mm

Belmont Roots July-August 2020

 Newsletter  Comments Off on Belmont Roots July-August 2020
Jun 302020
 
Belmont Roots July-August 2020

This summer is an uncertain time. Although restrictions on movement and interpersonal contact are gradually lifting—Habitat reopened trails on June 8!—the risks of attending group events are still too high for many readers. Once again, here is a list of ways to think about our environment, energy, and our world without putting yourself at risk. Think you’ve seen everything around Belmont? I bet you haven’t. The Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation publish lists of all the animals, birds, plants, algae, lichens, and fungi found at Fresh Pond. Bulbochaete and spirogyra await algae fans! Dust off your hand lens, polish your [READ MORE]

Share
 Posted by at 6:00 am

New Rock Meadow Parking Plan Proposed

 Air Quality, Environment, July-August 2020, Newsletter, Open Space, Parking, Plants, Stormwater, Traffic, Water Quality  Comments Off on New Rock Meadow Parking Plan Proposed
Jun 302020
 
New Rock Meadow Parking Plan Proposed

By Jeffrey North and Mary Trudeau The Belmont Conservation Commission recently engaged a team of Northeastern University students to explore parking lot and stormwater drainage improvements for Rock Meadow. As visitors to Rock Meadow can attest, the parking lot is inefficient, rutted, partially paved, and often filled with pockets of standing water. Improvements have been called for since at least 1968, when the report, A Program for Renewing Rock Meadow, stated the obvious: “The entrance is not attractive and does not do justice to the beautiful area beyond.” The arrival experience is incongruent with Rock Meadow’s value as a treasured [READ MORE]

Share

Cushing Square: What Did We Learn?

 Construction and Housing, July-August 2020, Newsletter, Parking, Town Committee Meetings, Traffic  2 Responses »
Jun 302020
 
Cushing Square: What Did We Learn?

By Meg Muckenhoupt and Virginia Jordan The Bradford development in Cushing Square disrupted Belmont’s streets, sidewalks, planning, and politics, and stressed local businesses over the last decade. Town Meeting adopted a new overlay district in 2006 to channel development and provide the Planning Board with tools to control the scale and look of Cushing Village, now the Bradford, a three-building project comprising 38,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, 112 residential units on upper floors, and 201 parking spaces. In the past 14 years, the town has learned some lessons about managing large construction projects—and how large construction projects affect [READ MORE]

Share

May/June 2020 Newsletter

 May/June 2020, Newsletter  Comments Off on May/June 2020 Newsletter
May 032020
 
May/June 2020 Newsletter

The complete May/June 2020 Belmont Citizens Forum Newsletter is available as a PDF. Read individual articles below. Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day Postponed The volunteer day will be held in the fall, but we’d like to thank our sponsors now. Read more. Belmont’s Last Pandemic: the 1918 Flu The story of how Belmont responded is replete with both striking similarities to the 2020 coronavirus response and sharp differences. A weekly record of the influenza pandemic as it swept through Belmont in the fall of 1918 can be found in the pages of the Belmont Patriot. Read more. Cleaning Belmont’s Water Means More Work There [READ MORE]

Share
 Posted by at 8:45 pm

Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day Postponed

 Environment, Lone Tree Hill, May/June 2020, Newsletter, Open Space  Comments Off on Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day Postponed
May 032020
 
Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day Postponed

Belmont Citizens Forum’s Eighth Annual Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day in conjunction with the Judy Record Conservation Fund scheduled for April 24, 2020, at the Lone Tree Hill parcel has been postponed to the fall due to the current Coronavirus shelter in place order. A big shout out to the good Samaritans who picked up the trash at the bottom of Coal Road, along Pleasant Street and at the Mill Street parking lot. Later this year we plan to complete the planting of trees along the Pine Allee. THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS Gold Level Sponsors Anne Mahon Realty [READ MORE]

Share

Belmont’s Last Pandemic: the 1918 Flu

 History, May/June 2020, Newsletter  Comments Off on Belmont’s Last Pandemic: the 1918 Flu
May 032020
 
Belmont’s Last Pandemic: the 1918 Flu

By Vincent Stanton, Jr. Thought you could escape coronavirus news in the pages of the BCF Newsletter? You are safe, but there is a catch. If you can tolerate more grim news, consider taking a trip back to the last global pandemic, the so-called “Spanish Influenza” of 1918. The story of how Belmont responded is replete with both striking similarities to the 2020 coronavirus response and sharp differences. A weekly record of the influenza pandemic as it swept through Belmont in the fall of 1918 can be found in the pages of the Belmont Patriot. However, before diving into the [READ MORE]

Share

Cleaning Belmont’s Water Means More Work

 Environment, May/June 2020, Newsletter, Sewers, Stormwater, Water Quality  Comments Off on Cleaning Belmont’s Water Means More Work
May 032020
 
