Arlington Redevelopment Board - Sep 15th, 2025

Meeting held at 27 Maple St. Materials were available from https://arlington.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/MeetingView.aspx?MeetingID=2337&MinutesMeetingID=-1&doctype=Agenda. ARB member Eugene Benson was unable to attend tonight's meeting.

Docket 3867 - 9--11 Robbins Road

This is a site plan review application to build a nine-unit apartment building in the Neighborhood Multifamily District.

(Rachel Zsembery, ARB Chair) Ms. Zsembery understands the applicants asked for a continuance.

(Claire Ricker, Planning Director) Ms. Ricker says the applicant is reworking their project and asked to have their hearing postponed until November 3rd.

The board votes to continue the hearing until November 3rd, 4--0.

Update on Special Permits for 455 Mass Ave and 882--892 Mass Ave

(Claire Ricker, Planning Director) Ms. Ricker recalls that the board drafted and sent a letter to the owner of 882--892 Mass Ave regarding several outstanding issues with the property. The owners have written a response, and their attorney is here to discuss it with us.

(Kin Lau, ARB) Mr. Lau asks about open space in the rear of the building.

(Corinne Doherty, Attorney) Ms. Doherty says the building was moved back from the street during the permitting process, so there is less space in the rear. She understands there was a permit condition to have a gas grill and a picnic table. They contacted their insurance agent regarding the location of the gas grill, and the agent wouldn't approve it due to lack of space. They had a picnic table but the first-floor tenant complained about its proximity to their apartment. She says the owners are unable to meet that condition, but are willing to entertain other options.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau says applicants can't pick and choose which conditions to follow; you'll need to come back and work with the board. He acknowledges that the client has agreed to rectify some things, like the storefront color. Mr. Lau says the applicant agreed to re-paint the storefront but that hasn't happened yet.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery notes that the response to the board's letter contained a set of color swatches.

(Corinne Doherty) Ms. Doherty says her client can submit a new rendering, or they can go ahead with the painting. She says they've been waiting to hear from the board regarding color preferences.

There's back and forth about colors. Ms. Doherty will ask the developer to send a set of color samples. She says they sent samples already, but they may have been labeled as being for 180--192 Mass Ave.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau says the board was never told about the compressor on the side of the first floor of the building.

(Corinne Doherty) Ms. Doherty says the compressor had to be relocated because the building was moved forward. She says it seems like the plans were modified between the board's approval and the issuance of the building permit. The compressor has been in that location since day one.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau says the compressor is for a heat pump. He's concerned that the board was never told about it. He also believes that the location would leave the owner open to ADA litigation. Mr. Lau says the board is here to help applicants, but that has to happen within parameters.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery notes that the applicants provided photos of the grate they're proposing to install over the compressor. She asks Mr. Lau if he has any feedback.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau says the compressor will blow air across the property line. He asks if it will deflect air to the ground, so it doesn't go horizontally.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery asks if Mr. Lau has a specific ask for the applicant.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau wants to understand how the grate will mitigate airflow and sound. Regarding open space, Mr. Lau would like to see the number of square feet and the applicant's thoughts for amenities. He thinks the picnic table might work, if it were screened. He says there are issues with the storefront - the bottom looks like unfinished concrete block. It doesn't look finished.

(Corinne Doherty) Ms. Doherty says the board's letter didn't raise that issue, but she'll bring it back to her client.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau says that a lot of trim was repainted due to a color mistake. The paint is chipping and peeling, and doesn't look rights.

(Corinne Doherty) Ms. Doherty says her client will have everything repainted, once the colors are approved.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau says the light plan is hard to read. He thinks the lights should be oriented towards the parking lot. He'd like the plan to show the area up to the property line, and not just around the building.

(Corinne Doherty) Ms. Doherty says she'll have the lighting plan re-done, and she'll ask her client to check how the lights are aimed.

(Shaina Korman-Houston, ARB) Ms. Korman-Houston asks about the timeline from the special permit approval to the beginning of construction. She asks how the building ended up moving.

(Corinne Doherty) Ms. Doherty understands the building was moved back in order to provide more sidewalk space. She's not sure when that happened.

(Shaina Korman-Houston) Ms. Korman-Houston says she's trying to piece together what happened.

(Corinne Doherty) Ms. Doherty says she serves on her town's zoning board, and it's not uncommon for plans to change during the course of a hearing.

(Steve Revilak, ARB) Mr. Revilak says this building was permitted before he was a member of the board, but he attended several of the hearings and took notes. He believes the building was moved at the board's request. His notes from the July 20, 2020 hearing include a board discussion after the building was moved back from the street. He thinks the board minutes from July 20, 2020 and the prior hearing will provide more information about the change in location, and the condition for a grill and a picnic table.

(Kin Lau) Mr. Lau asks if the discussion will include 455 Mass Ave.

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker says that 455 Mass Ave was included in the agenda, but the board has not drafted a list of issues for the applicant.

(Corinne Doherty) Ms. Doherty believes the only issue is that the developer wants to finish the exterior of the building, since they've received approval from the historical commission. She'll ask her client to review the ARB's list of conditions for the project. She'll also ask inspectional services to review them for compliance.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery believes the window locations on the upper story are different than what was approved.

(Corinne Doherty) Ms. Doherty says historical commission review was a component of this project, and they needed to approve it as well.

Open Forum

There are no speakers for tonight's open forum.

New Business

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker says the second major public event for the Comprehensive Plan Update will be held on October 30th at the High School Cafeteria. The AMPUp Committee is conducting focus groups on housing, transportation, and historic preservation. She'd like to give a land use presentation to the board.

Meeting adjourned at 20:18.