we got our houses, you know? Um and

1:35:39I also just think it's more pleasant for

1:35:41everyone including the the people who

1:35:42are buying into the house if they have

1:35:45some outdoor neighborhood space that

1:35:48they yard space that they can use for

1:35:50themselves. Um

1:35:53The other concern I wanted to bring up

1:35:55with this design is just that you know,

1:35:57these houses have two interior parking

1:36:01spaces and there's a really big driveway

1:36:04that potentially could be used to park

1:36:06another, you know, eight cars. We don't

1:36:09know what the people will end up doing.

1:36:11Um so that that's a concern for me. It's

1:36:13just the amount of built [snorts] plus

1:36:16paved space is a huge difference from

1:36:19what's what's there right now, which is

1:36:21a really nice sweet. I mean, somebody

1:36:23mentioned a really nice old house that

1:36:25was built in 1890.

1:36:26>> [clears throat]

1:36:27>> Our street is an old street. It's very

1:36:29narrow. There's no place for street

1:36:31trees cuz there's no grass along It's

1:36:33just street and then sidewalk and then

1:36:35yard. Right? So um

1:36:38so I guess I just I'm concerned when I

1:36:39see that big driveway that we're going

1:36:41to end up with a parking lot in that

1:36:43space, but I'm not sure what else there

1:36:44is to do. So

1:36:45>> Thank you. Your time is up.

1:36:47>> Thank you.

1:36:49>> Um Betty.

1:36:51>> Susan

1:36:55>> Uh please state your name for the record

1:36:56and address.

1:37:02>> Susan Stamps, 39 Grafton.

1:37:04>> [laughter]

1:37:05>> I called you Betty. I don't know why.

1:37:08>> Um Susan Stamps, 39 Grafton.

1:37:12Um

1:37:13I I I recall that um Mr. Baudouin

1:37:17Oh, I'll most of the board referenced

1:37:19the our 6.3 of the zoning bylaws in an

1:37:22earlier case tonight um

1:37:25that requires a street tree to be

1:37:28planted every 25 ft.

1:37:30Um uh in front of the sidewalk and maybe

1:37:34this uh excuse me, in front of the along

1:37:37the sidewalk and

1:37:39is this a building that um has two

1:37:43street frontages? Maybe it does.

1:37:45>> No.

1:37:46>> Oh, it doesn't. Okay.

1:37:48Um I can't and I'm sorry to be kind of

1:37:50late to the tonight and I didn't have a

1:37:52chance to to really study the plan, but

1:37:56it looks to me like and those street

1:37:58trees as defined in 6.3 of the the the

1:38:01the zoning bylaw are supposed to be

1:38:04large trees, not dogwoods, kind of

1:38:07smaller medium-sized trees.

1:38:10As I understand it, there are are

1:38:13there's a plan to plant a tree or two

1:38:16in the

1:38:18the setback

1:38:19on the Walnut Street side of the house.

1:38:23And

1:38:24um

1:38:25but they're small they're dogwoods or

1:38:27something and to be consistent with 6.3

1:38:30of the zoning bylaw, those are supposed

1:38:32to be large street trees um to be

1:38:35approved by the tree warden as an

1:38:37appropriate tree for the spot. So, I'd

1:38:40like the board to make sure that

1:38:43um this is going to happen.

1:38:45And um

1:38:47if there can be any other trees placed

1:38:49on the property or saved on the

1:38:51property, certainly I'm very sympathetic

1:38:53with the neighborhood

1:38:54um of wanting as many trees as possible

1:38:58for to keep the neighborhood cool.

1:39:00Thank you.

1:39:01>> Thank you, Susan.

1:39:03Is there anybody else who would like to

1:39:04speak?

1:39:06Yes.

1:39:08Please state your name and address.

1:39:15>> Yeah, my name is Zeke Brown. Uh I live

1:39:17at 71 Walnut Street.

1:39:19Um [clears throat]

1:39:21I just want to reiterate some of the

1:39:25things that have been said by some

1:39:26people here and I've heard from some on

1:39:29the board, but I think I think the ARB

1:39:32has the right to push for a little bit

1:39:35more creativity in the way they think

1:39:37about a structure like this because

1:39:41I've been doing this for a long time and

1:39:42I know exactly what's going on here.

