[SBC] Assembly Square redevelopment hearing Nov. 16

[Alan Moore]

Unfortunately I thought there would be so many people testifying at this
hearing that I arrived @7:45 and the public comment period was already
closed.

Written comments will be accepted until Nov. 28 and there will a special
meeting on December 14 but I don't know whether comments will be accepted
then.

 

I have revised my proposed comments somewhat I would like us to approve
sending them during Tuesday meeting. Any comments now would be welcome.
Would it help if we could somehow produce a map to submit that shows what
paths and lanes, etc. we want where?

 

In addition to the Planning Board, I would like to send this to the Mayor
who has told Steve and I that will help us promote bicycle matters, Lisa
Lapore in the SPCD so that her dept. will hopefully echo these concerns, and
some if not all of the Aldermen.

 

Alan

 

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Dear Planning Board:

 

The recent settlement agreement and proposed Planned Unit Development zoning
seems like a great framework of smart-growth and transit-oriented
development needed at Assembly Square for all of Somerville and the region.
We first want to thank all the organizations and individuals that have
worked so long and hard to get to this improved vision and plan for
redevelopment at Assembly Square.

 

The Somerville Bike Committee has a number of suggestions that we believe,
while small within the scheme of this large development, are extremely
important for pedestrians and bicyclists and which will reduce motor vehicle
traffic to Assembly Square, the largest problem that the development and the
City will need to deal with. Thus, please incorporate the following comments
into the Assembly Square requirements. 

 

INTRODUCTION

We were very pleased to see pedestrian and bicycle paths and other
facilities mentioned in the agreement that were signed a few weeks ago and
felt that they were a very good start of a design that includes access to
the redevelopment by all modes of transportation.

 

However, the agreed upon pedestrian and bicycle ways are not included in the
Preliminary Master Plan Planned Unit Development (PUD) in sufficient detail.
We believe that there needs to be at least the inclusion of the following
language for three categories of bicycle and pedestrian access needs:

 

1. MYSTIC RIVER - the existing bicycle and pedestrian paths along the Mystic
River should be completed from the Ten Hills neighborhood, under Route 28,
along the redeveloped Assembly Square, under the Orange Line and commuter
tracks to Draw 7 Park to the Amelia Earhart dam continuing along the MBTA
Bus Yard and into Boston and Route 99. This bike and pedestrian corridor
will be both a long-distance route for recreational and commuting but also
for access to the Amelia Earhart dam crossing, the new Orange Line Station
and Assembly Square itself.

 

2. CONNECTIONS - Bike and pedestrian connections from other directions,
principally Sullivan Square, Foss Park area, and under I-93 to East
Somerville. Since these will also be very busy motor vehicle connection
points, bicycle lanes will be needed and, wherever feasible, bicycle routes
separate from cars should be included. While the developers and this PUD
does not encompass all these connection points, the developers need to
insure these bicycle and pedestrian connections are implemented in the same
sense that regional roads that they don't control still will be connected to
their internal streets.

 

3. INTERNAL CIRCULATION - Bicyclists and pedestrians will need access of
course to and between all the buildings within the development. In addition
to the creative placement of sidewalks and paths that will make this a
pedestrian-oriented development, bike lanes should be included on the busier
internal streets and a separate bike path should be included along the major
Assembly Square Drive or in some other configuration that will bring
bicyclists into the development separately from this busy access road.

 

Parking - Of course, these paths and lanes need to access bicycle parking
that is mentioned in the PUD documents and already required by Somerville's
zoning regulations. Since there will be significant bicycle parking demand,
locked, covered and/or other more sophisticated (i.e., than simple racks)
bicycle parking facilities should be part of the final designs. If the
largest development, IKEA, installed a state-of-the-art bicycle parking
facility, it would be a showcase to show the entire country how bicycles and
bicycle parking are incorporated into smart-growth development.

 

Also, the above paths must be very well designed and implemented by planners
experienced in this field or the resulting facilities will not attract
sufficient bicyclists and pedestrians to replace motor vehicles and/or
attract non-auto drivers to the businesses.

 

Thank you again for listening. The Somerville Bicycle Committee stands ready
to assist the developer and City in designing and implementing these
pedestrian and bicycle facilities at Assembly Square. The result will be a
development that the City and all will be proud of and will help bring more
people to the development without adding additional motor vehicles to the
roads and lessen the amount of auto parking required.

 

 

Alan Moore

Chair, Somerville Bike Committee

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