AMPUp Advisory Committee - Apr 23rd, 2026

Meeting held via remote participation. Materials were available from https://arlingtonma.primegov.com/Public/CompiledDocument?meetingTemplateId=2380&compileOutputType=1.

Approve Minutes

The committee approved minutes from their January 13, January 22, February 26, and March 5, 2026 meetings.

Discussion of 2nd Draft Plan Document

(Claire Ricker, Planning Director) Ms. Ricker says we received comments during the last open house as well as the comment period afterwards. A number offered kudos for a job well done.

Staff invited focus group participants, boards, committee members, and town meeting members to comment on the latest draft of the plan. Approximately 44 people downloaded the plan and 30 provided comments. Stantec compiled these and have been working with staff to incorporate them into the plan. A number of people were responsive to economic development, housing, and land use. These comments were diverse, and sometimes contradictory.

Discussion of Introduction and Executive Summary

The committee discusses a draft introduction and executive summary that were distributed earlier.

(Dave Fatula, AmpUp) Mr. Fatula noticed that land use was omitted from the executive summary.

(Rebecca Gruber, AmpUp) Ms. Gruber notes that the executive summary says that "over 1000 people provided input". She feels that number may be too low.

(Steve Revilak, AmpUp) Mr. Revilak felt the introduction was well-written. The executive summary is short, but seems to offer a high-level summary.

(Paul Selker, AmpUp) Mr. Selker thought the executive summary was very anodyne.

(Rebecca Gruber) Ms. Gruber wonders if the executive summary could contain links to chapters in the plan. She thinks the summary should have a well-defined purpose.

(Arthur Prokosch, AmpUp) Mr. Prokosch suggests that the executive summary say something about significant strategies mentioned in the plan.

(Ann LeRoyer, AmpUp) Ms. LeRoyer asks if sections will be hyperlinked in the report.

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker says there will be hyperlinks. But the document should still be usable to someone who prints it out to read.

(Ann LeRoyer) Ms. LeRoyer noticed a reference to "Arlington Today". She asks what that is.

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker says that will be an appendix to the plan.

(Lillian Hartman, AmpUp) Ms. Hartman asks about the relationship between the executive summary and the "how to use this document" section in the plan's introduction. Perhaps one of those should talk about who will use the plan. Maybe "what's next" rather than "how to read".

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak asks if we need an executive summary at all. He thinks the plan's Introduction already provides a summary. And the plan itself is not terribly long.

(Rebecca Gruber) Ms. Gruber agrees with with Mr. Revilak. She thinks the "how to use" section might be sufficient by itself.

(Dave Fatula) Mr. Fatula points out that the Introduction mentions an executive summary. That will need to be taken out if we don't provide one.

(Rebecca Gruber) Ms. Gruber thinks that Ms. Ricker's Introduction will have to be called something else, because the plan already has a section called "Introduction". She thinks it could be presented as a letter from Ms. Ricker and Town Manager Jim Feeney.

(Paul Selker) Mr. Selker notes that Winchester's comprehensive plan has an introductory letter, and no executive summary.

(Angelique Bradford, AmpUp) Ms. Bradford asks if there would be value in outlining major themes in the letter.

(Rebecca Gruber) Ms. Gruber reads a section of the letter which already does that.

(Angelique Bradford) Ms. Bradford suggests naming a few specific goals, in addition to the broad ones. She thinks the letter should project more of a vision for future priorities.

(Rebecca Gruber) Ms. Gruber suggests adding a sentence or two to the letter, to talk about what's in the plan. Right now, it's mostly process-focused.

(Paul Selker) Mr. Selker says the 2015 Master Plan had a long Introduction Chapter, which functions like an executive summary.

The committee decides to drop the executive summary. Ms. Ricker will work on refining the opening letter.

(Arthur Prokosch) Mr. Prokosch would like to see the letter have some sort of reference to recommended actions.

Committee Updates

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker says that final changes to the plan will have to be made by Thursday afternoon, so it can be posted with the ARB's agenda. She'd like the board to meet at 6:30 pm on May 4th, for a presentation and hopefully a vote for adoption. It may be presented to the Select Board afterwards for their endorsement. Article 90 will ask Town Meeting to endorse the plan.

Meeting adjourned at 19:08.