Zoning: Re-drawing Between the Lines

 Newsletter, Parking, Traffic  Comments Off on Zoning: Re-drawing Between the Lines
Jul 202016
 
Zoning: Re-drawing Between the Lines

Housing Availability Affects Business Climate By Vincent Stanton Jr. Last month the Massachusetts Senate, for the first time in over two decades, passed legislation that would significantly alter state zoning law. The proposed legislation (which will not become law this year as there is not yet a corresponding bill in the House) would superimpose on local zoning a new set of rules designed to encourage greater housing density, particularly near jobs and mass transit. The new law would reduce the considerable freedom that cities and towns currently have to formulate their own zoning laws in three ways. One is providing [READ MORE]

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Getting Smarter About Light in Belmont

 Environment, Newsletter, Traffic  Comments Off on Getting Smarter About Light in Belmont
Jul 192016
 
Getting Smarter About Light in Belmont

Pilot Project Tests LED Streetlights by Anne-Marie Lambert Can you see me now? The Belmont Light Department is working to improve the efficiency of our streetlights. A grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources funded the replacement of 100 of today’s 2,400 high-pressure sodium bulbs with LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. This pilot project replaces 98 100-watt bulbs and two 250-watt bulbs with a variety of LED products. The pilot project alone is expected to save 26 megawatt hours (MWh) per year, with a payback period of just over four years. In the coming year, Belmont Light will evaluate the [READ MORE]

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Bicycles on Public Transit

 Air Quality, Bike Paths, Environment, Newsletter, Traffic, Transit  Comments Off on Bicycles on Public Transit
Jul 182016
 
Bicycles on Public Transit

Ride More, See More by Jeff Roth Choosing public transit over driving makes ecological sense. When you combine bicycling and transit, you’re helping the environment and getting a bonus of fun and healthy activity. Bringing your bicycle on public transit opens many green options for getting around Boston and beyond. You can use transit to cover long distances and then have your bike at your destination to explore less traveled roads. In my experience, biking and transit excursions, either with your family or solo, are healthy, fun, and green, and won’t get you stuck in car traffic. Start here. Go [READ MORE]

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Lone Tree Hill Cleanup

 Environment, Historic Preservation, Newsletter  Comments Off on Lone Tree Hill Cleanup
Jul 172016
 
Lone Tree Hill Cleanup

Fourth Annual Event Draws 30 Volunteers by Radha Iyengar On a sunny, warm May 14, volunteers met at the Belmont Citizens Forum (BCF) green-and-white awning at the Mill Street Lone Tree Hill parking lot to conduct two projects. Energetic volunteers collected 12 large bags of trash and two boxes of recyclables. At the Pine Allee, a separate team hauled in wheelbarrows full of wood chips, raking them into place along the entire length of the trail to help prevent soil erosion, and making it more comfortable for walking. Roger Wrubel, director of Mass Audubon’s Habitat Sanctuary, lent wheelbarrows, shovels, and [READ MORE]

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Belmont “Staycation” Needs You.

 Environment, Newsletter, Staycation  Comments Off on Belmont “Staycation” Needs You.
Jun 282016
 

by Shodai Inose In order to reduce our carbon footprint, the Belmont Citizens Forum is creating a Belmont “Staycation,” a vacation in our own town which will be safer for the environment and your wallet. As a summer intern at BCF, I’m collecting ideas to create family­ friendly and fun experiences, and I need your help. Do you know of any locations (preferably in Belmont) that you think people would enjoy? Are there any local businesses you would like to share with the rest of the community? How does a family like yours spend time in town? We’re looking for [READ MORE]

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