Public Comment to the Brookline Select Board

Dr. Sheera Hefter

660 Chestnut Hill Ave

Good evening, members of the Select Board.

I’ve lived on Chestnut Hill Ave for most of my life; first as a child growing up in my parent’s home and for the last almost 5 years as a mother with my two children on the other side of the street. My comments about the myriad of proposed changes on Chestnut Hill Ave are informed by this lens.

Simply put, It’s hard to imagine a single project with so many concerning elements, but I’ll do my best in the next few minutes to highlight the most pressing issues, leave some for another time, and have narrowed it down to six key points.

First, the lack of a public hearing. At the Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting earlier this month, the chair explicitly stated that comments unrelated to bicycles should not be shared—shutting down broader community concerns. A project of this scale, with such significant impacts, deserves a more informed, if not,  transparent process. Instead, it feels rushed and driven by narrow interests, rather than thoughtful planning that considers the entire community.

Second, emergency vehicle access. This plan creates a major obstruction for first responders supporting those on the street itself and using it as a passthrough. With no space for vehicles to pull over, response times will be compromised. Several neighbors on our block have needed emergency assistance in the past year alone, and delays in fire trucks or ambulances reaching homes could be life-threatening.

Third, parking. While the plans keep changing, the removal of on-street parking—whether partial or complete—creates a major burden for residents, visitors, caregivers, contractors etc. Contrary to what was stated at the Bicycle Advisory Committee, parking is and has been permitted on Chestnut Hill Ave for decades. Removing it has real consequences.

Fourth, driveway safety. Without room to maneuver, backing into my own driveway becomes nearly impossible. I’ve had several near-misses as a pedestrian with drivers backing out blindly. The proposed design eliminates space to pull over and wait for cars to pass, increasing congestion, frustration, and danger.

Fifth, the impact on the Channing Rd./Chestnut Hill Ave/Eliot St./Rt. 9 intersection. This area is critical for the Hayes School community, with students and families crossing daily. Any changes must preserve the ability to make left turns from Eliot St. back onto Chestnut Hill Ave and  toward Channing Rd to maintain safe and efficient traffic flow.

Finally, pedestrian safety and traffic flow. As a mother, I have worked carefully and intentionally to teach my children how to safely cross the street and welcome additional crosswalks along the road. While a crosswalk at Buckminster Rd and farther down at Clinton Roads specifically would likely be welcome improvements- posts, islands, paint, and  visual clutter will confuse drivers and further restrict emergency vehicles, worsening already difficult intersections.

At the end of the day, this project should be about balancing the needs of the entire community, as the vision of Complete Streets aspires to do. I urge the Board and town staff to take a step back, engage in a more comprehensive public process, and ensure that the final plan works for everyone—not just a select few.

Thank you