Town of Arlington, MA - Symmes Conservation and Improvement Project

Symmes Conservation and Improvement Project

Current News & Information
Symmes Construction website	This website, updated twice monthly, provides current information about the Symmes project, who to contact, and meeting notices.

History of Symmes Project	A brief history is provided below
Board of Selectmen's Policy Statement
Symmes Advisory Committee	Town Meeting appointed a 13 member committee to solicit input from the public on the use of the Symmes Site.

Symmes Advisory Committee

Public Participation

Final Report to Town Meeting (5/05/2003)

Town Meeting Vote on SAC Final Report and Recommendations

Redevolopment Board	The Arlington Redevelopment Board acting as the Urban Renewal Authority proceeded to implement the action of Town Meeting.
Symmes Construction website	Symmes Construction website, provides information by Symmes Redevelopment Associates in accordance with the Neighborhood Protection Plan for the Symmes Arlington Conservation and Improvement Project. This website will be updated twice monthly and will provide current information about the project, who to contact and how, as well as meeting notices and additional information.
Symmes Memo June 2007	Memo from Planning Director to Town Manager and Board of Selectmen
Recently Asked Questions 2007	Recently Asked Questions about the Symmes Project June 2007
Land Disposition Agreement Amended 6/07/07	Updated Land Disposition Agreement
9/12/05 Special Permit Decision, Symmes Residential Component
7/25/05 Symmes Residential Component Plans and Presentation Materials	(2.75 MBs)
7/18/05 Symmes Residential Component Plans and Presentation Materials	(3.1 MBs)
7/12/05 Symmes Residential Component Plans and Presentation Materials	(6.8 MBs)
06/13/05 Special Permit Decision, Symmes Medical Officde Building
05/17/2005 Neighborhood Protection Plan	(3.6MBs)
9/15/2004 Peer Review of Transportation Study	The Transportation Advisory Committee hired Fay, Spofford and Thorndike to prepare a peer review of the Symmes Transportation Study
09/13/2004 Symmes Transportation Study	Transportation Study conducted by E.A. Fish (70 Pages)
Report to September 20, 2004 Special Town Meeting - Symmes Conservation and Improvement Project	Informational Report to Town Meeting members which includes the timeline and frequently asked questions.
Interim Conservation Area Plan	Draft plan showing area to be under the jurisdiction of a conservation restriction.
08/10/2004 Redevelopment Board negotiates with Developer	Information provided to the SAC on the negotiations with E.A. Fish.
08/2004 Symmes Project Photometric Plan	Illustrates light level on site and surrounding properties.
01/2004 SAC Evaluation of Proposals	The Symmes Advisory committee evaluation of the four proposals and that evalution is presented here.
Response to RFP	Four developers responded to the RFP. Their detailed proposals are presented here.
10/23/2003 Request for Proposals	The ARB issued a request for proposals for potential developers to submit.

HISTORY OF THE SYMMES PROJECT

In early 2001 the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Arlington proposed the acquisition of the 18-acre Symmes Hospital campus in response to its owners' intentions to sell, and enacted a policy statement defining the Town's goals in acquiring the site. On March 31, 2001, in a Town-wide referendum, voters approved the acquisition of the Symmes Hospital Campus via a debt-excluded financing by a margin of 59% to 33%. The 2001 Annual Town Meeting created the Symmes Advisory Committee to advise and assist the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager, the Redevelopment Board and the Town Meeting in evaluating the decision to go forward and to determine the most appropriate uses for the Symmes Campus. In January 2002, a Special Town Meeting voted to carry out the acquisition of the parcel as an Urban Renewal Plan, and the Town took ownership of the property in April of 2002.

In June 2002 the Committee and the Arlington Redevelopment Board conducted an extensive RFP and interview process to select a team of professionals to undertake a thorough planning process with extensive public participation, to result in recommendations to the Town on the best reuse plan for the property.

SYMMES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Public Participation

The SAC conducted numerous meetings with active participation by residents of the town. Four major workshops were held and hundreds of working group meetings were conducted. Any and all residents were encouraged to participate and hundreds did.

Symmes Advisory Recommendations to Town Meeting

In April 2003 the Symmes Advisory Committee submitted its final report to Town Meeting. The report outlined three potential alternatives for reuse of the site all containing a mix of uses consistent with the mandate of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Meeting. Town Meeting voted unanimously to accept these recommendations.

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