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Politics & Government

Dave and Busters Proposal Continues to Create Controversy

Planning Board reviews architectural, landscaping and on-site circulation plans

The Dave and Buster’s entertainment center proposed for 90 Middlesex Turnpike has captured the attention of Burlington residents more than any other development in recent years.  Sparks continued to fly at the Planning Board meeting on Thursday, March 3, 2011 where the applicant presented architectural, landscaping and on-site circulation plans to the Board.

The applicant’s landscape architect presented plans that include red maple trees, evergreen trees and a forty foot deep landscape bed. The plan also calls for a five foot wide sidewalk that connects to the neighboring Barnes and Noble site.  Member Roth commended the work of the landscape architect and stated that he was pleased with the responsiveness of the applicant to feedback received from the Planning Board subcommittee as pertained to the landscaping.

The building architect received a more measured response. The architect described the curved façade of the proposed structure and brought samples of textured materials and colors for board members to examine. He explained how the prominent parapet on the building would screen the air conditioning units from the view of traffic on Route 95 and Route 3.

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Member Roth expressed his desire for a building that included more traditional New England elements and stated that the architect was less willing than the landscape designer to incorporate the ideas and suggestions of the subcommittee.

Tensions rose dramatically however when Chairman Covino opened the meeting up to citizens in the audience. First to the table was the property owner Paul Calvo of R.C. Trust. Calvo reminded the Board that the Planned Development District (PDD) was approved before a tenant was selected and was designed to give him flexibility in marketing the property to a variety of users. He stated that the traffic issues on Middlesex Turnpike were not his responsibility and praised Dave and Buster’s architectural plans as well as their willingness to invest in the community.

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“This is good for the neighborhood and good for the town,” said Calvo.

Calvo received support from three residents who came out to speak in favor of the project including a resident from Blackhorse Lane, a construction worker who praised the proposal for the jobs it would bring to the town during these difficult economic times.

Next several Town Meeting Members(TMMs) took to the podium to express their displeasure with the proposal and with the PDD approval process. Connie McElwain TMM from Precinct 4 directed her comments to the Board.

“I voted for the PDD and this project is totally outside the scope of what we voted for. I think it has to go back to TM. This was not covered in what was presented to us.  If you try to give them a permit, you are usurping the rights of Town Meeting, which I am sure you do not intend to do,” stated McElwain.

TMM Norm Steeves of Precinct 5 took the Board to task telling them “You unanimously supported the RC Trust PDD proposal and Town Meeting supported it based on your recommendation. Now we are seeing something quite different.”

Steeves went on to describe the plan for Class A office space with retail on the first floor that was presented at Town Meeting in September 2009.

“The bylaws spell out the criteria that must be met in order to grant a special permit. The very first of those criteria is that the site development plan and use plan is substantially in conformance with the concept plan. There is no resemblance,” exhorted Steeves.

Member Jane Hyde replied “There were a ton of different uses available to that building. It wasn’t only those two.”

The proposal continued to take criticism as TMMS Joanne Kinchla (precinct 5) and Christine Warren (Precinct 4) stepped up to argue against the proposal.

“It’s the kind of establishment that I don’t think beautifies the town of Burlington. I have lived in Burlington a long time and I hate to see it become a Route 1,” said Kinchla. “We really don’t want Dave and Busters,” she concluded.

TMM Warren also spoke against the development.

“I would encourage people to listen to the audio of the Town Meeting,  it was unequivocally a class A office building with retail space at the bottom and an opportunity to fix the traffic issues that already exist. I do recommend that this goes back to Town Meeting,” said Warren.

Attorney Buckley representing the applicant maintained that no promises were made regarding the traffic mitigation plan and said that he believes there is still an opportunity to create a shared driveway sometime in the future.

“I will continue to work toward that objective. When the stars align, I would counsel you to pursue it,” added Buckley.

The Board voted to continue discussions until the March 17th Planning Board meeting.

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