NEW! Read the latest updates on MBTA Communities!
The MBTA Communities Working Group (WG) has been covering a lot of ground in recent meetings, and it’s hard to keep track of what the most recent decisions are. Thankfully several Arlington residents have been taking detailed unofficial minutes of meetings lately. To help folks understand the context of different meetings, we’ve arranged all the information about each meeting together here.
October 17th Special Town Meeting
After the WG makes a recommendation, and the ARB reviews it, final decisions will be made at the Special Town Meeting starting 17-October.
September 11th Arlington Redevelopment Board Hearing
The ARB plans to review recommendations from the WG at their normal 11-September meeting, so expect a lot of changes and finalizations in the next couple of weeks.
August 29th WG Meeting
- Official 29-August Meeting Agenda
- Report and analysis of the July WG Survey - this detailed 88 page PDF provides both analyses and full responses of the July survey.
- Official Meeting Minutes are not yet posted.
- Your Arlington news coverage, detailing various petitions brought forth and the moderation of earlier plans during this meeting - a very detailed article!
- ARFRR group meeting notes
August 15th WG Meeting
- Official 15-August Meeting Agenda
- UTILE’s presentation slides, titled “8/15 Draft HCA Districts Update”.
- NEW! 15-August Draft Map has major updates since the 25-July map, and includes updated draft calculations on housing numbers.
- Official Meeting Minutes are not yet posted.
- Meeting summary from the WG includes discussion and details of votes taken.
- Meeting Notes by Steve Revilak.
- ARFRR group meeting notes.
August 8th WG Meeting
Reviewing the personal (and unofficial) meeting notes from attendees was immensely helpful, and show the complexity of proposals being made.
- Official 8-August Meeting Agenda
- UTILE’s presentation slides titled “Arlington 3A Zoning District Scenarios” shows three separate change ideas for the existing 25-July base map.
- Draft 25-July Base Map is still the only comprehensive map published.
- Official Meeting Minutes are not yet posted.
- Meeting Notes by Kristin Anderson with several questions and calls to action.
- Meeting Notes by Chuck Carney have detailed tables of questions and responses at the meeting.
- Meeting Notes by Steve Revilak are as detailed about the running discussion as ever.
August 1st WG Meeting
The WG Reviewed several important new documents put out by town departments.
- Official 1-August Meeting Agenda
- Affordable Housing Bonus Memo, 31-July: Details of bonus height bonus related to additional %age of affordable housing.
- Criteria For Environmental Bonus Memo, 31-July: Planing dept recommends using the SITES rating system.
- DPCD Zoning Recommendations Memo, 28-July: Planning dept new recommendations; 15ft front setback; bonus size criteria.
- Draft 25-July Base Map is still used.
- Official 1-August Meeting Summary
July 25th WG Meeting
- Current Working Group status (25-July)
- Arlington’s submitted Action Plan (high level)
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MBTA Communities Resources
There has been a LOT of discussion in town on this complex topic. If you’re interested in learning more facts about the law, and seeing what the Arlington Working Group has actually been doing, read the Issues Guide To MBTA Communities. The Issues Guide includes links to all WG meetings, news stories, mapping tools, and more.