ARB grants administrative approval for Dudley Street project with conditions; accepts 'solar‑ready' roof

The Arlington Redevelopment Board granted administrative approval on July 20 for docket 387926, a continuance package from Santini Realty Trust for a Dudley Street project, contingent on the applicant providing a set of specified items for administrative review.

Attorney Frederick Gilgan presented the revised submission on behalf of the owner, noting the team had met with the conservation commission and supplied a supplemental impact statement, updated plans and a solar analysis. Gilgan said the solar study concluded that shading limited feasible on-roof generation and recommended infrastructure be installed to make the roof "solar ready" in the future rather than installing panels now.

Board members welcomed the updated materials but required a set of follow-ups before staff could finalize administrative approval. The board asked the applicant to: add details showing two locations for e‑bike charging outlets in the bicycle room; remove street-tree callouts from plan sheets where the sidewalk width prohibits trees or provide payment into the town tree fund; correct duplicated plan key items; chamfer the proposed stair to widen the drive aisle or otherwise find ways to improve maneuverability; provide a written letter from the town engineer affirming the proposed trench-drain location and stormwater approach; and move a color transition on the right-side elevation to a control joint.

Member Steven Reverlach moved the administrative-approval motion, which included acceptance of an upper roof that is "solar ready" based on the Revision Energy study. The motion listed the items that must be submitted for administrative approval, and a second was provided. The motion passed by recorded vote of the members present.

Public commenters raised tree protection and heat-island concerns; the applicant agreed to pay into the tree fund for three trees as part of the conditions. On drainage, applicant engineer Fred Russell explained that the proposed trench drain location was the lowest spot that will flow by gravity to the infiltration system; the engineer said the town engineer had reviewed and accepted calculations during project coordination.

Next steps: The applicant must submit the listed items to planning staff for administrative review; the planning staff will require a town-engineer letter on drainage before issuing administrative approval. If any required engineering changes trigger alterations in site layout or architecture, the applicant must return to the board.