1:39:44This is just okay, we're going to we're

1:39:47going to drop a monopoly building down

1:39:50on one side and the easiest thing for us

1:39:52to do to make money in the cheapest way

1:39:55possible is just order two of everything

1:39:57and then build the exact same house

1:39:59right next door. And I don't actually

1:40:01really think that that's the point of

1:40:02the MBTA zoning act. Yes, we're here to

1:40:06add some more housing, but this is a

1:40:08neighborhood. There are tons of trees on

1:40:10this property.

1:40:12If you look through the neighborhood,

1:40:14there aren't that many houses like this.

1:40:16And and it's an old neighborhood and it

1:40:19would be nice if you spent a little bit

1:40:21of time with some creative thinking

1:40:23about how you can do a better job,

1:40:25frankly. And if [clears throat] if and

1:40:28think about the massing. If you bring

1:40:30them together and you put four units in

1:40:33a building, yeah, it's going to make

1:40:34some of the the building codes a little

1:40:36bit tougher and maybe you won't make

1:40:38quite as much money, but now you'll have

1:40:41a huge a much backyard where you can

1:40:43actually have some trees. So, you know,

1:40:45there's a lot of things that can be done

1:40:47and I you know, I just look at this and

1:40:49I'm like, God, really?

1:40:52Does anybody want this next to their

1:40:54house? You know, I mean, all the trees

1:40:57get stripped off the site and a big

1:40:59block of vinyl gets put there and the

1:41:01fencing the fencing's going to be a 6-ft

1:41:04white vinyl fence, you know?

1:41:07There's

1:41:08Yeah, so

1:41:10and the ARB has a purview over lead and

1:41:13environmental stuff.

1:41:15I mean, if you just calculate the amount

1:41:17of vinyl being dripped on this house,

1:41:20there's nothing you can do to like

1:41:22rectify that. So,

1:41:26yeah, I would just encourage you to push

1:41:28harder for a little bit more creativity.

1:41:32>> Thank you.

1:41:34Does anybody else like to speak?

1:41:37Seeing none, I close public comment. And

1:41:40can you guys be turned back to the

1:41:41table? And Mary, you're welcome to say

1:41:43your speak now.

1:41:45>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1:41:48Um I I just like to say that

1:41:51to the comments that suggestion that Mr.

1:41:54Mahoney is trying to do something on the

1:41:56cheap or um

1:41:58uh is a

1:42:00uh

1:42:01irresponsible contractor. He's been in

1:42:03front of this board many times. And the

1:42:05reality is he lives in Arlington and he

1:42:08takes pride living here.

1:42:10And he could have put a much bigger

1:42:11project, you know, under the NBTA uh the

1:42:14neighborhood uh overlay district here.

1:42:16But he listens to the neighborhood the

1:42:19people in the neighborhood and he came

1:42:21back with a much smaller project. So, he

1:42:23could have put something much brought

1:42:25brought to you something much bigger. He

1:42:27brought to you something that doesn't

1:42:28need any dimensional or parking relief.

1:42:32We uh heard the comments about some of

1:42:34the design. Frankly, they were well

1:42:36taken.

1:42:37Um and his architect will look at those.

1:42:40Um but to suggest, you know, that he's

1:42:42try trying to drop something in here is

1:42:45um

1:42:46it's a statement made by someone that

1:42:47doesn't know that he's done many

1:42:49projects here and has been very

1:42:50responsive to this board.

1:42:52So, we will go back and the architect

1:42:55will look at the suggestions that have

1:42:57been made. Um he will look at the tree

1:42:59situation.

1:43:01>> [snorts]

1:43:01>> Um this is a fairly large lot for by

1:43:04Arlington standards. It's more than

1:43:0512,000 square feet. But we will take

1:43:07those comments back and come back with

1:43:09something else. But I I just felt that

1:43:11it needed to be said. He's not looking

1:43:13for any relief.

1:43:14Um this is site plan review. Um EDR has

1:43:17to satisfy EDR requirements. And um I

1:43:21would suggest to you with some of the

1:43:22changes that you've requested um we can

1:43:24do that.

1:43:25>> Thank you, Mary.

1:43:26I'm going to return this uh conversation

1:43:28back to the board here now.

1:43:30>> [snorts]

1:43:30>> Uh Steve?

1:43:31>> Yeah, so a couple of things. Um, I mean

1:43:33this as uh,

1:43:36as Ms. Wooden Stanley O'Connor said,

1:43:37this is this is a 12,000 square foot

1:43:40lot.

