Arlington board continues Robbins Road duplex hearing, sets January return date

ARLINGTON — December 1, 2025 — Arlington Redevelopment Board continues four-unit Robbins Road duplex hearing to January 12 amid unresolved zoning questions. The board unanimously continued Docket 3869 at 9-11 Robbins Road, a proposal to replace an existing two-family home with two three-story duplexes on a roughly 7,800-square-foot corner lot, after members flagged concerns about a second driveway, a required two-and-a-half-foot vegetated parking buffer, corner visibility setbacks, and building proportions. Attorney Mary Winstanley O'Connor agreed to submit a legal memorandum explaining why the project qualifies for two driveways; revised drawings are due a week before the January hearing. The board also heard informal warrant-article previews from residents James Fleming and Andy Greenspawn on home-occupations bylaw reform, from Barry Jaspen on expanding zoning-change notification requirements, and from consultant Steve McKenna on rezoning roughly 16 properties on Norcross Street from R1 to R2 — with board members signaling cautious openness on all three proposals. Director of Planning and Community Development Claire Ricker announced a $94,000 Mass Trails grant to study Minuteman Bikeway improvements near Rider Street.