April 2021 – Mugar Update

On Thursday, April 8, starting at 6:30 pm, the Zoning Board of Appeals will continue its hearing on the Comprehensive Permit for Thorndike Place, located on the Mugar land in East Arlington. This hearing was postponed from March 30 due to a family emergency on the Applicant’s team. The public hearing period will also be extended to Friday, April 23 or longer, as determined by the ZBA and the Applicant.

To register for this ZBA hearing via Zoom, visit the ZBA agenda page on the Town website.

A recent letter from Heather Keith-Lucas of the Coalition to Save the Mugar Wetlands outlines many local concerns by responding item-by-item to the ZBA’s Draft Decision from March 10. Among the recommended edits, also supported by the Land Trust, are the reinstatement of the 12 owner-occupied townhouses on Dorothy Road, further reviews of inaccurate or misleading traffic and parking plans, and cleanup and remediation of the undeveloped acres on the site, as outlined by the Town Manager. (See previous ALT posts for links to related documents).

Please send your own comments and concerns about this proposed project to the Zoning Board at zba@town.arlington.ma.us.

Arlington Land Trust continues to advocate for the permanent protection of the Mugar parcel as conservation land. The site is subject to regular and significant flooding, and is a critical stormwater buffer for the surrounding and downstream neighborhoods of East Arlington.