1:43:41So, under the base R-2 zoning, you know,

1:43:4412,000 square feet is an is the area

1:43:47required to build two duplexes. Now,

1:43:49this particular lot doesn't have enough

1:43:50frontage, but you know, size-wise,

1:43:53that's it.

1:43:55You know, I I I agree that they could be

1:43:58proposing

1:44:00you know, significantly more than

1:44:01they're building. Or that they could

1:44:03they could propose something

1:44:04significantly bigger than than what they

1:44:06are.

1:44:07Now, what I over the weekend, I took a

1:44:10took a ride over to Wallach Street and

1:44:12walked up and down. And one of the

1:44:14things that I noticed was 15 Wallach, or

1:44:18it's actually 15, 15A, and 15C.

1:44:22It's basically a looks like a

1:44:25you know, it's

1:44:26it's a it's two buildings on the same

1:44:28lot. And it's I I think very I felt it

1:44:32was very similar to the site plan that

1:44:34they're proposing.

1:44:36You know, next to that there is a

1:44:38three-story apartment building, and

1:44:39across the street from that there's a

1:44:40four-story apartment building. Um, and I

1:44:44understand that, you know, the way these

1:44:45lots were subdivided, you know, where it

1:44:47was a big lot and then somebody cut off

1:44:49a corner and, you know, put up a house.

1:44:51Can't do that today, but you could do it

1:44:53then, and there are some eccentricities

1:44:56both here and also on Mount Vernon.

1:44:59Um, but you know, to a to a certain

1:45:01extent,

1:45:03it is a quirk of the neighborhood, and

1:45:04yeah, there are some time

1:45:06Arlington is an urban community where we

1:45:08have a lot of,

1:45:10you know, smaller lots next to other

1:45:13smaller lots.

1:45:15Um,

1:45:18yeah, so I I I do think this I do think

1:45:20it, you know, it there is a diversity of

1:45:23housing stock and on the street and in

1:45:24the general area. And I personally do

1:45:26think it fits in, but I do think um, um

1:45:30you know, there were some constructive

1:45:32suggestions made by my fellow board

1:45:34members earlier. Thank you.

1:45:36>> Thank you.

1:45:37Um I'm going to make a statement before

1:45:39I can continue on with the rest. Um

1:45:44Uh from my uh let's say my 11 years

1:45:46working on a board,

1:45:48um

1:45:51I found that this

1:45:52developer, contractor, however you want

1:45:54to classify yourself,

1:45:56has shown uh great empathy to working

1:45:59with the neighbors.

1:46:00Um so I

1:46:02generally will

1:46:04um reward that kind of effort where they

1:46:07will talk to their neighbors, listen to

1:46:10their neighbors,

1:46:11and um

1:46:13make changes.

1:46:14Um so I I give them a lot of slack and

1:46:18um they come here as a uh site plan

1:46:21review.

1:46:23They're not asking for any relief

1:46:25whatsoever. They meet all the

1:46:26requirements.

1:46:28Um the only thing they um that we have

1:46:32some suggestion on is some aesthetics

1:46:34and some trees.

1:46:35And um they've said that they uh have

1:46:39all efforts to

1:46:41uh make those changes,

1:46:43um save whatever trees they can, plant

1:46:45more trees,

1:46:47um address our concerns about uh Walnut

1:46:50Street side elevations, making and maybe

1:46:53making the buildings a little less

1:46:54similar.

1:46:56Um

1:46:59I like to um

1:47:03um give points of merit for um

1:47:06contractors and developers who do that.

1:47:09So I'm inclined

1:47:12to

1:47:13uh approve this with administrative

1:47:14approval

1:47:16on

1:47:18uh that merit and having um

1:47:23the planning board um

1:47:25make sure confirm that they would do the

1:47:27uh some of the uh stuff they promised,

1:47:29which I think they will.

1:47:30That's my opinion, and I'm asking the

1:47:33rest of the board what their opinion is.

