Arlington Redevelopment Board - May 5th, 2025

Meeting held in the town hall annex. Materials were available from https://arlington.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/MeetingView.aspx?MeetingID=2262&MinutesMeetingID=-1&doctype=Agenda. Mr. Lau was unable to attend tonight's meeting.

Review Meeting Minutes

The board approved minutes from their April 7, April 10, and April 14 meetings.

Docket 3831 - 1323 Mass Ave

(Claire Ricker, Planning Director) Ms. Ricker says she's been in contact with the applicant who is working to remove the illegally-installed signage. The applicant is working with a sign company and expects to have drawings by July 7th. Ms. Ricker says that Inspectional Services will be notified if the existing signage is not removed.

The board votes to continue the hearing until July 7th, 4--0.

Discussion of 2025 Annual Town Meeting

(Rachel Zsembery, ARB Chair) Ms. Zsembery says it's typical for town meeting to ask about the ARB's position on zoning amendments. We'll discuss the amendments that have been submitted to far, and can vote if appropriate.

Article 26 - Transportation Demand Management

Vince Baudoin filed an amendment to add cargo bike parking as a TDM option.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery says that one town meeting member spoke to her, expressing concern about having two TDM measures that were bicycle-related. She responded by saying that the ARB typically discusses the range of TDM options and tries for something that works in context.

(Steve Revilak, ARB) Mr. Revilak says he overheard that conversation. His takeaway was that the town meeting member was concerned about an applicant providing one TDM measure that would be counted twice. Mr. Revilak thinks that measures taken to meet one option can't be "double-counted" to meet a second. He's supportive of Mr. Baudoin's amendment.

(Shaina Korman-Houston, ARB) Ms. Korman-Houston thinks that cargo bikes meet a distinct need. She agrees with Mr. Revilak's position about not double-counting.

(Eugene Benson, ARB) Mr. Benson thinks the amendment should have specified long-term bike parking spaces.

There's discussion about the relative merits of long- and short-term cargo bike parking.

(Shaina Korman-Houston) Ms. Korman-Houston notes that the amendment doesn't try to specify standards for cargo bike parking.

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson thinks this could be a good reason to update the bicycle parking guidelines.

The board votes to support Mr. Baudoin's amendment, 4--0.

Article 25 - Accessory Dwelling Units

Wynelle Evans filed an amendment that would require ADU's to be at least six feet from a lot line.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak is concerned about this creating a gray area in districts where the setback for accessory structures is not 6'.

The board seems to be of the general opinion that the amendment isn't necessary, and is duplicative of district setback regulations. They do not take a vote on whether to support.

Article 38 - Use Regulations for Residential Districts

Andy Greenspon filed a substitute motion for his article. It's similar to the one the ARB voted on, but without restaurant and catering uses.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery doesn't support what the article is trying to do.

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson thinks that some of the R district parcels have less expensive rental housing, and allowing commercial uses there could lead to displacement.

(Shaina Korman-Houston) Ms. Korman-Houston thinks that Mr. Greenspon might have proposed something different if he were aware of displacement risks.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak supports the substitute motion, for the same reasons he supported Mr. Greenspon's earlier iteration.

The board makes an informal decision not to take a position on the Greenspon substitute motion.

Article 41 - Affordable Housing Overlay

Greg Dennis has filed a motion to commit, whereby town meeting would form a working group for the purpose of formulating an affordable housing overlay.

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker says she spoke with Mr. Dennis this morning, and agreed that DPCD will do notifications. She says the question is whether town meeting could make a decision that's binding on DPCD.

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson thinks the motion to commit might violate state law, since it asks the town meeting committee to present an article to town meeting, rather than presenting it to the ARB.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery is cognizant of the commitments the ARB has made for the 2026 town meeting. She also thinks that requiring an overlay is too prescriptive.

(Shaina Korman-Houston) Ms. Korman-Houston thinks the desire for an affordable housing overlay has been articulated by a large group of people, but the board has put it off. She thinks this is a proper method and feels the ARB should help facilitate the work of the group.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak agrees with Ms. Korman-Houston. In the last few years, there have been several warrant articles and one resolution asking for something along the lines of an affordable housing overlay. Mr. Revilak would see an affirmative vote on the Dennis amendment as a nudge from town meeting, and he thinks that is within Town Meeting's right.

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson thinks the amendment is filled with legal and procedural flaws.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery thinks this work would over-commit the board.

(Shaina Korman-Houston) Ms. Korman-Houston asks, "if this isn't the way to prioritize the work and move forward, then what is?"

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson is concerned that putting this work on the table will make something else fall off. He'd like something from the ARB that would be approved by town meeting.

The board takes no position on the Dennis amendment.

Adjourn to Town Meeting

The board adjourns to town meeting, somewhere around 19:45.