HomeMy Public PortalAbout2016-08-30_Community Committee Meeting_Final5 Stantec
Meeting Minutes
West Garage, Building 2 and Site Improvements Community Meeting
The Arsenal on the Charles Campus Plan
Date/Time: August 30, 2016 / 6:30 PM
Place: Athenahealth, Watertown, MA
Presenters: Mark Blair (athenahealth), Charles Rose (Charles Rose Architects Inc.), Bob
Corning (Stantec), Frank Holmes (Stantec)
(Item) Overview and Introduction
Mark Blair (athenahealth) introduction
• Introduced team
• Approved MP
• Developers conference 8/23
• Formal submission 9/13
Bob Corning - Stantec
• First phase of approved Master Plan
• Reviewed Master Plan Design
o Permeable campus
o West Garage
o 1,402 spaces(expandable to 1,534 with stackers)Retail building
• 3 Floors, 30,000 +/- sf
o New Public Open space between Garage and North Beacon Street
o Intersection improvements (Arsenal/ Wooley, N. Beacon St./Charles River Rd)
o Site connectivity- Pedestrians, Bicycles
Frank Holmes - Stantec
• Stormwater- visible on site
• Complies with Town's Stormwater By -Law
• Utilities - Replaced and upgraded as required
Bob Corning - Stantec
• Parking Summary
• Minimize soil excavation and dewatering resulted in deduction of 1 floor
• Bicycle parking - Exceeds Zoning
Charles Rose
• Building 2 facade
• 3 story building
• West Garage - Screen
• Bridge Connection from garage to Building 311
Stantec
Mark Blair
• Construction management
o Offsite parking being developed
o Communications plan will be available on-line
o Provide offsite parking spaces with shuttle service
o Committee community park 2nd week of Sept.
(Question) Who will manage Building 2?
(Answer) athenahealth will own and manage the building
(Question) Will athena occupy Building 2?
(Answer) Potential tenants are still being evaluated
(Question) Are there samples of the Building 2 aluminum material?
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(Answer) Model may be presented; rendered drawings make it very realistic, material samples
will be presented to the Planning Board
(Question) Is there a similar screen/veil as precedent?
(Answer) Not known- Project Team will research similar use
(Question) Can you describe the detail?
(Answer) Aluminum piece 2", galvanized steel support from rod to garage wall, 6" o.c. on
Arsenal St
(Question) Are the rods going to be painted/coated? Will they fade?
(Answer) Color is still being studied; hoping rods will not fade
(Question) Is there a sample of the colors?
(Answer) Yes, color sample will be provided
(Question) Once permitting is secured, what's the timeframe?
(Answer) 9/13 Site Plan Review Submission (tentative)
10/13 Planning Board Hearing (tentative)
10/17 Ground breaking (tentative)
15 month construction
5 Stantec
(Question) What happens to offsite parking after construction?
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(Answer) Offsite parking will not be needed and it will be eliminated; the garage will
accommodate all parking including shuttles and maintenance vehicles.
(Question) Community Park- how will you notify?
(Answer) athena is working with the Town on scheduling the meeting
(Question) Will there be screening on the west side of the proposed garage?
(Answer) West side will have screen wrapped around the corner to the north, and the planters
wrap the corner to the South.
(Question) Will we see photo simulation of south facade garage at the Planning Board meeting?
(Answer) Yes
(Question) Are the trees staying? Photo simulations show existing trees on North Beacon Street.
(Answer) Yes
(Question) Concrete looks stark white in renderings- will the real thing be less white?
(Answer) Renderings are not reflective of actual colors, we are sampling colors and textures for
the concrete. Final proposed color and texture will be presented at the Planning Board hearing.
(Question) Will harsh winters affect garage planters? How will they survive?
(Answer) There will be permanent irrigation, greater soil depth on planters, and we plan to select
plants which will survive.
(Question) Will there be new trees on Arsenal Street? Life span?
(Answer) All new street trees- hopefully a lifespan of 40-50 years. Understory trees in planters at
plaza
(Question) Who owns the trees?
(Answer) Being discussed for R.O.W
Stantec
(Question) Who's responsible for street tree maintenance?
(Answer) Athena and the town will have to discuss
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(Question) How will you maintain the site after completion of project?
(Answer) Athena owns the campus and will be the primary user, as such it is in their best interest
to maintain their investment.
(Question) What tree species on plaza? What kind of soil? Depth and volume?
(Answer) This information is available on the plans.
(Question) Can you save the existing trees by Building 2?
(Answer) Trees will be removed.
(Question) Are trees in front of Building 311 staying?
(Answer) Yes, tree management plan was submitted as part of Special Permit Application
(Question) Will there be a fence in front of Building 2?
(Answer) No, but the fence in front of building 311 will be restored and relocated.
(Question) Is the fence being moved on Arsenal Street?
(Answer) Yes, but it will be refurbished, and relocated.
(Question) Will there be a wider sidewalk on Arsenal Street with relocation of fence?
(Answer) Yes, it is part of the Phase I project
(Question) Is Building 2 programmed?
(Answer) Zoning dictates usage; it will be a public and/or commercial use.
(Question) How will plaza under Building 2 interact?
(Answer) We have to wait to get Athena to program appropriately; idea is for the plaza to be a
public open space
Stantec
Meeting Minutes
(Question) What is the size of the Arsenal Street trees when planted?
(Answer) 3.5"-4" in caliber
(Question) Will the curb line change on Arsenal Street?
(Answer) No, Athena is giving up land for sidewalk widening
(Question) How will the planters on the garage be treated in the winter?
(Answer) Plants selected for garage planter has all seasonal interest
(Question) How successful have you been with finding an offsite parking location during
construction?
(Answer) athena has been negotiating and will be furnished to the Town once locations are
finalized this is needed before building permit is issued.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM
The foregoing is considered to be a fair and accurate record of all Questions discussed. If any
discrepancies or inconsistencies are noted, please contact the writer immediately.
Stantec Consulting Services Inc.
Brad Johnson
Civil Designer
Phone: (617) 654-6033
Brad.Johnson@stantec.com
Thu Ngan Han
Landscape Designer
Phone: (617) 654-6026
ThuNgan.Han@stantec.com