Land use group recommends MCI Concord as preferred site for some public works; hands details to MCI master planning committee

The Land Use Working Group voted to recommend MCI Concord as the preferred location for relocating some municipal public works uses and to hand detailed feasibility and siting work to the MCI master planning committee.

The committee’s co‑chair proposed a bundled, three‑part motion that the group adopted: it recorded the working group’s preliminary finding that MCI Concord is the preferred site for relocating all or part of the public works campus; it formally handed subsequent deliberations and technical feasibility work to the newly seated MCI master planning committee; and it directed that, if the master planning committee concludes MCI cannot accommodate some or all public works functions, the town should undertake a townwide analysis of alternative public works sites. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote with the recorded vote showing eight members in favor and none recorded against.

Why it matters: committee members and members of the public have long argued that moving constrained DPW operations away from Kais Road could free land near Walden Pond for conservation and recreation. Public commenters during this meeting urged the working group to include possible DPW relocation in the scope of the final report so the former landfill next to Walden Pond can be restored and conserved.

What the committee debated: members agreed on the group’s earlier finding that MCI Concord was a strong candidate, but they remained split on details. Speakers noted the limited information available to the land use working group compared with what the MCI master planning committee now has, including newer renderings and consultant inputs. Committee members described three broad options analyzed earlier: (1) keep DPW activities within existing buffer areas at MCI; (2) expand infrastructure such as sand beds; or (3) repurpose one of the existing warehouse buildings for storage and maintenance. Cost estimates discussed ranged from small items around $1 million (for uses such as a salt shed) to tens of millions for new construction; committee members said those are rough, preliminary numbers.

Representative comments: Kathy Anderson of the Walden Woods Project told the group the landfill borders Walden Pond State Reservation and urged relocation of some public works activity so the site could be protected and restored. Linda (committee member) emphasized that the working group’s recommendation is a preliminary finding and that the master planning committee should complete detailed feasibility work. Rob Almeida and others highlighted operational cost and access considerations that informed the subgroup’s earlier work.

Next steps: the MCI master planning committee will take on the technical analysis and public engagement needed to determine whether and how the public works functions can be accommodated at MCI. If that committee concludes MCI is not feasible for some or all uses, the land use group’s motion directs the town to conduct a broader, townwide site analysis.