1:47:37>> So, if I may um

1:47:41I am

1:47:43generally in agreement with my

1:47:45colleagues that that this is

1:47:48not in

1:47:49not inappropriate for for the location,

1:47:52that that given the lot size, [cough]

1:47:54given the design type, and and the

1:47:58um

1:47:59diversity of

1:48:01um

1:48:02of stock in the neighborhood, that this

1:48:04is not inappropriate. Um

1:48:07I

1:48:11I

1:48:13So, so I have a question for for Ken and

1:48:17for Vince. Um Some of the Some of your

1:48:21comments, the the two of you, um

1:48:25the two of you made some comments that

1:48:28are aesthetic in nature, right? And um

1:48:32didn't

1:48:33necessarily seem like things that would

1:48:37be

1:48:38um easy to be done through

1:48:41administrative approval. And um

1:48:45and I'm and I'm not sure if I'm

1:48:47understanding that correctly or not. You

1:48:50know, my my

1:48:53concern or or my questions or concerns,

1:48:56I think would

1:48:58uh be

1:49:00uh

1:49:01would be all right addressed through

1:49:03administrative approval, but mostly

1:49:06um around fencing and um and

1:49:11an attempt to

1:49:13uh

1:49:14uh maximize landscaping, but

1:49:17but I'm wondering if the two of you feel

1:49:20like um your concerns can be met

1:49:24administratively or or whether you'd

1:49:26like to see things again.

1:49:28>> Why don't you start with it?

1:49:29What do you want to say, Vance?

1:49:31>> Thank you.

1:49:32Yeah, this project doesn't have my vote

1:49:34today. Um it can have my vote if they

1:49:37come back with a reasonable effort to

1:49:40address the concerns that we've laid

1:49:42out. So, I'm again not trying to be an

1:49:44obstacle, but I I do want to see it come

1:49:46back. Um

1:49:48I mean, the the main things I I would

1:49:50want to see is well, you can show us the

1:49:54um

1:49:55balconies on the correct side, you know,

1:49:57correct the stairs, all of the things

1:49:59the issues we have identified. Just show

1:50:00us the proper plans. Um

1:50:03address the aesthetic issues. I want to

1:50:05see that street side elevation

1:50:08thoughtfully designed. Um and I think

1:50:11I'd like to understand which of the

1:50:13trees on the site have the highest

1:50:16value.

1:50:18You know, I would appreciate even input

1:50:19from the neighbors if they would like to

1:50:21share that with me and with the

1:50:22developer so that

1:50:24there's a sense of okay, this tree, if

1:50:26we can save it, would be a high value

1:50:29tree. Some of the smaller trees are

1:50:31going to have to go. I understand that.

1:50:33Um so, I'd like to to see it come back.

1:50:35And

1:50:37let me just add as far as the the kind

1:50:39of implied

1:50:41it's not exactly a threat, but the idea

1:50:43that we could have built more units, so

1:50:44you should be happy we're building

1:50:45fewer.

1:50:47Uh

1:50:48you know, don't threaten me with a good

1:50:49time. I would want more units.

1:50:51I'd love to see more units on this site.

1:50:53If you're going to clear cut it, let's

1:50:54put more units in. So, either you come

1:50:56in with a proposal to put more units in

1:50:59this large mass or as Mr. Brown

1:51:03suggested, you take some time to make it

1:51:05a little bit more thoughtfully laid out.

1:51:08I understand the all the economical

1:51:10logic here, but take take a little bit

1:51:12of time to make this just a little bit

1:51:14more sensitive to the neighborhood given

1:51:16that you're putting in, you know, only

1:51:19uh four units.

1:51:20That's [snorts] all I've got.

1:51:22>> Thank you.

1:51:23Um my opinion will differ from Vince's.

1:51:26Um

1:51:27I

1:51:28wholeheartedly believe that uh Claire

1:51:30and uh

1:51:32and Sarah

1:51:34uh

1:51:34will see um

1:51:36the changes we we requested to be

1:51:38addressed. And if it's not,

1:51:40they would just let us know and we would

1:51:42call them back.

1:51:43But um

1:51:45I'm

1:51:46um

1:51:48I I I want to set up um

1:51:51a system where um

1:51:54if developers and contractors

1:51:58want to work with their neighbors,

1:52:00that we're going to support them in that

1:52:01way.

1:52:02Uh there's a lot of complaints saying,

1:52:04"Well, the contractors never follow what

1:52:06we do or they don't care." and whatever

1:52:07else.

1:52:08Well,

1:52:10the the one route we can have is by by

1:52:12saying making it easier for them.

1:52:15Saying, "If they do play ball, if they

1:52:16do want to listen,

1:52:18then you know, we'll we'll cut them a

1:52:19break."

1:52:20And that's the only power we have. We

1:52:22don't have

1:52:23jurisdiction over um revoking their

1:52:26permits or issuing not issuing permits.

