Malden Quality Of Life Q & A: Part 1

MALDEN, MA — More than a dozen elected officials and hopefuls sounded off on several 'Quality of Life' questions as we prepare for city elections. Patch will be bringing you their answers every Friday for the next several weeks. Subscribe to Malden Patch to keep up.

All questions were comprised by, and answers recorded by, Malden resident Prisco Tammaro.

The first question was:

Current zoning allows for approximately 60 single- family homes at the land of the Malden Hospital. The latest developer proposes 314 units with 2 acres of rocky terrain for public ownership. A community vision proposed 16 acres of public open & recreational space and 2 acres of private development with 80 units. Considering the traffic concerns at Fellsway and enrollment concerns at Beebe, what is the maximum # of units you see as appropriate for that neighborhood?

Nine of the 19 asked provided an answer. They were:

• Dave D'Arcangelo, Councilor, At-Large Incumbent - 0
• Craig Spadafora, Councilor At-Large, Incumbent - 200
• Stephen Winslow, Councilor At-Large, Challenger - <200
• John P. Matheson, Ward 3, Incumbent - 0
• Jennifer McClain, Ward 3, Challenger - 200
• David Camell, Ward 6, Non-Incumbent - <100
• Jerry Leone, Ward 6, Non-Incumbent - 0
• Scott Ciccone, Ward 7, Challenger - 0
• Jadeane M. Sica, Ward 8, Incumbent - 60

The second question was: Would you support a compromise plan with a substantial public open & recreational space and some private residential space; with the public space upkeep being maintained by the developer, a Pine Banks model with Medford, or a third party environmental group?

• D'Arcangelo - No. As a premier property north of Boston, we should settle for nothing less than a world-class facility that brings jobs without burdening municipal resources.
• Debbie DeMaria, Councilor At-Large, Incumbent - YES. Options above are good possibilities. All decisions should be made based on what is fiscally best for ourMalden and our residents.
• Spadafora - Yes, there is a need for open spaces and insufficient capital available to accommodate within city budget. Malden should work closely with other communities and organizations.
• Winslow - Yes, I support developing a comprise plan preferably with a 50-50 cost-share between Malden and Medford and private responsibility for upkeep.
• Peg Crowe, Ward 1, Incumbent 5 - Yes- a compromise plan is not only necessary but required. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration in any plan proposed.
• Matheson - Residents do not want more density and I am standing up for them. Our residents want open space with some homes; not apartments and traffic.
• McClain - Yes. Assisted living unit to be coordinated with Glen Ridge Nursing Home and a public garden maintained by a third party connected to Fellsmere Park.
• Candance Julyan, Ward 3, Challenger - “Ideal” number involves: a) minimal tree removal, b)balance between economic benefit to Malden andneeds/preferences of neighboring residents, c) traffic.Compromise plan sounds promising.
• Ryan J. O'Malley, Ward 4, Incumbent - Yes. A development that brings jobs to Malden is ideal. Any residential development should have asubstantial amount of owneroccupied units and a Community Benefits Agreement.
• Camell - The developer's current plan isn't in the community's bestinterest. We need compromise that minimizes impact,preserves green space, affordability, and produces revenue.
• Joseph Gray, Ward 6, Non-Incumbent - I propose building a new k-8 school on that site. That has been my stance since day one, in discussions both private and public.
• Leone - Yes, yes to recreational and no to residents due to traffic concerns.
• Neal Anderson, Ward 7, Incumbent - I will support whatever proposal the ward councillor and residents approve. As those most effected, their opinions should be given greater weight in the decision.
• Ciccone - Instead of building more apartment units, we should attract a lucrative company that would support and maintain a recreational space for residents.
• Sica - Yes if proper funding was available for us to do so and if the Ward Councillor and residents were in support.
• Peter Anastasia, Ward 8, Challenger 19 - Justice for the senior citizens handicap homeowners and tenants and the people of Malden.

Photo by Tom Arthur via Wikimedia Commons