Burlington landlocked parcel

[thecanoe]

I've heard that Burlington is thinking of selling/developing the PR or landlocked parcel and that Lexington is possibly planning a bike path near there.
Does anyone know anything?

[CouchingTiger]

I have not heard anything. Seems that rumors surface about once a year but they never result in anything (yet). A bunch of years back Burlington was considering developing it but that never went anywhere. Last year there was another rumor but some Burlington residents checked with the town and they knew of nothing.

-Couch

[DT]

Just recently there was a meeting discussing Lexington Greenway stuff. I didn't make the meeting, but there was a quick write-up here:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/lexington/news/opinions/x2133873650

I can't imagine that they would be cataloging trails and creating this greenway, only to sell off the land and develop it.

Does Burlington even technically have an entry into the parcel? I thought any trail/road entry spots were in either Bedford or Lexington and that the Burlington side is cut off by Rt.3?

Anyway, I've only lived here since June and already heard rumors two separate times and there's never really been any reason to suspect the rumors to be true.

DT

[hogboy]

burlington's stash is safe, probably forever. to develop it they would need to make a tunnel or bridge to provide emergency access, and then dig it all up and remove all the eons
of trash, cars, and whatever else is buried there. it would cost a lot. since a chunk of it is marshy and some vernal pools, they can't touch much of it anyway. I think it is 100% safe from development. the lexington side has 1 bog that is protected, the rest is on a hill so that part could be developed.

I called Burlington Town officials and they have not heard of any news or interest in developing the landlocked parcel.
That pretty much means the TT course is 'immune from being disappeared' or, getting the 'Magical Trevor' treatment

[radair]

It sounds like some residents should take the initiative to permanently protect this as conservation/recreation land.

[CouchingTiger]

I just looked at that Lexington Greenway link. They must be considering that greeway the powerlines. They say it is 5 miles and runs from Lincoln at the Cambridge Res. to Burlington. That sounds like the powerlines to me and not the PR at all (save the small connector on the powerlines).

Yes, the landlocked parcel that Burlington owns is landlocked, as in Burlington has no access route to it, which is why it has not been developed. Hogg is right also that it is also swampy and probably at least partially protected.

-Couch

[MikeT]

Thanks, Rob, for interjecting some good advice.

Burlington riders, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee. "100% protected", "never be developed", "trails are safe" - you guys are in dreamland. This Monday (1/28) at 7:30 at the high school, your town meeting will decide whether to spend $100,000 for a real estate appraisal of the landlocked parcel (See Article 6):
http://www.burlington.org/clerk/Calendar/wc20080128.html#EVENT3
http://www.burlington.org/TM_Warrants/WTM01_2808.pdf
That's not for a land use study, it's for an appraisal, as in "How much money can we make off this land?"

Your fellow taxpayers spent $16 million to purchase land that's worth less than $1 million because it's now landlocked, and they are eager to get their money back. Spending $3 million for a bridge isn't that ridiculous in the big picture. Burlington is a pro-development town with little advocacy for green space, so I'd suggest you consider attending your town meeting and think about organizing to preserve at least some of the parcel in its natural state.

fyi I am on the West Lexington Greenway task force, whose goal is to preserve as much green space as possible west of 128 for riding, hiking skiing, etc. We hope the creation of this greenway will add incentive to convert the landlocked parcel into conservation land of some type because it's adjacent.

MikeT mjt1@rcn.com

[hogboy]

well......the town has the mall, businesses, the new shopping center near plank street

burlington is fat with cash from all the big office buildings, and shopping,
and has a low tax rate as a result. some want the landlocked
to stay put as a hedge against far future issues. they don't need to do anything yet.

that one chunk of land is the most coveted chunk of possible development land in
massachusetts right now. it's proximity to 3, 95 and 495 play a huge role it is worth
and speculation. for many years developers have pressed
Burlington for that land and the town is happy to leave it as is. save it for a rainy day if you
will. the town does need it appraised so they know what they hold, but I still doubt they
will do anything with it in the next 10 years.

the landlocked parcel 300 acres is easily worth 50 million, not 1 million

[CouchingTiger]

It would be sort of ironic to see Burlington put in another sleazy strip mall right behind the McMansions on Page Hill in Bedford. Would certainly suck for them.

The problem with developing that chuck is that it would require more than one entrance/exit to really develop large scale commercially. Yea, one way in/out would be OK for a neighborhood residential development but is that going to generate the kind of dough necessary?

Who knows, Burlington owns it so it is up to them.

BTW, did a ride in there tonight. 100% torture with the conditions but good to be outside.

-Couch

[fisherking]

Just on the curious side, why does it have to be accessible from Burlington? Or is it that Bedford wouldn't make it accessible since they wouldn't want it there due to the houses around?
I don't know the whole picture but just wondered as that has been mentioned a few times. I assume utilities and such would need to come from Burl. though too..

[thecanoe]

My understanding is that Bedford and Lexington don't allow entrance into a commercial area through a residential area. Thus, Burlington can only access the land via a fly-over.
The state does not build exit ramps off highways for the sole purpose of entering an industrial complex.
We'll see. Money talks.

[hogboy]

in the meantime, right now, today,

there is a bitchin set of trails in there. about 12 miles worth, and 5 miles
are clearly laid out in a non-overlapping cloverleaf, MTB time trial loop.

the old record is around 20 minutes. it has been redesigned on one small
section, so it needs a new course record. who will step up and rip a new course
record HMMMMMM ???

[thecanoe]

The town voted last night on whether to proceed or not with an appraisal. I fell asleep at 11:00.
Did anyone see the meeting and know the results?

[hogboy]

Land use voted 3 in favor 4 in opposition of main motion

Majority Defeated Main Motion

http://www.burlington.org/TM_Minutes/MTM08_0128.pdf


this is also a good read, Burlington Open Space plan document


http://www.burlington.org/conservation/cc_files/2005%20Open%20Space%20Plan.pdf


the landlocked remains a conundrum...it is zoned general industrial, is left alone
for water protection, the whole town generally wants to turn it into
conservation land but they cannot officially do that until a bridge or walkway
or some type of access is built.