mystic view task force
MAPC Begins Mystic River Corridor Strategy Project
On January 31, 2008, at Everett City Hall, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) kicked off the first public meeting of a new planning project involving six communities that border the lower Mystic River. Started at the initiative of Somerville mayor Joseph Curtatone, the Mystic River Corridor Strategy will focus on land within ¼ mile of each side of the Mystic River in Somerville, Medford, Malden, Everett, Chelsea and Boston, and will include some land bordering the Malden River, Chelsea Creek, and Island End Run as well. The object is to create a collective vision for future land use along the river by identifying opportunities for conservation and development and encouraging the exchange of information between communities about their individual plans. This is a broader project than the ongoing study of state-owned parkland along the Mystic River being carried out by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Some of the power boats moored at the Winter Hill Yacht Club located on the Mystic River on property rented from the MDC.
MAPC sees six key corridor issues:
  1. Make sure that reviews of individual development and infrastructure projects take into consideration protection of land and water and improvements to public access.
  2. Take a regional approach to conservation and acquisition of open space, keeping in mind the ability to connect open spaces, a fair distribution of open spaces across the region, and ease of access to public open space.
  3. Figure out ways to improve public access to water while being mindful of the economic importance of Designated Port Areas.
  4. To promote future water transportation, make sure that current developments make provisions for future water transportation facilities.
  5. Develop a strategy for improving environmental quality of the river and adjacent contaminated sites.
  6. Pay attention to issues in implementing a Mystic River Corridor Strategy, including how to work cooperatively with multiple participants and how to fund implementation.

Fisherman bring in their catch on the banks of the Mystic River near Draw 7 Park.
Participants at the meeting represented a broad cross section of interests and communities. Some of the concerns raised were:
  • increase boating use of river;
  • increase open space for dogs;
  • reduce pollution from ships;
  • involve environmental justice communities;
  • agree on principles for codes and ordinances in communities;
  • create a corridor-wide list of critical links to the river;
  • prepare for hurricane flood incidents;
  • curtail stormwater overflows, sewer overflows and combined stormwater and sewer overflows;
  • get the state’s Executive Office of Environmental Affairs more involved in Mystic work;
  • monitor waterfront property as it goes up for sale;
  • dredge river to improve boating;
  • address trash issues on DCR property.
A representative from US Environmental Protection Agency described an EPA initiative to focus on improving water quality in the Mystic River. EPA New England is planning a summit in mid-April to form a coalition that will look at bacteria, sediment contaminants, oil and flood contamination.
MAPC prepared a number of maps of the study area that were displayed at the meeting. They can be viewed at www.mapc.org/mystic.