Town Of Arlington: Community Discussions About Housing, Transportation, And More This November

Press release from Town of Arlington:

11/02/2021 12:04 PM

The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) is hosting virtual community meetings this November to inform, engage, and collaborate with the community on key planning issues. Whether you are a bicycle commuter, walk a child to school each day, interested in housing issues, seeking funding for a project, or an open space enthusiast, the Town is looking to hear from you at one—or all—of the meetings below. Can’t attend a meeting? Other options to participate are also described by following the weblinks below.

• The Town is creating a plan that addresses safety, access, connections, and improvements to the Bikeway. On Wednesday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m., the DPCD and the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee will host a kickoff meeting for the Minuteman Bikeway Planning Project. Project consultants Kittleson & Associates will present an overview of existing conditions and lead a discussion on opportunities with the community. Find out more, register, and take the Minuteman Bikeway User Survey on the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee web page.

• The Town is updating its five-year Housing Plan which guides future housing development to achieve affordable housing goals. On Tuesday, November 9, the DPCD and Housing Plan Implementation Committee will host a third forum beginning at 7:30 p.m. with an overview of the project, timeline, and summary of prior meetings and engagement. At 8:00 p.m., project consultants Barrett Planning Group and Horsley Witten will present an overview of the draft plan. Learn more about the Housing Plan and register for the meeting on the Housing Plan Implementation Committee web page.
• The Town is planning new sidewalks, sidewalk repairs, and safe roadway crossings near the Stratton Elementary School. On Wednesday, November 10 at 6:00 p.m., the DPCD and Stratton Elementary School will host a meeting regarding the Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Project. The project is funded by a Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Project Award. The public meeting will be an opportunity for the community to hear about the project’s progress since the award was announced and provide feedback to MassDOT’s consultant, Pare Corporation, on issues around tree impacts; on-street parking impacts; sidewalk accessibility; project scope and length; and location of pedestrian crossings. Additional information and a registration link is available on the DPCD Transportation Planning page.
   
• Community organizations, agencies, and their advocates are invited to attend DPCD’s virtual Community Development Grants Open House on November 10 at 7:00 p.m. Attendees will learn about the CDBG program and its legacy in Arlington, share input on the program’s future priorities, and learn how to apply for funding for eligible projects. Organizations and agencies interested in learning more about the application or with questions pertaining to project eligibility are encouraged to participate in Part 2. Participation is also welcome from grassroots advocates who are curious about how to encourage organizations they engage with to apply for funding. Learn more about CDBG and register for the Open House on the Town’s CDBG web page.
   
• The DPCD and Open Space Committee are hosting a second Open Space & Recreation Plan (OSRP) Virtual Community Forum on December 8 at 7:00 p.m. The OSRP is a five-year plan that identifies, prioritizes, and creates actions to address community open space and recreational needs. Consultants from Horsley Witten Group will provide an update on the plan. More information about the virtual forum will be posted in the coming weeks on the Open Space Committee’s web page.

To learn more about these projects, contact Kelly Lynema, Assistant Director of Planning and Community Development, at 781-316-3096 or klynema@town.arlington.ma.us.

This press release was produced by Town of Arlington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.