In the earlier post, I missed two positive things about the proposed development on the Skipjacks/IBC site. In an email response to some questions I had, the developer’s attorney pointed out that the building is much shallower than the typical building on Needham St., intending to attract smaller stores, rather than the bigger boxes. The developer calls it “Village Retail.” I’d call it an upgrade to the street.
Also, and I’m not sure how I neglected this, there are plans for two bike racks in front of the building. Ironically, IBC has no bike racks. (One day, I’ll do a post cataloging the bike parking in front of the city’s various bike stores. It’s not what you’d expect.) So, this is another good upgrade.
Let’s hope that Needham St. eventually gets some good bike lanes to go with the racks.
The public hearing on the special permit for the development is tomorrow night, September 11, 2012, at 7:30 PM, at City Hall.
The traffic don’t move most of the day. No one is going to hit your bicycle (unless you refuse to apply the braking mechanism which seems to be the Newton riding style). You’re making it awfully difficult to respect biking lately. Your obsession is causing you to criticize police for taking time off, and asking them to make up laws that allow them to arrest whomever they want just because of grandmother allegations.
Any development that reduces the number & size of curb cuts will improve Needham St. (Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anything making Needham St. any worse… but I knock on wood when I say that.)
For more information on this project, please read the planning department’s memorandum for tonight’s public hearing, which will be at 7PM in the aldermanic chamber at Newton City Hall. The Needham Street project is last on the agenda and there are a number of items, so it may be late in the evening when it is presented.
Thanks @Ted! I’d love to come check out the developers’ plans tonight, unfortunately can’t stay up late (leaving on a business trip in the wee hours on Wed. morning).
I hate to lose International Bicycle at its current location, but I don’t see anything in the developer’s plan that’s obviously objectionable — which is why I wish I had time to attend, to hear the details and feedback.
Just to update Village 14 bloggers, the Land Use Committee held a public hearing on this petition last night, which was formally closed at around 12:45 in the morning. A working session on this application will be scheduled in the near future. Given the interest in this project, I will try to remember to post something when we schedule the working session. In the meantime, for updates on all things special permits, please follow the Land Use Committee on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NewtonMALandUse.