1:52:28We don't have that.

1:52:29We only give encouragement and I'm just

1:52:32looking at the picture of not only this

1:52:34project, but future projects, and other

1:52:36projects that say, "Look,

1:52:39if you do listen to your neighbors, if

1:52:40you do want to um make changes and stuff

1:52:43like that, that the board will be

1:52:45sympathetic to your plight." And that's

1:52:48what I'm trying to get across here,

1:52:50okay? It's not just

1:52:52um is it is it going to be a dog with

1:52:54tree or is it trees this way here? I

1:52:57have all the faith that the board's uh

1:52:58the planning department will

1:53:00uh will make the right calls. Or if they

1:53:02can't, they'll come they'll bring it

1:53:03back to us. They have.

1:53:05So, that's where I'm standing right now

1:53:07and that's my statement. And I respect

1:53:10your uh what you're saying, Vince, and

1:53:12I'm just saying mine's different.

1:53:18Steve?

1:53:19>> This is my statement.

1:53:20>> I would be

1:53:22comfortable with the

1:53:24with um

1:53:26you know, approval conditioned or

1:53:29approved with taking a vote tonight

1:53:31conditioned on

1:53:32uh administrative approval of things

1:53:34like the Walnut Street facade, uh a tree

1:53:37plan, um

1:53:39you know, and you know, making the

1:53:40buildings look a little different.

1:53:43>> Okay. Michelle?

1:53:44>> So,

1:53:46I sympathize greatly with what you've

1:53:48said. You know, if people are doing the

1:53:49right thing, it would be great to be

1:53:51able to expedite it. The The concern I

1:53:53have is that we don't have a tree plan.

1:53:54Um and I really wish that we did.

1:53:57So, I

1:53:59cuz cuz I think what I would like what I

1:54:01like to see with administra- like in

1:54:02terms of the architectural things, I

1:54:04have no problem. I you know, I'm happy

1:54:06to send that to staff. They'll do a

1:54:08great job with it. But I just don't

1:54:09think we've given criteria for what's

1:54:11good enough with trees because we don't

1:54:13know. So, from my perspective, and maybe

1:54:17we can come up with what it looks like,

1:54:19but as Vince said, I'd love you know, I

1:54:21would like to know how many mature trees

1:54:22there are and which, you know, it would

1:54:25be a a great goal to be able to

1:54:28um save if there are four, maybe save

1:54:31two or something.

1:54:33Um and then I would like to know how

1:54:34many trees exist on the property. And

1:54:38I'd love to see close to that number on

1:54:41the property again. And they don't, you

1:54:42know, they're not going to be as big,

1:54:43they're not going to be as mature. Um

1:54:46but I do, you know, one of the criteria

1:54:48that I'm a lawyer and I'm explicitly

1:54:50told that I'm supposed to look at the

1:54:52landscape and it should be preserved in

1:54:53the natural state. Um and so I just

1:54:56wonder, is there a way to move the

1:54:57building move the buildings just a

1:55:00little bit to the right? You know,

1:55:01there's a lot of impervious area in the

1:55:04driveway side. If they were moved a

1:55:06little bit, I don't know. I'm not an

1:55:08architect. I'm not a builder. But, then

1:55:10could there be [snorts] a line of trees

1:55:12all the way down that that line? But, I

1:55:13don't know cuz I don't know how many

1:55:14trees there are now. So, I just I I

1:55:17sympathize with that, but I don't think

1:55:18we've get I I'm having trouble because

1:55:20what's the criteria? What's good enough

1:55:22for staff if we don't know how many

1:55:23trees there are now and what we want

1:55:24there to be.

1:55:25>> You you can sort of figure out from the

1:55:26site plan that there's at least 20 trees

1:55:29there between 6 in in diameter like 24

1:55:32in in diameter.

1:55:34Yeah, they're little gray dots, but it's

1:55:37we don't know what species they are. We

1:55:38don't know if they're in good health or

1:55:40not.

1:55:41>> So, this is existing?

1:55:42>> And I think I agree with you, Michelle,

1:55:44that we would just like to know.

1:55:45>> Can you send that to

1:55:47Sarah or Claire then she can get it up

1:55:50on the on the screen?

1:55:51>> And I'm not like totally shut to the

1:55:53idea if we could come up with some good

1:55:56criteria for staff and and I know staff

1:55:58will come to us if they if they aren't

1:55:59sure.

