Neighbors ask developer to ‘go back to the drawing board’

Dear Editor:

We would first like to thank the Canton Citizen for last week’s article shining light upon the proposed senior housing development at the Will Sand and Gravel Pit. Our neighborhood abuts the Will site. We have been trying unsuccessfully since November to produce an outcome that will work for the developer and for us. In the article, Brightview Development Director Mike Glynn and Brightview’s attorney, Dick Staiti, tried to convey the message that they have been sensitive to the neighbors’ needs and open to making changes to “satisfy all parties.” That is not true. They have offered to move the building only about eight yards and tree buffering that would do very little to help.

We believe the developer has taken this stance because they have the full support of the Board of Selectmen after agreeing to provide over $700,000 in mitigation money instead of affordable units. The Board of Selectmen have refused to help us, with the exception of one member having one meeting with us and the developer and telling us after that we needed to accept only the buffering being offered because this was basically a “done deal.”

We fully understand we should have waged this fight at the town meeting when this special zoning was approved; however, the plan the developer showed us prior to that town meeting had the front of the building facing Route 138 and nowhere near the impact on us that the current design does. If town meeting voters were asked if they would approve a commercial development to be located within 50 yards of their backyards, three stories and close to fifty feet high and 400 feet in length, directly facing their neighborhood, we are pretty sure this special zoning would not have been approved. Buildings that close should be no more than two stories or should have much bigger setback provisions if they are going to be three stories.

The Will site is a 32-acre parcel. There are alternative designs that will still meet the developer’s return on investment requirements. They have built buildings with two stories facing the neighbors in other senior housing developments for this exact reason.

Canton is a town of neighborhoods first. We believe that identity should be respected and maintained. We understand the need for fiscal stability and contribute through the taxes we pay. We do not understand why we should have to compromise our quality of life to support that goal. We do not understand why, after living in our homes for 20 years, we will walk out our backdoors and now look up at a three-story commercial building forever.

We are respectfully asking the town caretakers to go back to the drawing board with this developer and potentially this zoning article and make sure this development — and any in the future with this type of proximity to established neighborhoods — protect the character of the residences around them. Thank you.

Don and Kathy Leavitt

Tom and Stephanie Morrissey

Joe and Dee Spadea

Scott and Jo Lysko

Rob and June Mazzoni

Richie and Donna Federico

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=24732

Posted by Canton Citizen on Mar 20 2014. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.