June 9, 2011
TONIGHT S AGENDA: 1.Project Update (5 min.) 2.Master Plan Update (10 min.) 3.Environmental Update (5 min.) 4.Traffic Plan Update (25 min.) Questions
PROJECT STATUS UPDATE Responding / Clarifying ENF Comments to be addressed in our DEIR (Draft Environmental Impact Report) filing Received 23 Comment Letters w/ ENF Certificate o 6 State Agencies (MBTA, DCR, MassDEP, MassDOT, DOER, MWRA) o 4 City of Newton Agencies (Ward 4 Alderman, Dept. of Planning & Development, Engineering Dept & Conservation Commission) o 10 Newton Residents / Community Groups (RSNC, Woodland Grove Condominium & Local Neighbors) o 3 Other Interested Parties (Charles River Watershed, Metro Area Planning Council & Walk Boston) Meeting with Groups listed above Compiling the Technical Data to address / support comments raised in the ENF and to be included in the DEIR
SECTIONS WITHIN THE DEIR Project Description & Permitting Alternatives Analysis Greenhouse Gas Emissions Traffic & Transportation Air Quality (mesoscale analysis) Wetlands / Drainage Water Supply Wastewater Hazardous Waste Construction Period Impacts Mitigation & Proposed Section 61 Findings Responses to ENF Comments Distribution of DEIR
MASTER PLAN UPDATE What we heard: Reduce density Reduce height Reduce parking spaces Integrate uses more Focus on place-making Make a street frontage consistent with the character of Grove Street
MASTER PLAN UPDATE General Overview: Site entry points Landscape concept B A P3 P1 C D
MASTER PLAN UPDATE Building Overview P2 B Office A Office P1 P P3 C Residential D Retail/Office
MASTER PLAN UPDATE A is now 7 stories of office, not 11- penthouse is lower than Indigo roof line View along Rec Road B Office A Office 60 6 0 Indigo Grove St B is 5 stories of office over 5 stories of parking A and B Office Buildings A reduced 92,000 s.f. B reduced 86,000 s.f. P2 B Office Green Roof Parking spaces reduced by 340 A Office Parking removed over MBTA tracks INDIGO P1 C Residential
MASTER PLAN UPDATE Residential Redesigned Added 55 units, total is 295 65% 1 BR, 30% 2 BR, 5% 3 BR Rain garden Apartment building has courtyards P1 C Residential D Apartment units conceal the garage Parking is not visible from Grove Street Height varies along Grove Street from 3 to 5 stories Front stoops and gardens along Grove Street C Residential D Retail/Office View along Grove Street
MASTER PLAN UPDATE Bay windows and front stoops enliven the apartment facades Flower gardens along the front toward the entrance drive Residential along Grove Street Wide sidewalk and landscape buffer along Grove Street
MASTER PLAN UPDATE Intermodal Commuter Facility & Park CAR P3 Clear circulation paths TAXI Garage pulled back from the streets and partially concealed by D Retail/Office building C BUS D Retail/Office Park with Rain Gardens D Retail/Office P3
5 Story portion of apartment building Building D retail + office conceals parking garage in this view View along Grove Street Retail Gateway with canopies, outdoor seating, decorative paving
MASTER PLAN UPDATE Riverside Park Decorative panels conceal the parking MBTA entrance with stairs and elevators to platform Planting in front of existing concrete walls Multi-model station visible beyond Landscaped park, seating, rain gardens
MASTER PLAN UPDATE Sustainable Design All LEED-Silver, energy efficient buildings Reduction in impervious surfaces Groundwater recharge & rain gardens Green roof over B parking deck Solar panels on roof of P3
MASTER PLAN BENEFITS Reduced density, reduced height, and reduced parking spaces Attractive place-making at Riverside Station Residential street frontage consistent with the character of Grove Street Leed Silver, transit-oriented development New landscaped park including rain gardens that filter stormwater runoff Enhanced & accessible intermodal commuter experience, beautification of the existing MBTA station, bike accommodations New multi-use path from Grove Street to the Charles River Basin All parking is concealed - in structures, with façade treatment and/or under buildings
