Melrose, MAPC Working on Tremont-Essex Street Corridor Plan

The City of Melrose and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council are working on creating a transit-oriented development plan for the Tremont/Essex Street Corridor.

In the past 10 months, Melrose and MAPC have studied the area, looking for ways to create transit-oriented development plan around Cedar Park and the Melrose Highland Commuter Rail Stations, as well as along Tremont Street, according to a city press statement. 

"We are ready to present to the Board of Aldermen the beginnings of the overlay project on Essex Street, working with the Planning (Council)," said Mayor Rob Dolan during a recent press conference. "...We have applied for a major grant, the MassWorks (Infrastructure) Grant for the Highlands, so as we have transformed Main Street...and Washington Street, my hope over the next three to five years is to have Essex Street to (the) Highlands look dramatically different than it does today and that will help us to be able to sustain the spending that we're going to have to invest in there, predominantly on public schools and kids."

The process has involved working with the community during two public sessions where residents, business owners and property owners discussed their vision for the corridor. "We had really greatly attended sessions," said City Planner Denise Gaffey during the conference, adding that they received "excellent information" from the community that was incorporated into the planning of the area.

Marc Draisen, executive director of MAPC, said MAPC received a federal Sustainable Communities regional planning grant about three years ago to enhance their resources that the organization could use to do detailed studies and rezoning for cities and towns in the region. He said that MAPC selected three communities—Melrose, Beverly and Quincy—for transit-oriented development plans because they "have tremendous opportunities for redevelopment and improvement along transit lines."

The completed study, which was paid for through funding provided by the Metro Boston Consortium for Sustainable Communities and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, looks at various ways the corridor could support a broad mix of uses, accommodate new housing opportunities, enhance existing business near the commuter rail stations and also connect nearby neighborhoods via improved biking and walking infrastructure, according to the statement.

The general consensus from the community was to "maintain ease of access and walkability while improving infrastructure and adding new development in key locations," reads the statement.

Some of the recommendations include:

• Establishing a transit-oriented overlay district for the Tremont/Essex Street Corridor, changing the base zoning in the area of Cedar Park and Melrose Highland Commuter Rail Stations.
• Reallocating roadway right-of-ways along some streets in the corridor to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists and improve crosswalks at intersections and mid-block locations.
• Improving appearance of public spaces along the corridor using flower boxes and wall murals.