1:56:00>> That might be something to talk about at

1:56:03our retreat for future projects. But,

1:56:05but

1:56:06maybe I could summarize what I'm

1:56:08hearing.

1:56:09>> Yes, it is 2-2 right now.

1:56:10>> Yeah. So, so

1:56:14um

1:56:16so

1:56:19I am hearing what I am hearing is that

1:56:23uh

1:56:25if the applicant were to

1:56:28in order to get

1:56:30yes votes from

1:56:33Vince and Michelle we would need the

1:56:35applicant to come back with a tree plan

1:56:39and a

1:56:41uh landscape plan that showed a good

1:56:45faith effort to to um

1:56:48you know,

1:56:49a good faith effort at a robust

1:56:52landscape plan.

1:56:53Um

1:56:55and at as well as another look at

1:57:00um

1:57:01the facade, particularly the Walnut

1:57:04Street facade. Um

1:57:07for

1:57:09uh

1:57:10for sort of more um for a more

1:57:13aesthetically pleasing

1:57:15um facade, particularly on the Walnut

1:57:18Street side. Um

1:57:20Um something that looks like Walnut

1:57:23Street is is also a street side aligning

1:57:27windows, for example, but um

1:57:34And

1:57:36>> You have your second line here.

1:57:37>> Oh, great.

1:57:38>> And

1:57:39>> So so and and

1:57:42um part of this may be that there are

1:57:44new plans and there is a tree study that

1:57:47that we

1:57:48uh the board didn't receive and and so

1:57:51if that's the case, then then some of

1:57:55this can get done very quickly. But but

1:57:57I think those were those were sort of

1:57:59the two items that I'm hearing um

1:58:03need to be worked on and and

1:58:05um

1:58:07>> Well, two two more if I can just

1:58:08interject. One would be to see the

1:58:10fencing that they're proposing. They've

1:58:11said they'd be amenable to fencing,

1:58:12let's see it. And you had a question

1:58:15about lighting and I don't know if the

1:58:16current plans address that, but we don't

1:58:18see where the lighting is. You know, do

1:58:20you I don't know if you want to see a

1:58:22photometric plan, but it might be

1:58:24>> I think it would be helpful.

1:58:26>> to show that to the board as well.

1:58:28>> Yeah.

1:58:28And

1:58:30it sounds to me like with those with

1:58:36those items addressed um no one here has

1:58:41particular interest in in

1:58:43um

1:58:45dragging this out um extensively, but

1:58:48that there's an interest it by at least

1:58:52two board members in in seeing

1:58:55um the more the more robust landscape

1:58:59plan and

1:59:00um

1:59:02and some work on the facade. Uh

1:59:06>> So, part of my answer might be when is

1:59:08the next available slot? Do we have a

1:59:10means to find that out?

1:59:13>> Uh November 2nd.

1:59:16>> Oh, that's not very long.

1:59:17>> Is that Yeah, that's fine. Okay.

1:59:20>> What Oh, we have a

1:59:21>> Barry says no.

1:59:23>> Ask the architect.

1:59:25>> Oh, yeah, right.

1:59:26>> Yeah, when do you Yeah, when do you need

1:59:28everything by for that meeting?

1:59:30We need just the architect.

1:59:32>> [laughter]

1:59:33>> Of the small one, he's all set to go.

1:59:36>> We would need it Oh, boy.

1:59:39>> [laughter]

1:59:41>> Tomorrow. November 2nd? No.

1:59:44>> So, I I I believe they're going to need

1:59:46it to you a week in advance.

1:59:48>> it a week in advance, so it would Oh, it

1:59:49would be it would be the 26th or 27th.

1:59:53Next week.

1:59:54>> What What is the next meeting after

1:59:56that?

1:59:57>> The 16th.

1:59:59>> That's fine.

2:00:00>> Okay.

2:00:03>> That's okay for

2:00:04>> That

2:00:04Is that acceptable to the applicant?

2:00:06November 16th?

2:00:08>> So

2:00:11So, um

2:00:13and

2:00:15and I'd like to uh echo my colleague

2:00:18that that we

2:00:19uh

2:00:21see

2:00:22developers here who who

2:00:25um

2:00:26uh are

2:00:29you know

2:00:30new to town and are not as

2:00:34um experienced in being respectful of of

2:00:38neighbors in town or have not yet gotten

2:00:40used to meeting with neighbors, and so

2:00:42we we appreciate that um

2:00:45that you've been working here for so

2:00:47long and and are

2:00:49uh

2:00:50regularly so attentive to your

2:00:52neighbors.

