Harvard's Institutional Plan: Residents want more time

Residents want more time to comment on Harvard
By Elana Zak, Correspondent
Thu Mar 27, 2008, 11:37 AM EDT
Allston-Brighton - TAB

Allston-Brighton - The Boston Redevelopment Authority reassured Allston residents this week that their input is wanted regarding Harvard University; they will not be rushed in making decisions, said Gerald Autler, senior project manager and planner for the BRA.

“We do want your scoping,” Autler said at the Harvard-Allston community task force meeting Wednesday, March 26. “I don’t want to be in the position again of rushing to the community benefits process.”

The meeting marked the first time this year that the task force discussed Harvard’s Institutional Master Plan. The master plan is a detailed framework that shows how Harvard plans to expand in Allston over the next 50 years. The plan features no substantial changes from what was filed last year, but the task force, which had focused its discussions for the past months primarily on Harvard’s Science complex, is now beginning detailed discussion of the full plan.

Scoping is a process whereby residents and task force members send in their recommendations and a formal document listing these suggestions will be sent to Harvard. The idea is that Harvard will implement some of these changes into their master plan so that residents are happy with the changes being done in their neighborhood.

“What’s important is that Harvard gets the campus they want,” said Bruce Houghton, a task force member. “The campus is not for the benefit of the neighborhood.”

Some were not thrilled with the master plan presentation. Jake Carman, an Allston resident, expressed concern over how retail areas in the neighborhood would be developed. He also mentioned that he felt Harvard and the BRA were not listening to the residents.

“I don’t want to see Barry’s Corner turned into Harvard Square because there’s nothing there for me,” he said. “This is supposed to be a partnership. They should be listening to us.”

Task force member Brent Whelan expressed concern over the fact that he felt rushed to make recommendations after Autler said he wanted comments to be sent in by next month. Autler, however, said numerous times during the meeting that the scoping was the beginning of the process and there was no rush. Both BRA and Harvard officials stressed that the master plan is a work in progress and subject to change.

Another topic at the meeting was the formation of Citizens Advisory Committee. The CAC, which was suggested by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office, would be composed of the existing Harvard-Allston Task Force as well as four other members appointed by the Ian Bowles, the secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The committee would help Bowles assess Harvard’s submissions to MEPA.

“We’re looking at the bigger picture’s environmental impacts,” said Briony Angus, MEPA’s representative at the meeting. “We’re looking at traffic to storm water to air quality.”

Task force members seemed a little overwhelmed by the knowledge that they would be participating in yet another committee. While Angus could not say what the exact time commitment would be, she reassured the task force that they still had a lot of time before a CAC meeting would take place.

“My questions is, really, are you serious? We all have day jobs,” said Whelan, summing up many of the task force members’ feelings.

Feedback wanted
Comments on Harvard’s Institutional Master plan are due by April 25. Comments can be sent to Gerald Autler at Gerald.autler.bra@cityofboston.gov, or mailed to 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201.