Arlington Redevelopment Board - Sep 8th, 2025

Meeting held at 27 Maple Street. Materials were available from https://arlington.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/MeetingView.aspx?MeetingID=2335&MinutesMeetingID=-1&doctype=Agenda.

Review Meeting Minutes

The board approved minutes from their August 11 meeting.

Docket 3857 - 225 Broadway

This docket involves site plan review for a four-family home at 225 Broadway.

(Rachel Zsembery, ARB Chair) Ms. Zsembery says the applicant has requested their hearing to be continued to October 20, 2025.

(Claire Ricker, Planning Director) Ms. Ricker says the applicants requested the continuance. They've brought a new designer on board, and that person is just getting up to speed on the project.

The board votes to continue the hearing to October 10, 5--0.

Docket 3866 - 18 Grafton St

This docket involves site plan review for a four-family home at 18 Grafton St.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery informs the board that the applicant asked to have the hearing continued to November 3. She understands there are a number of items the applicant still needs to address.

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker says that staff have had a number of conversations with the project's designer. Staff feels that one of the apartments needs to be accessible, but the designer disagrees. The applicants will meet with Inspectional Services tomorrow, as they have final jurisdiction over accessibility requirements.

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson believes the project has several zoning issues.

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker agrees. She invite board members to share any zoning concerns they have with staff.

The board votes to continue the hearing to November 3, 5--0.

Open Forum

(June Scott, 12 Grafton St) Ms. Scott lives next door to 18 Grafton. She believes that part of the applicants plans are on her property. She's also concerned about what will happen to her hedges and stone wall.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery suggests sending these concerns to staff, so they can be passed on to the applicant and addressed during the hearing.

(?) A member of the public asks what an "accessible" unit is.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery says that "accessibility" refers to mobility.

(Kristin Skrabut, 15 Everett St) Ms. Skrabut says she lives at 15 Everett St, which is adjacent to 18 Grafton. She's concerned about property lines, hazardous material mitigation, and a tree.

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker tells the attendees that they can submit written correspondence to the board.

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson suggests that people with concerns about property lines share any surveys they have with planning staff.

New Business

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker would like to review the board's meeting dates for the rest of the year. They are September 15, October 6, October 20, November 3, November 17, December 1, and December 15. The board's retreat is scheduled for October 19.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak understands that Arlington recently earned the distinction of being named a housing choice community. He asks if staff can talk about how we got that designation, and if there are any benefits that come with it.

(Sarah Suarez, Assistant Planning Director) Ms. Suarez says Arlington was named a housing choice community for 2025, which is the first year the town applied for the designation. The state looks at policies and initiatives to provide more housing. Arlington has provided 321 net new units over the last five years, we've adopted an ADU bylaw, created multi-family districts for MBTA Communities, and have a certified housing production plan.

The Housing Choice Community designation gets us access to Housing Choice grant programs. We can apply for up to $500,000 in grant money. In addition, we can apply for $150,000/year in planning and zoning grants. These can be used to achieve a number of things. Ms. Suarez says the designation lasts for five years.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak understands there's also preferential treatment for MassWorks and Complete Streets grants.

(Sarah Suarez) Ms. Suarez says yes, we'll get preferential treatment for those grant programs. There are additional grant programs for the acquisition and preservation of conservation land.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak understands that 99 of the 321 new units are deed-restricted affordable units.

(Sarah Suarez) Ms. Suarez says that's correct.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak thinks that's a commendable accomplishment.

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson asks if staff have any information about the vacant office building at 366 Mass Ave.

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker says it's a former office building that was damaged by fire. She's not aware of any plans for the property, and would need to check with Inspectional Services regarding the state of the building.

(Eugene Benson) Mr. Benson asks if there's anything the board can consider.

(Claire Ricker) Ms. Ricker says she'd need to pursue that with the owner. She notes that the ARB has urban renewal powers, and could pursue and urban renewal plan.

(Rachel Zsembery) Ms. Zsembery asks board members to send her any feedback they have for the town meeting procedures committee.

Meeting adjourned at 7:59 pm.