MassBay forum in Wellesley sparks calls to balance housing, environmental needs

MassBay Community College on Sept. 25 held a standing room-only forum at which about two dozens members of the public asked questions and shared feedback on the possible redevelopment of up to 45 acres of school property for housing. Proceeds from any such development would help the publicly-funded educational institution build facilities on campus for cybersecurity and recreation. (See full Sept. 25 meeting via Wellesley Media recording)

A panel of college and state officials stuck with the story first shared publicly at a recent joint Select Board-Planning Board meeting, where emotions ran high. The tone at this latest forum was calmer, with numerous members of the public complimenting MassBay as a neighbor and resource, and a couple of speakers straight-out supportive of the emerging proposal. Though neighbors also made their concerns clear about the impact any development could have on already tough traffic and the population at older school buildings, and residents from across town pleaded for the state and school to spare the forest adjacent to Centennial Reservation from development.

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Town staff and elected officials attended the meeting, mainly to hear what members of the public and the panelists had to say. An important all-board meeting that would have conflicted with the forum was bumped to Oct. 6. More than 100 people attended the forum.

The message from the state is that selling 45 acres of MassBay property to a developer for housing on some portion of that land would help the Commonwealth in its effort to address the housing shortage while contributing significantly to funding new MassBay facilities that could cost $75 million. The other part of their message was that while they have an impetus to move “expeditiously,” they don’t have an actual plan for the property yet, and are holding public meetings to incorporate feedback into an eventual request for proposal to be issued to developers. Different variations on “we don’t have the answer to that yet” were issued by the MassBay and state reps.

“As far as what does it look like, who does it serve, what values does it espouse, those are all things we’re looking to define together with the town,” said Abigail Vladeck, acting deputy commissioner of real estate for the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM).

The public speaks

Doug Youngen was among the first MassBay neighbors to speak, and while supportive of the school’s improvement efforts, he asked MassBay President David Podell how much thought has been given to the potential traffic impact of say, 180 units going up where the parking lot now stands across from the campus on Oakland Street (the figure of 180 units has come up based on 45 acres times a minimum of 4 units per acre outlined in the state’s Affordable Homes Act). Podell said he heard the concern, and referenced that a traffic study will be done. He also noted that more students are taking courses online and that more MassBay staff works remotely.

Larry Shind, as a land use attorney and resident, has spoken out over the years for and against development proposals in town. As a neighbor of MassBay, he spoke out against the college’s emerging proposal as “completely inappropriate for the site,” threatening property values and enjoyment of open space. Shind said an influx of residents and students would lead to a “public safety disaster” in the heavily congested area. He suggested MassBay and the state consider a relatively small development focused on affordable housing and that will preserve the forest.

Others also commented on their lived experiences with traffic in the area, the sort of intricate knowledge that traffic studies don’t pick up on. One resident stressed that the current roadway infrastructure is not suited for a big increase in traffic.

Numerous residents waxed poetic about the forest on MassBay property and Centennial Reservation next door, describing the area as “a gem,” a treasure,” and “heavenly.” One mom toting a baby in a backpack spoke up for the open space. An Oakland Street resident, Leslie Weiser, asked about whether environmental and psychological studies could be conducted if plans would impact the open space and those who currently use it, and showed off photos of people and dogs he has met at Centennial.

A Wellesley Conservation Land Trust rep spoke of the importance of addressing housing needs, but also to the competing interests of building more housing and protecting open space. “The educational and housing needs must be balanced with ecological, environmental, and climate change priorities,” the Trust’s Andrea Dannenberg said.

Resident Laura Robert spoke to the importance of natural resources in Wellesley to residents across town, not just near open space like Centennial Reservation. “I don’t think what’s being proposed is what the governor really wants,” she said. “There’s something that she also wants and that’s to address the biodiversity crisis… If you look at a map of Wellesley, what you’re sitting in the middle of is probably the best asset Wellesley has to maintain biodiversity in town…[the governor] wants housing, but she also wants biodiversity conserved.” Robert asked if the Executive Office of Energy and Environment Affairs might have a seat at the table with DCAMM (aka, the state’s real estate agency) and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, both of which were represented at the forum at MassBay.

One member of the public spoke of the benefits of linking good goals, such as more housing and improved educational opportunities. Others sought to find out whether alternatives to funding the MassBay renovations exist that don’t involve building a huge housing complex or tearing down trees (for example, the state has also pledged money to boost community colleges). MassBay neighbor Matt Murphy wondered whether there is still any chance of the college accomplishing its goals without DCAMM being involved, such as by working with the town to find grants or other funding.

MassBay’s Podell said he wasn’t optimistic about there being other mechanisms that could support such an expensive campus project. “We are a state agency, MassBay, we are part of the state, and we work cooperatively with the state in its goals. And one of its goals as we’ve talked about is to increase housing in the state. So our need and the state’s need kind of dovetail,” he said.

Another forum, with the same agenda, is scheduled for Oct. 8. Some attendees at the Sept. 25 forum encouraged the college and state reps to consider adding a forum that might be more convenient for neighborhood parents to attend given the impact any development could have on them.

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