Proposed land swap plan could include two PDD zonings

March 1, 2001

Proposed land swap plan could include two PDD zonings

Town, developers continue to negotiate details; April Town Meeting planned

By JENNIFER MARTINAGE

STAFF WRITER

The goals of the proposed three-way land swap have remained the same; the designs have however fluctuated somewhat. At Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Town Administrator Robert Mercier said the proposed land swap will introduce senior affordable housing, preserve open space and historic properties, and eliminate the comprehensive permit at the Grandview Farm site. The plan, if approved, would also give the town monies for a 20-year span to spend as it pleases. He added that these monies could be used to purchase open space, similar to the state’s Community Preservation Act.

The proposed land swap involves land owned by the town and developers Gary Ruping and the Gutierrez Company. Talks of this plan have been ongoing for more than two years. Officials hope to bring the plan before Town Meeting at the end of April.

In an effort to simplify the process, officials have decided to group the development of the Mountain Road property into a PDD (Planned Development District), which allows multi-use zoning on a site. This zoning mechanism allows the developer to combine various zoning uses into one larger project. Town Meeting members do, however, have the final say.

Once a PDD is approved by Town Meeting, any changes to the plan must be brought back to Town Meeting for approval.

Although final details have yet to be worked out, the following is what Mercier outlined Monday:

the town’s 14-acre parcel of land on Wheeler Road would be transferred to the Gutierrez Company;
the Gutierrez Company would transfer their 19-acre parcel of land on Mountain Road to the town;
the town would transfer part of that Mountain Road property to Ruping, keeping a portion of the land in the town’s ownership as an Eastern box turtle habitat was found on the site;
Ruping would turn over the Grandview Farm site to the town.

Also part of the plan, Selectman Gary Gianino said, includes the Gutierrez Company paying the town $75,000 a year for 20 years, as well as giving the town two single family house lots on South Bedford Street. Gutierrez has also agreed to give the town four parcels of land along Glen Avenue, at the rear of the Mountain Road property, to provide a buffer to the Winnmere neighborhood.

Gianino added that negotiations continue with Ruping in terms of similar monetary payments.

Ruping, as part of the deal, would construct 144 market rate apartment units on the Mountain Road parcel, as well as 36 senior affordable housing units for Burlington residents. Seven acres on the Mountain Road parcel will be set aside for a turtle habitat.

Mercier said the town would receive the Grandview Farm site, as well as the building. There are two or three buildable house lots in the rear of the property that, Mercier said, would be sold to the highest bidder. This money, he added, would be used to rehabilitate the Grandview farmhouse. A use for the farmhouse has not yet been determined, but officials said, it will remain a town-owned facility.

Mercier said the PDD for the Mountain Road site was filed with the Planning Board Monday afternoon. Officials said the plan will be heard before the Planning Board tonight The Mountain Road PDD divides the site into four regions: a new Gutierrez Company building at the front of the site behind the Epsilon building, including the high tension wires; Winn Street towing will relocate to the Wall Street cul-de-sac to allow access to the rear of the site; senior affordable housing complex developed by Ruping; and the preservation of the turtle habitat and adjacent wetlands.

The town may also seek to use the PDD zoning at the Grandview Farm site.

" We want to best protect the farm house and open field and protect the folks along Briarwood Lane, " said Mercier. " We would prefer to do this through a PDD. "

Mercier said a PDD at this site would specify that the open field adjacent to the police station remains as open space; the farm house would be classified as municipal use; and the wetlands at the rear of the property would also remain as open space. He added that under the PDD, any changes to these plans would first need Town Meeting approval.

A fourth party was added to this proposal late last year — the Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council, of Framingham. This not-for-profit organization has negotiated with the town to develop and manage the senior affordable housing units constructed on the Grandview Farm site. But Mercier said, the original projections for 36 units will not be economically feasible. SMOC told the town they would have to construct 48 units on site.

Officials are also looking to replicate the Grandview barn structure at the Francis Wyman House property on Francis Wyman Road. Ruping has agreed to donate the timbers from the old barn for the reconstruction. Under the plan, the barn would have been razed due to its dilapidated state. According to historian John Goff, the mid portion of the barn is the oldest structure in Burlington. This prompted officials to find another location for the structure.

The Wheeler Road property would remain in its current state. The Gutierrez Company would be required to follow the normal planning department procedures to build on this land, Mercier said.

" We are doing this at no cost to the taxpayers, " Gianino said of the proposed plans.

Officials expect to start public meetings on these issues in March.

" Get ready for a busy March and April, " said Gianino.

" We have been involved in these discussions for two years, " said Selectman Vice-Chairman Juliet Perdichizzi. " Be as educated as you can. This is meeting many of our goals, senior housing, open space and historic preservation. "

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