Sustainable Land Development Today - February 2008 - (Page 17) covers the massive task of rebuilding a system originally created in the 1960s. “We’re building new highway ramps and new roadways that are sort of moved to the edges of the site so we can discontinue the old roads. That entails a massive investment,” Menzin said. When finished, the site will be completely void of surface parking. Instead, vehicles will be handled by structured parking. A ZipCar program will also be on-site. The campus will include a shuttle bus system powered entirely by alternative fuels. That contribution alone will be the equivalent of taking 1,000 cars off the road, Menzin said. The project also includes a renewable energy program, and they hope that solar energy will be implemented throughout the campus in coming years as the technology improves. Although some of their energy-saving methods fail to land on the radar screens of common citizens, Menzin believes people support their environmentallyconscious efforts. “I think the consumer really values this,” he said. “People are sick of spending their lives stuck in traffic jams.” ronments to provide an attraction for employees. “If you look at who our employers increasingly are across the country, with work forces that aren’t hourly, this type of development is attractive,” he said. Doherty added that most businesses are concerned with promoting themselves as environmentally-friendly and therefore are also drawn to the project’s green aspects, particularly the effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Although he is keeping a concerned watch on the nation’s current economic status, Doherty is optimistic about filling the development and enthusiastic about the growing tenant roster. from rooftops to open areas of ground to infiltrate the soil. Zoning Challenges The developers ran into a brick wall when they encountered zoning regulations that favor automobile use. “It’s classic American suburban zoning. It’s land-intensive and it’s about the car,” Doherty said. “What does the car do, where does it park? It’s really not built around the transit system.” Although city leaders did agree to “throw away most of the book,” Doherty said achieving the necessary changes was not an easy task. “We still suffer from some of the hangover affects,” he said, noting that the developers found themselves challenged by residential zoning. “They like you to build retail and office buildings,” Doherty said. It is a common mind set in the area, where communities are already wellpopulated. Residents are often worried about others moving into their area. Doherty said neighbors were eventually appeased with the idea that the Westwood project will largely draw empty nesters and young professionals. Major roadblocks The challenges of getting the project underway ranged from zoning issues to the details of a transit-oriented development in the specific location of the Westwood project. “The complexity and risk of this is off the charts,” Doherty said. “Everywhere you turn there’s something demanding, new and difficult.” Developers had to relocate the former tenants from the area, which proved no small task. There were approximately a Located 20 miles outside of Boston, Westwood Station spans over 140 acres within a 250 acre outdated industrial park in Westwood, Massachusetts. Located atop four drinking water wells, the developer plans to significantly improve the area’s existing water qualify and quantity by pioneering an aquifer protection and water conservation program. Attracting Businesses The developers tried to tailor the project to fit the needs of modern companies who would locate in the development. “You have to compete very hard for labor here,” Doherty said, as businesses often seek popular lifestyle and cultural amenities to surround their work envi- dozen large firms with sophisticated equipment that were not easy to move. The project is located over an aquifer that provides drinking water to nearby towns. The developers needed to be innovative in their approach to preserve that system. They have developed a plan to recharge the aquifer by directing water Educating the masses Doherty said that city leaders in Westwood were farsighted in their approach to the project, but the amount of public education required to bring nearby residents on board was significant. “I’m still not sure people fully understand the project,” he said. www.SLDTonline.com 17 http://www.SLDTonline.com
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