Hanscom Area Towns Selectmen - HATS
Committee Meeting Minutes of November 24, 2003
7:30 p.m., Lincoln Town Offices
In Attendance: Selectmen Sara Mattes (Lincoln) - Chairman, Jeanne Krieger (Lexington), Sheldon Moll (Bedford), and Anne Shapiro (Concord). Richard Canale - Environmental Subcommittee (ESC). Richard Walsh – Massport. Carolyn Weaver recorded the minutes.
Welcome, Introductions, Review of Agenda - The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. Ms. Mattes welcomed everyone and introductions were made around the room. A review of the agenda indicated no items to be added.
Approval of Minutes - The meeting minutes of July 24, 2003 were Approved 3-0-1 (Ms. Shapiro abstained). The meeting minutes of September 25, 2003 were Approved 3-0-1 (Mr. Moll abstained).
HAFB Update – Ms. Mattes introduced Colonel Darrell D. Jones, Wing Commander, HAFB. The Hanscom Base General Plan is available for review upon request, but will not circulate freely as it has in the past, due to increased security measures. A description of projects currently underway and in the planning stages follows:
Renovation of a former supply warehouse to accommodate the acquisition of approximately 1000 base-affiliated Mitre employees. Expected completion - 2004.
Construction of a new 50,000 SF fitness facility to begin in December 2003.
ATFP (Anti-Terrorism Force Protection) programs are underway. Most work will be internal and imperceptible to the community. A more visible aspect of the program will be to make improvements at the gates.
If additional land can be acquired, the Vandenberg gate will be moved out to put space between the containment area and buildings on base.
A visitor center may be constructed at the Hartwell Ave. entrance.
Smart Gate system is being used to expedite cars going through the Marrett Rd gate, which will continue to be used only as an auxiliary gate.
Need to acquire 3 hangars along flight line for base expansion.
Utilities privatization - looking for a local provider for utilities.
Enhanced use leasing – buildings on the base could be leased to renters who met security standards.
FedEx is not likely to gain access as it is incompatible with security at the base.
Housing privatization timeline: January 2004 – decide on developer. Renovate and/or rebuild the existing 850 housing units. Mid-2007 expected project completion with a total of 784 houses/units.
Col. Jones will follow up with Ms. Mattes in response to a question on who will be eligible to occupy base housing if the base were to close as part of the BRAC process. Because the privatization process creates privately owned homes built on government land, it is not clear how the property would convert back to the towns. Col. Jones believes that a large number of units would likely continue to be occupied by military personnel. At this time, there is no specific plan for how the public school system would be integrated or how public safety issues would be handled. Criteria for base closings will be released in January 2004. Regardless of whether the base is active or not, the military retains ownership of the land and is responsible for its management. In the event the
BRAC process does begin, there will be extensive work involved with the communities to resolve the many issues that will have to be addressed. Col. Jones does not consider the BRAC process of immediate concern at this time.
Col. Jones will invite the private contractor to speak at a future HATS meeting to describe their proposal for housing renovations and respond to questions. HATS committee members and members of the community need the opportunity to be involved in the construction of the privatization contract, in part to include the right of first refusal for affordable housing at the end of the lease period. Ms. Mattes thanked Col. Jones for his presentation.
HFAC Report - Peter Enrich reported on the Nov 18, 2004 HFAC meeting. The Annual Noise Report with data for 2002 is available on Massport’s website. There are approximately 639 new parking spaces at the newly striped parking lot in front of the civil air terminal. The Liberty Mutual hangar is likely to be on the agenda at the January HFAC meeting. There was no update on commercial aviation or cargo operations.
Other Development Projects in the Hanscom Area – Ms. Mattes asked for a review of local developments that may have an impact on the four-town community.
Mr. Moll described a proposed 258 unit, 40B housing project, Princeton Properties located on Concord Rd. in Bedford near the Concord Town line. Issues include traffic on Route 62, housing and wetlands. All relevant Bedford Town boards, including the Selectmen, are opposed to the project, as are the local residents. Massport has also stated their opposition to the project. The Zoning Board is likely to make a decision in the next few months. A smaller 100 unit, 40B housing project by the name of Avalon has also been proposed on the west side of Bedford. Input on the Princeton project is encouraged from the Selectmen and Planning Boards of Concord, Lexington and Lincoln and from Minuteman National Historic Park (MNHP). The next Bedford Zoning Board meeting
will be Jan 15, 2004. Bob Fagan - chairman.
Ms. Krieger reiterated the need to form a Developments of Regional Interest Board (DRI) to consider projects of this nature and urged HATS members to appoint members to the DRI as soon as possible. Ms. Shapiro will discuss possible DRI appointments with Mr. Moll.
Ms. Tiffany reminded the group that there should be four HATS members from each town in attendance at HATS meetings and that vacant positions need to be filled.
ACTION: Ms. Tiffany will compile a list of current HATS members and vacancies within each Town for the Selectmen, who will confirm existing members and contact new appointees. All members are encouraged to attend meetings and actively participate.
Minuteman Tech is selling a parcel of land that abuts the Minuteman campus and has a narrow right-of-way on to Mill St. in Lincoln. A traffic study indicated that the additional demand on traffic would be unsafe at the intersection of Mill St. and Route 2A. The Lincoln Planning Board recommended that traffic be directed through Minuteman Tech to the signalized intersection at 2A in Lexington. As a training center for special education teachers, the project qualifies for an educational exemption allowing Edco, the developer, to bypass local zoning requirements. Lexington Planning Board members should have input on this project as Minuteman Tech is in Lexington and it impacts traffic along 2A.
The New Life Community Church has proposed a development in Concord/Lincoln, but has not approached MNHP with plans to utilize the state land.
The DRI committee could meet within HATS meetings, listing a discussion of DRI projects as agenda items, and convene again on their own. Ms. Mattes will gather information on each of the projects to be distributed to planning board reps by selectmen.
ACTION: The 4 Town Selectmen have committed to making sure all HATS positions are filled and all DRI members are appointed. Some people may be members of both. Ms. Mattes will list the following projects as DRI agenda items for the January ’04 meeting: the Edco proposal for Minuteman Tech, the New Life Community Church, and a continued discussion of Air Force housing. (The Princeton Properties housing project will not be included because it will have already been heard.) HATS Selectmen are responsible for communicating with planning boards and concoms to prepare for the January HATS meeting. Any materials associated with the projects will be distributed to DRI members by the Selectmen. Formal appointments of DRI members need to be made by the respective
Selectmen prior to meeting as a group. Mr. Moll will compile a list of names of the zoning board representatives, planning board representatives, concoms and DRI appointees with phone numbers and email addresses.
ACTION: Ms. Mattes will contact Col. Jones about getting involved in the selection process for the developer who will be doing the privatization. Definitely consider (impacts) of contracts being signed with developers hired to do privatization.
A motion was made to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
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