2:00:56>> I I'm going to need a yes or no.

2:00:59>> What? For me?

2:01:00>> Yes.

2:01:00>> Uh

2:01:01>> I got I got one from everybody else, but

2:01:03you.

2:01:04>> I think if they're willing to come back

2:01:05on the 16th, that would be great.

2:01:08Okay.

2:01:08>> Okay.

2:01:09So, can I get a motion, please?

2:01:15>> Move [cough and clears throat] to

2:01:15continue the hearing.

2:01:16I have to recite the the criteria. I a

2:01:18motion to uh

2:01:20>> to do that all the time when I used to

2:01:21>> [laughter]

2:01:21>> continue this until November

2:01:25>> Look, uh

2:01:26>> Right. Say

2:01:26>> No.

2:01:27>> No, let's see.

2:01:28>> You want You want to continue public uh

2:01:31public hearing docket number 3916, 31

2:01:33Walnut Street to the following date on

2:01:37>> November 16th.

2:01:38>> November 16th. And um

2:01:41with the uh following conditions that um

2:01:44um the the following things will be

2:01:46addressed.

2:01:47Uh one is the um elevations and and the

2:01:50symmetry of the buildings,

2:01:52um existing tree counts and proposed

2:01:55tree counts. Uh those are the three

2:01:57major things.

2:01:58>> We'd We'd just like to see the plan for

2:02:00fencing.

2:02:01And

2:02:02I'm

2:02:03I I don't care if they show the lighting

2:02:06plan or not. Shayna, would you like to

2:02:07see a lighting plan?

2:02:09>> Um

2:02:11it would be it would

2:02:13I would prefer to see the lighting plan

2:02:15if it's available.

2:02:15>> Uh the lighting plan's okay.

2:02:18>> More robust.

2:02:18>> Yes. Okay.

2:02:19>> Yes.

2:02:19>> Um can you Can you make the as is or as

2:02:22as stated and then so on and you second?

2:02:25>> I'll second.

2:02:26>> No, Tony, you just say as

2:02:28>> Uh

2:02:29I

2:02:31I move to continue on the um

2:02:34on the grounds stated by our by the

2:02:37chair.

2:02:38>> Second.

2:02:39>> Thank you.

2:02:40Steve?

2:02:41>> Yes.

2:02:42>> Vince?

2:02:42>> Yes.

2:02:43>> Michelle?

2:02:43>> Yes.

2:02:44>> Jen?

2:02:45>> Yes.

2:02:45>> And me yes, too.

2:02:46>> Thank you very much.

2:02:48>> Thank you very much.

2:02:49>> Thank you.

2:02:49>> And I encourage you to continue talking

2:02:50to your neighbors.

2:02:51>> Thank you, guys.

2:02:52>> Thank you, Billy. [snorts]

2:02:53>> Thank you for being here, everybody.

2:02:55I feel a treat. I'll learn the exact

2:02:57words I'm supposed to say when

2:03:00when I make a motion.

2:03:03>> [laughter]

2:03:04>> You can probably tell that I'm like

2:03:06making it up as I go along.

2:03:07>> No, you're doing such a good job and we

2:03:10really appreciate you summarizing.

2:03:11>> Okay, last on our agenda now is open

2:03:14forum.

2:03:17Excuse me, we still have a we have still

2:03:19have a meeting. If you want to talk to

2:03:20you can we talk outside, please?

2:03:21>> in the hall.

2:03:24>> Um

2:03:25I I'm going to open to open forum. Does

2:03:27anybody here wish to speak in open

2:03:29forum?

2:03:33Seeing none, that's a wave, right?

2:03:37Okay. Seeing no one Seeing no one open

2:03:39forum Can I get a motion to adjourn,

2:03:42please?

2:03:43>> So moved.

2:03:43>> Second?

2:03:44>> Second.

2:03:45>> Steve?

2:03:46>> Yes.

2:03:47>> Vince?

2:03:47>> Yes.

2:03:48>> Michelle?

2:03:49>> Yes.

2:03:49>> Jen?

2:03:50>> Yes.

2:03:50>> And me yes, too. Thank you very much.

2:03:52>> Thank you.

2:03:54>> [music]

2:04:04[music]

2:04:10[music]

2:04:17[music]