Environmental Resources Charles River Basin Protected DCR Land Wetland Resources Aquifer Protection District Interim Wellhead Protection Area TMDL Phosphorous and Bacteria/Pathogens Former Runaway Brook Culverted in 60 RCP on-site Maintained within Woodland CC Wetland Resources
Infrastructure Private Services Utility Services available on-site or within Grove Street Relocation of existing utility poles along Grove Street Public Services Water Supply Municipal City of Newton MWRA Regional Water Main Wastewater City of Newton Inflow and Infiltration Mitigation
Stormwater Management Protects and Benefits Environmental Resources Net Reduction in Impervious Area Significant reduction in Paved Areas Comprehensive Stormwater Management System Goals Improve Water Quality Control Water Quantity Groundwater Recharge Erosion and Sediment Control Best Management Practices and Low Impact Development Complies with MassDEP Stormwater Standards and City of Newton Requirements
Stormwater Management Green roof Groundwater Recharge Proprietary Filter Rain garden
Transportation Update
Traffic Presentation Outline Expanded Assessment Refinements to Access and Off-site Improvements VISSIM Simulation
Expanded Study Area Study Area Intersections (ExENF) total 18 Study Area Intersections (added to DEIR) total 28
Project Horizon Year; extended from MEPA MEPA is 5 year requirement; DEIR is10 year (extra measure of conservatism)
Refinements to Access and Off-site Improvements Continued Coordination with MassDOT Continued to review multiple options; all are presented in DEIR Refined designs on plans that have been most feasible Preferred Plan updated to meet highway design criteria Proposed new driveway looked at several ways:
Preferred Access/Infrastructure Improvements Plan 128
Grove Street at the Route 128 Northbound Ramps Increase Capacity Improve Safety for Vehicles and Pedestrians 128 Frontage Road Hotel Indigo Grove Street Grove Street Route 128 NB Off-Ramp
Preferred Access/Infrastructure Improvements Plan 128
Grove Street at the Route 128 Southbound Ramps Grove Street Asheville Road Increase Capacity Improve Safety for Vehicles and Pedestrians Up to 30 (Existing back of sidewalk at property line) Pierrepont Road Quinobequin Road Grove Street Existing Back of Sidewalk Proposed Back of Sidewalk
Preferred Access/Infrastructure Improvements Plan 128
Route 128 Collector-Distributor (C-D) Road Direct 2-Way connection to site Will remove both site traffic and MBTA traffic from Grove Street C-D Road 128
Preferred Access/Infrastructure Improvements Plan 128
Grove Street at the Riverside MBTA Parking Lot Driveway Increase Capacity Improve Safety for Vehicles and Pedestrians 128 Grove Street
Design Features to Promote Access 128 Free-Flow Access to CD Entrance and MBTA CD Road Access to all Parking is more convenient Aggressive Signage to Promote CD Road access CD Road becomes Main Access by Design P P
Improved Access 128 Peak Hour Site Traffic Peak Hour Site Traffic Future Conditions 72%* (conservative estimate) Peak Hour Site Traffic Future Existing Conditions 28% 100% * Estimate of site access distribution; varies during the day
VISSIM Simulations VISSIM (what is it?) Powerful microscopic simulation model for simulating multi-modal traffic flows including cars, trucks, buses bicyclists, and pedestrians
VISSIM Simulations Simulations for numerous alternatives have been prepared Three (3) Alternatives to present this evening: PM Peak Hour Traffic with Proposed Improvements Red Sox Game Day PM Peak Hour No-Improvements PM Peak Hour with Proposed Improvements
Video Launch Page Future Build with Improvements (Pm Peak) speed 1x 2020 Build Preferred Alternative (Pm Peak Hour) speed 4X Future No-Build Red Sox Game Day (Pm Peak) Actual Red Sox Game Day Video (Pm Peak) Future Build with Improvements Red Sox Game Day (Pm Peak)
Summary