Blog

  • Mugar Update

    On April 10, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a Superseding Order of Conditions approving the Thorndike Place project, including approval of the stormwater and groundwater management systems proposed by the developer. ALT members may recall that the Arlington Conservation Commission’s split 2-2 vote in March 2025 led to the developer’s appeal to DEP. 

    DEP’s Superseding Order of Conditions is very disappointing, especially considering that the extensive monitoring and testing data collected and documented by ALT and our consultants has shown that the developer’s proposed stormwater management system does not meet the DEP’s own regulations and standards, and is not in keeping with prior DEP policies for similar projects.

    Due to the critical nature of these deficiencies, including the anticipated impact that improperly managed stormwater would have on the surrounding land, the ALT Board voted to appeal the DEP’s Superseding Order to the Office of Appeals and Dispute Resolution (OADR), which is the next level of administrative review for these types of decisions. Our attorneys filed the appeal to OADR on April 24, 2026, based on the grounds that DEP’s Superseding Order improperly permits a project that does not comply with the Massachusetts Stormwater Standards and the Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook, and that the project’s design is based upon unreliable groundwater data submitted by the developer. 

    We appreciate your continued support of the Land Trust’s advocacy on this project, and we will provide further updates as more information becomes available.

  • New ALT Board Leadership

    New ALT Board Leadership

    The Land Trust is pleased to announce that Carol Kowalski was elected President and Bancroft (Banks) Poor was elected Vice President at a recent Board meeting. Continuing officers are Nora Frank as Treasurer and Ann LeRoyer as Clerk. While all Board members are elected by ALT members at the Annual Meeting, the officers are elected by the Board members themselves.

    We extend our great thanks and deep appreciation to Chris Leich who served as President since 2019, and to Clarissa Rowe who is a founding member of ALT and has served as President or Vice President for many terms over the past 26 years. Both of them are remaining members of the Board and will continue to share their valuable knowledge and expertise in our work. 

    Carol Kowalski is also a founding member of ALT and a long-time Arlington resident. She served as the Town’s Director of Planning and Community Development from 2009 until 2016 and is now Assistant Town Manager for Development in Lexington. Banks Poor, also a long-time resident of Arlington and ALT Board member, recently retired after many years as Assistant Treasurer at Mass Audubon.

  • Mugar Update

    The MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a Superseding Order of Conditions dated April 10, received by the Arlington Land Trust on April 14, approving the Thorndike Place project and specifically the stormwater and groundwater management system as proposed by developer. ALT members may recall that the Arlington Conservation Commission’s 2-2 vote in March 2025 led to the developer appealing to DEP. 

    DEP’s Superseding Order of Conditions is very disappointing considering that the extensive monitoring and testing data collected and documented by ALT and our consultants have shown that the developer’s proposed stormwater management system does not meet the DEP’s own stormwater management handbook or its past determinations on projects with similar monitoring data and stormwater management systems.

    The ALT Board met on April 16 and is now considering whether to file an appeal with the DEP Office of Appeals and Dispute Resolution (OADR). We will provide further updates as more information is available.

  • Annual Meeting Report

    Annual Meeting Report

    Drone Shot of Elizabeth Island from Chris Leich slide show

    The Land Trust held its 2025 Annual Meeting with a review of the past year’s highlights on January 29, 2026. President Chris Leich presented a short slide show to accompany the business meeting, including the re-election of Board members and a Treasurer’s report by Nora Frank. He then recognized retiring Board members John Page and Ted Siegan. He gave a brief history of the acquisition of Elizabeth Island just over 15 years ago, recounted various stewardship activities on the island, and provided updates on our advocacy for conservation of the Mugar property in East Arlington and our monitoring of the conservation restriction on eight acres at Arlington 360, the former Symmes Hospital site.

    Guest speaker Robb Johnson, executive director of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, described his work with more than 140 land trusts across the state and talked about the power they hold to advocate for land conservation both locally and more broadly. He described MLTC’s commitment to collaborate with Indigenous groups on conservation efforts and its other organizational priorities. View Robb’s slide show.

    Robb outlined the policies and goals behind the Nature for Massachusetts campaign and how local land trusts and individuals can get involved. MLTC is holding its annual Land Conservation Conference on Friday, March 13 at UMass Amherst

  • 2025 Program – The Power of Local Land Trusts

    2025 Program – The Power of Local Land Trusts

    The Arlington Land Trust held its 2025 Annual Meeting in person on January 29, 2026.

    Guest speaker Robb Johnson, executive director of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, described his work with more than 140 land trusts across the state and talked about the power they hold to advocate for land conservation both locally and more broadly. View Robb’s slide show.