Medford Resident Raises Concerns on Fells Development

UPDATE, 11:15 a.m.: Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn has formally requested the comment period be extended for public input on the Woodland Road re-development.

In a letter released by McGlynn's office Thursday morning, McGlynn asked Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan, Jr. to consider a 30-day extension for the comment period.

McGlynn wrote that the project's Environmental Notification Form "asserts a project with minimal impact that preserves historical and scenic integrity, in fact the project will alter a scenic roadway with an important regional open space asset."

McGlynn wrote the city would like to conduct its own review of the ENF and make comments accordingly.

ORIGINAL STORY: A Medford resident expressed his concerns to the City Council Tuesday about a major Stoneham-based project that could impact the Middlesex Fells Reservation and traffic within Medford.

Tom Lincoln, who lives on Gleason Street in Medford, approached the council about the long-running discussion to re-develop the former Boston Regional Medical Center property on Woodland Road in Stoneham, not far from the north part of Medford.

Lincoln said the project, known as Langwood Commons, is "smack in the middle" of the Middlesex Fells. While the property is privately owned, the Fells is managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

The purpose of Lincoln's comments Tuesday were to address plans to alter Woodland Road, which is an historic Fells parkway, filed recently by the DCR and the project. 

"This project, as far as I know, has never received a full environmental review," Lincoln told the council. "This project will have impact up and down all the roadways in the Fells and the communities on all sides of it."

Lincoln said the project does not consider the traffic impact on several areas nearby, including Elm Street and the traffic circle with Fulton Street and Highland Avenue in Medford.

According to Lincoln, a meeting was held in Stoneham this week where the plans were presented. Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn and Rep. Paul Donato spoke "very forcefully" against the project there, Lincoln said.

The timeline for locals to express their feelings on the project through an official public commenting period is not very long, with it slated to end March 26, Lincoln said. The only way it can be extended is for the DCR to extend it, Lincoln said.

Instructions on how to comment on the project are available on the Friends of the Middlesex Fells website.

Medford Councilor Paul Camuso asked the council go on record saying the project is "inappropriate at this time without a full environmental study."

The councilors present Tuesday voted unanimously to support Camuso's motion, with Councilors Michael Marks and Robert Penta absent.