Mugar Site

July 2021 – Mugar Update

The next ZBA hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, July 13, starting at 7:30 pm, to continue discussion of the Comprehensive Permit for Thorndike Place on the Mugar land in East Arlington

At two previous hearings in June, the Applicant presented revised plans for 12 townhouses as ownership units facing Dorothy Road and the main building to include 124 rental units for senior independent living, but no assisted living units as had been proposed in an earlier plan.

Additional information has been requested by the ZBA from the Applicant and from the Housing Authority and Fire Department to address numerous parking, public health, and safety concerns raised by this type of specialized housing. To date only limited new information is available on the ZBA Thorndike Place website or on the July 13 agenda.

Please register in advance for this Zoom meeting; you will receive a confirmation email with instructions about joining.

Please send your comments and concerns about this proposed project to the Zoning Board at zba@town.arlington.ma.us. The hearing process may be closing soon, so it is important to share your concerns with the ZBA members as they deliberate their decision and the conditions to be placed on the Comprehensive Permit for this project.

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.

June 2021 – Mugar Update

The next ZBA hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, June 29, starting at 6:30 pm, to continue discussion of the Comprehensive Permit for Thorndike Place on the Mugar land in East Arlington.

At the previous hearing on June 10, the Applicant presented further revised design plans for 12 townhouses as ownership units facing Dorothy Road and the main building to include 124 rental units for senior independent living, but no assisted living units as had been proposed in an earlier plan. Additional information was requested by the ZBA for the Applicant to address numerous public health and safety concerns raised by this type of specialized housing, along with other outstanding materials.

In addition, Arlington’s Town Counsel recently drafted a Memorandum of Understanding to assist the Applicant, the Town and other potential parties in developing a plan to improve, mitigate and transfer the undeveloped parcel of approximately 12.5 acres of land for conservation purposes. Again, many questions remain to be discussed and resolved before any transfer can occur.

Please register in advance for this Zoom meeting; you will receive a confirmation email with instructions about joining. Note that the ZBA agenda includes two other hearings, so the actual start time for Thorndike Place is uncertain.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.