Steve, like some others fail to recognize that the issue is not cluster versus conventional, we are aware of and recognize the benefits of a cluster.
I would like to state that I (and we) are not opposed to development, and in fact would champion a project that blended into the existing community and ecological issues. The project built by the same developer at "The Trails at Wayside" appears to have not only addressed, but enhanced the existing community and ecological issues. One could surmise that as one of the nine residents in the forty six acre project, blending was "The Objective" at "The Trails at Wayside" . I am not forgetting that the landowner-developer-builder has rights that come with ownership, capital investment and risk taking, but neighbors and abutters can anticipate certain protection from infringement of water and septic systems, and protection through existing zoning. Presentations have been presented from the aspect that the alternatives for this land could be considerably less appealing. I approach and develop situations not from negativity and fear but from developing the positive aspects and merits accruing to each participant. This was presented to the town and neighbors that the Harrington plan is better than some alternatives. I would rather see a presentation that sees the blending into the existing community and ecological issues as "The Objective". We have existing zoning and conservation legislation that if followed will protect our rights. Being presented with the alternative of Fafard strip mining the hill or public water and sewage installation creating postage size lots should not be the catalyst to jump into an inferior and compromised position regarding existing zoning and infringement on abutter's water, septic systems and natural buffers. It is clear to me that the "Compromise" of existing zoning and abutter's needs is being sold to us as our "Objective". We are now facing a development that in my opinion is attempting to confuse or circumvent existing town zoning, sub-division regulations and state environmental regulations in an effort to saturate the land beyond its physical constraints. It has been quoted "A bad cluster is better than a good conventional development ..... as long as it is not in my yard!" Steve points out Brimstone as a model, but I think that the original cluster of 30 plus homes was scaled back substantially to confirm with the land mass and neighborhood concerns. To date there has been absolutely no desire to work with the existing neighbors water, septic, drainage, traffic and other related issues. This entire projected is being presented as "Give me what I want - or - I will deliver you Fafard." ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven W. Orr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Framingham Neighbors" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2002 5:14 PM Subject: Planning Board/Ford's Meadow 8:30PM/Ablondi Room > The whole Ford's Meadow project is coming to a head tomorrow. I recommend > that people show up for this one. If you have an opinion, now is the time > to express it. > > In this corner we have Nexum which is trying to put in a cluster > development. The advantages of a cluster over a new development are huge; > just look at how (relatively/potentially) well the Brimstone project is > turning out. People are generally pleased with the quality of the work > that Nexum does; not something we can say about most developers. > > And in the other corner, we have Ed James. After hiring good quality > engineering and legal help, he has convinced the majority of the > Board that the cluster can't be allowed to proceed unless it can be > proved that 26 lots (not in a cluster formation) can be shown to > perc. > > But percing 26 lots is just not feasible. It's also not feasible that > no development will occur on that land just because the cluster fails > to go through. > > In my opinion, the onus is on the opposition side to prevent a > disaster from happening as a result of the alternative. The spectrum > of possibilities does include that the land be flipped over to Fafard > for turning it into fill. > > -- > -Time flies like the wind. Fruit flies like a banana. Stranger things have - > -happened but none stranger than this. Does your driver's license say Organ > -Donor?Black holes are where God divided by zero. Listen to me! We are all- > -individuals! What if this weren't a hypothetical question? [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > [ To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=unsubscribe > Archives available at http://www.mail-archive.com/ > For help send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Web interface at http://frambors.syslang.net] > [ To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=unsubscribe Archives available at http://www.mail-archive.com/ For help send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web interface at http://frambors.syslang.net]
