Arlington Land Trust

Protecting Open Spaces in Arlington

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ZBA/Mugar Hearing on New Senior Housing Plan

June 2021 – News Briefs

The next ZBA hearing is scheduled on Thursday, June 10, starting at 7:30 pm, to continue discussion of the Comprehensive Permit for Thorndike Place, located on the Mugar land in East Arlington. At the previous hearing on May 13, the Applicant presented a revised design that includes 12 townhouses as ownership units facing Dorothy Road and changes the main building to include 126 rental units for independent senior living and assisted living. This dramatic change in use reduced the size of the building and the number of parking spaces, among other proposed revisions, although many critical concerns still remain unaddressed.

Check the ZBA agenda page  for the final 6/10/21 agenda and additional plans, documents or correspondence received by that date.

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.

ZBA to review new Thorndike Place scheme May 13

May 2021 – News Briefs 2

Oaktree Development has submitted a completely new set of concept plans for the Mugar site in response to feedback from board members and local residents at prior hearings.

Sketch of Revised Concept Plan

This revised design restores the 12 townhouses as ownership units facing Dorothy Road and changes the main building to include 126 rental units for independent senior living and assisted living. This dramatic change in use reduces the size of the building and the number of parking spaces, among other proposed revisions. 

Please register in advance for the ZBA hearing on Thursday, May 13, starting at 7:30 pm, to learn more about this new scheme.

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

It’s MAY, It’s MAY

May 2021 – News Briefs

The Lusty Month of May (thanks to Camelot) is here with many special activities and meetings on the calendar. Here are a few things of particular interest.

EcoWeek, May 5-15

Arlington EcoWeek is an annual celebration raising awareness and inspiring action on behalf of our community and our planet. The Town is sponsoring a wide variety of events and activities open to all ages, including outdoor tours and online presentations, a clean-up at the Symmes Woods, and projects you can do on your own, such as citizen science data gathering. EcoWeek will spotlight local public art projects as well as initiatives led by student green teams and community groups. 

All events are free and accessible, and they will follow Covid safety guidelines; pre-registration is required via the Town’s EcoWeek website.

Spy Pond and Elizabeth Island

The Spy Pond Committee of Envision Arlington has prepared a flyer on fertilizer use,  Keep Arlington Beautiful, to help residents protect Spy Pond and other water bodies. Rain and stormwater runoff carry fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants from lawns and streets into our lakes and ponds. These pollutants and nutrients lower water quality and contribute to algae blooms and other unwanted plant growth. Thank you for following these guidelines.

Due to the continuing Covid-19 restrictions, the Recreation Department will not be able to offer canoe and kayak rentals on Spy Pond this summer. However, if you have access to a small boat, please visit Elizabeth Island for a quiet respite and walk along the pathway.

ZBA Mugar/Thorndike Place Hearing on May 13

The next ZBA hearing is scheduled on Thursday, May 13, starting at 7:30 pm, to continue discussion of the Comprehensive Permit for Thorndike Place, located on the Mugar land in East Arlington. The ZBA has requested that the Applicant consider revising its plans to restore the townhouses facing Dorothy Road as originally proposed, reduce the overall size of the project, and continue to protect the wetlands.

Check the ZBA agenda page next week for the final 5/13/21 agenda, revised plans and other new documents or correspondence.

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.

ZBA Mugar Hearing on April 20

April 2021 – Mugar Update #2

The next ZBA hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, April 20, starting at 6:30 pm, to continue discussion of the Comprehensive Permit for Thorndike Place, located on the Mugar land in East Arlington.

At the previous meeting on April 8, the ZBA pushed back at the proposed scale and design of the project. It requested the Applicant consider revising its plans to restore the townhouses facing Dorothy Road as originally proposed, reduce the overall size of the project, and still protect the wetlands. Although a response had been promised by April 16th, none has yet been received by the ZBA.

Click here to register for this ZBA hearing via Zoom. 

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.

ZBA Mugar Hearing Resumes April 8

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.