Cleaning Belmont's Water Means More Work

By Anne-Marie Lambert There is good news and bad news in Belmont’s January 31 Report on Compliance to the EPA. On the one hand, the town decided to go ahead and reline or replace many sewer laterals and rehabilitate significant sections of the sewer system in certain Belmont neighborhoods as part of a comprehensive construction project planned for spring 2020. On the other hand, the report indicates that while there was a lot of investigation work (dye testing and sampling) and design work between July 2019 and January 2020, there was no significant mitigation work during the fall construction season. [READ MORE]

Share

How the Community Preservation Act Works

 Construction and Housing, Environment, Historic Preservation, May/June 2020, Newsletter, Town Committee Meetings  Comments Off on How the Community Preservation Act Works
May 032020
 
How the Community Preservation Act Works

Changes in Store for Future Planning, Town Meeting Votes By Elizabeth Harmer Dionne The CPA up to now In November 2010, 51% of Belmont voters adopted the Community Preservation Act (CPA), a state statute which allows communities to dedicate funds to acquiring and preserving open space and recreation land, historic resources, and affordable housing. Belmont property owners now pay a surcharge of 1.5% on the town’s annual real estate tax levy; residents who qualify as having low to moderate income according to state guidelines can apply through the Assessors Office for a full CPA surcharge exemption. Funds raised from this [READ MORE]

Share

It’s Officially Census Day

 Newsletter  Comments Off on It’s Officially Census Day
May 032020
 
It's Officially Census Day

By now, all Belmont households have received one or more official invitations by mail to take the 2020 Census. It has never been easier or more important to take the census. Residents can respond on their own, whether online, over the phone, or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker. With the flexibility and support of Belmont residents, we will achieve a complete and accurate count to help guide funding decisions for things like health centers, roads, and emergency services. Both phone and online options are available in 13 languages, and assistance in many more languages is available [READ MORE]

Share

Belmont Tackles Climate Vulnerability Planning

 Environment, May/June 2020, Newsletter, Open Space, Stormwater, Water Quality  Comments Off on Belmont Tackles Climate Vulnerability Planning
May 032020
 
Belmont Tackles Climate Vulnerability Planning

By Catherine Bowen Take Belmont’s municipal vulnerability survey now. How is Belmont preparing for the impacts of climate change? As we are in the midst of a public health crisis, we are seeing the vulnerabilities and strengths of our community similarly to how we may experience them in a climate-change related crisis. It is timely that Belmont is now in the first phase of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program (MVP), a tool Massachusetts created in 2017 to enable local governments to prepare for the weather-related impacts of climate change and address vulnerabilities, including emergency communications. Modeled on the state’s Green [READ MORE]

Share

Tree Loss Harms Urban Environments

 Air Quality, Environment, May/June 2020, Newsletter, Open Space, Plants, Water Quality  Comments Off on Tree Loss Harms Urban Environments
May 032020
 
Tree Loss Harms Urban Environments

By Florence DiTirro The National Land Cover Database from 2001 estimated Belmont’s tree canopy was 27% of Belmont’s land. From 2003 to 2008, Boston’s urban tree cover declined from 29% to 28%. This downward trend continues if we look at our state, our country, and our globe. The Massachusetts urban tree cover declined between 0.32% and 0.24% in the five years from 2009 to 2014, and the United States overall lost 1.0% of urban tree cover. Global loss was measured as -0.2%. It’s a sad state that we are losing our trees. What is there not to like about trees? [READ MORE]

Share

Changing Economics Alter Belmont’s Recycling

 Environment, May/June 2020, Newsletter, Recycling  Comments Off on Changing Economics Alter Belmont’s Recycling
May 032020
 
Changing Economics Alter Belmont's Recycling

By Terri Goldberg According to the US EPA, in 2017, the latest year for which they have published data, the United States recycling and composting rate was about 35%. The country’s recycling rate has been stuck in the low- to mid-30 percent range since the early 2000s in spite of the extensive efforts to improve it. In part, the recycling system has been working to keep up with the changes in the materials generated by households, businesses, and institutions. Over the past decade, the composition of municipal solid waste has been evolving away from newsprint, office paper, and glass containers [READ MORE]

Share

Belmont Roots May/June 2020

 Newsletter  Comments Off on Belmont Roots May/June 2020
May 032020
 
Belmont Roots May/June 2020

By Meg Muckenhoupt As of press time, many wonderful events and presentations have been cancelled this spring, and it isn’t clear when they will begin again. Habitat is closed, even to casual walkers, as the meadows and wetlands resound with the calls of wood frogs and warblers, woodcocks and owls. There are green shoots swelling, and nests filling with young. The evening air grows warmer, and the sunsets stretch into the night. But we humans are stuck inside. Instead of a list of classes, walks, and seminars, here are  some intriguing local webinars and sites that might keep you occupied until [READ MORE]

Share
 Posted by at 3:02 pm

Arlington Group Opposes Mugar Site Plans

 March/April 2020, Newsletter, Open Space, Water Quality  Comments Off on Arlington Group Opposes Mugar Site Plans
Mar 022020
 
