West Concord advisory committee advances master-plan review, flags parking, signage and bridge items

The West Concord Advisory Committee met virtually Oct. 2 and resumed work auditing the West Concord Village master plan to identify what from the 2010 plan remains undone and what should be prioritized as the MCI site moves toward development. Committee Chair (Speaker 1) led members through the master-plan matrix, and planners and committee volunteers discussed transportation, parking and signage items that the group said deserve follow-up.

Committee members said three transportation items in the matrix merit immediate attention: evaluation of repaving at the commuter parking lot in connection with the Assabet River trail project; a proposed pedestrian bridge over the Assabet River to connect the Baker Avenue/Novo area to West Concord Junction; and broader circulation and parking management measures. "This understanding...helps the MCI committee and everyone else at the town who is trying to understand how to develop the MCI property and...have it be more integrated with West Concord Junction," Chair (Speaker 1) said, describing the review's purpose.

Planner (Speaker 4) told the group that the commuter lot repaving is being considered alongside the Assabet River Trail and that the pedestrian bridge is intended to provide a direct walking connection from the business park to the Junction rather than to create a new satellite commuter lot. "The bridge will connect the Baker Ave business area so people coming in on the train can just walk over," Speaker 4 said. Members agreed some older items should be marked "not viable" where private ownership or recent development makes implementation impractical.

Parking and on-street management drew sustained discussion. The committee clarified that a 2012 parking management plan focused on public on-street parking and municipal lots, while the planning board's current work centers on private parking requirements in the zoning bylaw. Members noted the West Concord commuter lot is not regularly full post-pandemic and recommended coordinating any new parking proposals with the planning board and Concord Public Works. The group also discussed whether removing a row of on-street parking in a congested block to add a protected bike lane would be feasible but said such a change would require broad community outreach.

Committee members raised aesthetic and pedestrian-safety priorities: screening or improving large parking expanses with planters or murals, clarifying wayfinding and parking signage, and adding or improving crosswalks at several locations (Commonwealth Avenue between Maine and Locks Brook; Church Street at Commonwealth Avenue; and the Woods Hill/Tea Cakes block). "You'd have to bring in Concord Public Works, engineering and Concord Public Works Highway and Grounds," Speaker 4 said, urging technical review before pursuing design changes.

The advisory group also discussed a possible business improvement district (BID) or other property-owner collaboration to fund maintenance, signage and place-making. Speaker 4 described the Hudson example, where property owners pooled resources, hired a manager and funded plantings and events; the committee agreed to investigate whether a BID or Concord Business Partnership might be appropriate for West Concord.

Members recommended a coordinated approach to signage and kiosks rather than piecemeal installations. Speaker 7 noted the West Concord Junction Cultural District Committee is already discussing kiosks and a map brochure. The group agreed that engaging the historical commission for interpretive panels and seeking a unified design—possibly via a consultant—would produce more cohesive wayfinding and visitor information.

Follow-up assignments recorded during the meeting included: Speaker 4 (planner referenced throughout) will contact the economic vitality manager about incentives and BID feasibility, follow up with Concord Public Works on signage and the Assabet River Trail wayfinding, and check with Anne Clifford regarding details of the town's historic resources plan. Members volunteered to research BIDs and similar programs in other towns and to report back. Chair (Speaker 1) said she would circulate reminders about a planned joint meeting with the planning board on Oct. 29, which the group expects to hold in person with a hybrid option.

The committee did not reach final policy decisions; members described the session as a working review that produced clarifications, flagged items to mark "not viable," and assigned follow-up responsibilities to staff and volunteers. Next steps are the assigned outreach tasks and the October 29 meeting with the planning board, where the advisory committee intends to present its master-plan matrix and priorities.