Community Perspective: Coast Guard Housing on Pine Hill Road

By Dot Bergin

Community-PerspectiveThe recent –and very fast moving-developments on the future of the Coast Guard housing property on Pine Hill Road are a testament to Bedford’s interest in bringing about a resolution that potentially will be of real benefit to the community.  As of the July 21 Selectmen’s meeting, the Coast Guard has agreed to negotiate directly with the town for purchase of the property.  There is much more to be done in coming weeks (watch The Citizen for breaking news) but enthusiasm for pushing ahead is high, both among town officials and residents.

For years, Bedford residents have asked “why can’t something be done about the 15 empty homes on the five-acre lot owned by the Coast Guard?” Over and over, townspeople have said “How about housing for older homeowners who want to downsize, or workforce housing, or entry-level housing for young families who can’t afford the usual price of a Bedford home, or veterans’ housing.” Residents were frustrated by the sight of the empty homes when there were unmet needs in town.

As Selectmen Chair Margot Fleischman said at the July 21 meeting, many committees have worked on this for years. And Selectman Mike Rosenberg could hardly contain his excitement and enthusiasm about the possibility for a favorable outcome on a situation which “six months ago looked hopeless.”

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This is what has happened to date: The Selectmen and the Planning Board  voted to support adopting a new zoning provision for the Coast Guard property that so that a developer could implement  the type of housing and style of neighborhood consistent with the Town’s vision. The current zoning provides for one house per acre, meaning a developer could build five single homes but this is inconsistent with the “visioning” process which evolved from the two design charrettes held in the spring.

As Town Manager Rick Reed reported at the July 21 meeting, here is a possible sequence of events: The Town and the Coast Guard negotiate a purchase price for the property.  Bedford’s Municipal Affordable Housing Trust would be the actual purchaser. Simultaneously, a developer (selected through a Request for Proposal process) would immediately purchase the property and develop it according to the Town’s vision.  It should be noted that this is a simplified description of what may actually transpire in the coming weeks. A zoning change would be required at Town Meeting.

In arriving at a vision for what the property might look like, great credit goes to Gene Clerkin, Bedford Housing Authority, for coming up with the idea of the two charrettes.  These “design exercises,” which attracted more than 140 residents, gave townspeople the opportunity to see a variety of concepts in housing, transportation, recreation, open space and other elements that make up a community. By the end of the second charrette, ideas and thoughts appeared to crystallize along fairly traditional lines.  Of the three options presented by the architectural design firm DSK at the charrettes, two were favored by the Selectmen and included in the Resolution adopted at their July 21 meeting.

Option A: Renovate the existing homes and add 14 new cottages and a common building, for a total of 29 units, at slightly higher density than the existing property.

Option B: Remove the existing Coast Guard homes; build attached and single cottages, for a total of 35 units, with better organization of the open space.

(A third Option C: Build single and attached cottages (12) plus 38 garden apartments for a total of 50 residences, with possibility of parking spaces below the apartments and higher density of units per acre was not included in the Selectmen’s Resolution.)

Those taking part in the charrettes were especially concerned about density.  As outlined by the DSK team, it’s possible with careful planning and good organization of the “green spaces” to achieve slightly higher density without sacrificing the traditional look and feel of a Bedford neighborhood.  Both charrettes attracted a mix of long-time and newer residents, one of whom was overheard to say that he could never imagine a process such as this taking place in his previous town.  The charrettes were a rare opportunity for neighbors to come together and see how careful planning could result in a pleasing development consistent with the Town’s values.

Editor’s Note: The Bedford Citizen plans to cover the developing Coast Guard Housing story from three points of view: review and action taken by the Planning Board, by the Selectmen, and through community meetings such as those recently convened by the Bedford Housing Authority. Veteran reporter Dot Bergin will offer Community Perspectives as they come available.

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