Arlington Group Opposes Mugar Site Plans

By Meg Muckenhoupt The Mugar wetlands are 17.7 acres of open land in East Arlington. Oaktree Development has proposed constructing a 207-unit apartment complex and six duplex townhouses on this site, to be renamed Thorndike Place. The Coalition to Save the Mugar Wetlands opposes building on the site, which is bordered by Route 2, Thorndike Field, and Dorothy, Edith, and Burch Streets. The following interview with Clarissa Rowe, one of the founders of the Coalition to Save the Mugar Wetlands, was edited for length and clarity. Why is the Mugar site important? I think the reason Arlington and Belmont residents [READ MORE]

Share

Lydia Ogilby Remembered

 Newsletter  Comments Off on Lydia Ogilby Remembered
Mar 022020
 
Lydia Ogilby Remembered

By Neal Winston Lydia Phippen Ogilby passed away on November 1, 2019, at age 98 at her historic John Bright House on Washington Street, adjacent to the 10-acre Belmont Farm. Living in Belmont from a young age, she was known by townspeople as a spirited preservationist of its heritage and land. Lydia’s strong and generous opinions embodied the Belmont spirit of independence and industriousness of her forebears. Her portrait by Belmont photographer Richard Cheek hangs in Town Hall. She is seen standing in her field, seemingly growing out of the earth, ever vigilant, defying the pressures of development around her. [READ MORE]

Share

Community Path Began Decades Ago

 Bicycles and bike paths, Bike Paths, History, March/April 2020, Newsletter  Comments Off on Community Path Began Decades Ago
Mar 022020
 
Community Path Began Decades Ago

By Vincent Stanton, Jr. It has taken over two decades of stop-and-start development to bring the Belmont Community Path to its current state of planning and formal design, but a timeline for construction of the path is finally in sight. The design and engineering of Phase I of the Belmont Community Path, from Brighton Street to the Clark Street Bridge, started last fall and should take about two years to complete. In the next two years, path plans will progress through three major milestones: 25, 75, and 100 percent design, as part of a Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) guided [READ MORE]

Share

Belmont CPC Supports Four Projects

 Arts & Culture, Historic Preservation, March/April 2020, Newsletter, Open Space, Town Committee Meetings  Comments Off on Belmont CPC Supports Four Projects
Mar 022020
 
Belmont CPC Supports Four Projects

By Margaret Velie This year, Town Meeting will be considering four projects for Community Preservation Act funding. By law, Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds are limited to projects for affordable housing, historic resources, open space, and outdoor recreational facilities. Last fall, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) received seven preliminary applications for funding. Since then, one project was deemed ineligible, and two others were withdrawn. The committee reviewed the remaining four applications and is recommending all four for funding. Affordable Housing Feasibility Study for the Redevelopment and Creation of New Affordable Housing Units at Belmont Village The Belmont Housing Authority is [READ MORE]

Share

Community Path Update

 Bicycles and bike paths, Bike Paths, March/April 2020, Newsletter  Comments Off on Community Path Update
Mar 022020
 
Community Path Update

By Kate Bowen Work continues with Nitsch Engineering and the Belmont Community Path Project Committee (CPPC) to bring the path to fruition. A public engagement meeting is anticipated in spring 2020. At that meeting, design solutions will be shared and discussed for Phase 1 of the two-phase project, including pinch points such as the former Belmont Municipal Light Department building. The Alexander underpass portion of the project (segment 1A), for which the town received a MassTrails Grant of $150,000, will also be discussed at that meeting. Nitsch Engineering presented two technical options for installing the tunnel alongside the functioning rail [READ MORE]

Share

Arlington Group Opposes Mugar Site Plans

 Construction and Housing, Environment, March/April 2020, Newsletter, Stormwater, Water Quality  Comments Off on Arlington Group Opposes Mugar Site Plans
Mar 022020
 
Arlington Group Opposes Mugar Site Plans

By Meg Muckenhoupt The Mugar wetlands are 17.7 acres of open land in East Arlington. Oaktree Development has proposed constructing a 207-unit apartment complex and six duplex townhouses on this site, to be renamed Thorndike Place. The Coalition to Save the Mugar Wetlands opposes building on the site, which is bordered by Route 2, Thorndike Field, and Dorothy, Edith, and Burch Streets. The following interview with Clarissa Rowe, one of the founders of the Coalition to Save the Mugar Wetlands, was edited for length and clarity. Why is the Mugar site important? I think the reason Arlington and Belmont residents [READ MORE]

Share

Belmont Roots March/April 2020

 BCF Events, March/April 2020  Comments Off on Belmont Roots March/April 2020
Mar 022020
 
Belmont Roots March/April 2020

By Meg Muckenhoupt Is your workplace letting everyone off for Spring Break this year? I didn’t think so. It’s just as well. Flying to the Caribbean spews a lot of carbon into the air, and there’s so much to explore at home. Animals are stirring from their winter torpor, buds are subtly swelling, and more than 500,000 herring are preparing to swim up the Mystic River—perhaps to Alewife Brook, named for those very herring. It’s fun to watch, and even more fun to watch while recording information that helps us understand our world, and how it is changing.  Winter Forest [READ MORE]

Share
 Posted by at 9:45 am  Tagged with:
 Older Entries  Newer Entries