This is a neighborhood association located in Precinct 6, Belmont, Massachusetts, consisting of people associated with streets such as Oakley Rd, Belmont St, Trapelo Rd, Lawndale St, which are near the the closed Our Lady of Mercy Parish properties.

We also maintain another group open to all parties specifically interested in the future reuse of the closed Our Lady of Mercy Parish properties. See the related link.

We are also interested in a suitable reuse of the closed Benton Branch Library consistent with the neighborhood.

The Oakley Neighborhood Association Mission Statement

A possible change in land use, due to the sale of the Our Lady of Mercy property, brought the residents of our neighborhood together to address change in general and promote the well being of the neighborhood. We owe it to each other and to the Town of Belmont to recognize neighborhood characteristics as standards by which to measure change and assure stability, growth, and diversity to our neighborhood.

Our goals are:

To influence future development in accordance with principles of “smart growth,” which include enabling a distinctive and attractive Oakley community to retain its strong sense of place, strengthening and directing development towards the existing Oakley neighborhood with its current streetscape, and encouraging an Oakley community that is walkable and offers a variety of housing and transportation choices.

Promote appropriate development in the Oakley neighborhood that takes into consideration the existing mix of land use and the effects on traffic, safety and neighborhood character, and which takes advantage of compact building design of reasonable density and preserves open/green space and lightscapes.

To serve as a communication channel between neighborhood residents, government, and potential developers that encourages collaboration and predictable, fair and cost effective development decisions.