Sharon News
Update on Brickstone Warrant Articles 1 and 3
Brickstone will be back at Town Meeting on November 9, 2009 requesting
changes to both the Development Agreement and the Zoning for
Rattlesnake Hill. Both of these proposed changes renege on promises
they made in order to convince Sharon residents to vote for the
rezoning in 2007.
Article 1 - Zoning Change
Brickstone is requesting a new height restriction of 482 feet above
sea level (not including mechanical structures on top of the
buildings) rather than the specific number of stories (8) and building
heights in feet (105) as specified in the current zoning. The 482
foot height equates to an allowable height which is about 5 stories or
50 feet higher than the top of Rattlesnake Hill. At a recent
Selectmen’s meeting, Brickstone showed a block diagram representing
one of the buildings. When pressed, Brickstone admitted that when
looked at from the Bay Road side, a viewer would be seeing a 14 story
building. Brickstone has never shown the community an artist’s
rendering to illustrate what their high-rises would actually look
like.
Article 3 - Mountain Street Access
Brickstone is requesting Mountain Street construction access for a
period of at least three years. Prior to the Town Meeting vote in
2007, Brickstone repeatedly promised residents that Mountain Street
would not be used to access the site due to safety and environmental
concerns.
Brickstone’s own estimate is that the project would add 1,800+ vehicle
trips per day through Sharon. Likely routes include Route 27, North
and South Main Streets, Massapoag Ave., Morse Street, Mountain Street,
East Street, Billings Street, Gunhouse Street, Pond Street and many
others. Traffic will impact the train station, our schools (Heights,
East, Middle), schoolchildren walking and at bus stops, and virtually
all our neighborhood streets. After 18+ months, both Mountain Street
and Bay Road would be used for construction access for an additional
18 months or more. To see a map showing the likely routes for
construction vehicles, click on
http://naddgroup.org/index_route_map.html.
For at least 18 months, construction vehicles with more than 6 wheels
will be required to access the construction site on the following
routes: Inbound: Bay Road to Wilshire to Hampton to Mountain.
Outbound: Mountain to Hampton to Deerfield to Bay. How these
vehicles get to Bay inbound, or where they go after they reach Bay
outbound, is not restricted. The average truck traffic volume on
these streets would be one truck approximately every 1 minute.
Scare Tactics
The 88 Homes or 40B Threat
Brickstone has used these threats repeatedly to influence the outcome
of our vote. On Oct. 6, 2009, Brickstone announced that they are
presenting alternative plans to build 88 conventional homes or a 40B
development (affordable housing units) that would “involve the entire
piece” of land. The entire parcel cannot be developed as many areas
do not have soils legally required to construct septic systems. In
addition, the parcel contains many wetland areas, vernal pools, and
endangered species habitats which limit development potential.
Moreover, if Brickstone builds high rises as proposed, 69 additional
affordable housing units would have to be built elsewhere in Sharon to
satisfy Brickstone’s fair share of 40B quota. This would bring a
comparable number of children to Sharon as 88 non-40B homes would.
Brickstone has also publically stated that if we deny the proposal,
they will sell the land.
A Better Alternative
The Nature Conservancy has designated Rattlesnake Hill as “highest
priority” for preservation. Moreover, since the last vote, the
Commonwealth has designated Rattlesnake Hill as a “Priority Protection
Area.” Sale of the land to these entities could now be financially
feasible for Brickstone.
Years of construction traffic through our residential streets and past
our schools is unacceptable. Our quiet community will be forever
altered by this high-rise housing complex with its traffic,
congestion, and safety concerns.
Vote “NO” on articles 1 and 3 at Town Meeting on Monday, November 9,
7:00 at Sharon High School.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheryl Weinstein
NADD Project Manager
In association with PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility)
2000 P Street, NW
Suite 240
Washington, DC 20036
Why you should come to Town Meeting on Nov 9 at 7 PM at the Sharon High School and vote NO on Article 3:
Brickstone says they can build a 40B or 88 homes if we don’t pass Article 3. These claims are fallacious for the following reasons:
• a lawsuit is in Superior Court against any 40B on that land. There is no legal way for anyone to proceed on that front.
• 88 homes is a pie in the sky because it does not take into consideration the ledge and wetlands on that parcel. If they could build on the whole parcel, they would be doing it now.
Brickstone threatens us with possible alternatives, such as a 40B or an 88 home subdivision. They promise the town income and give gifts in order to get their project built.
Notwithstanding, the right thing to do is vote NO on Article 3 at Town Meeting because the changes it asks make the project wrong and unacceptable for Sharon and its citizens.
They ask us to let them access the construction site through Mountain Street and to drive huge numbers of massive construction vehicles through our town streets for many years.
Unless you vote NO on article #3 our lives, our neighborhoods, the safety of our streets will suffer.
Brickstone’s bottom line is the dollar.
Our bottom line is bigger broader and deeper.
Our bottom line is air quality, water quality, the safety of our streets, the quality of our lives, the protection of our environment.
We need to vote from a position of strength and not fear.
If a situation is unacceptable, oppose it.
If it goes against better judgment, common sense, research, moral values, oppose it.
Do not allow it into our town.
Do not accept it out of fear something worse may happen.
Do not accept it because something better is not immediately available.
If it’s unacceptable, VOTE NO.
When the next option actually comes along, observe, evaluate, choose, act. Not out of fear, but out of a sober look at reality.
No one in this day and age thinks negotiating with those who threaten you is a good strategy.
We have had enough of being duped with false promises by those in power.
No threats by the Brickstone organization, no promises, no gifts should make any citizen of Sharon vote for this outrageous amendment and its consequences.
Because it is unacceptable and wrong for our town.
Shame on our town leaders for asking us to do so.
I urge you to vote with your common sense and your conscience, not out of fear.
COME TO TOWN MEETING and learn more about how Brickstone has misled us.
Learn the facts.
VOTE NO on warrant article #3.
Town Meeting on Nov 9 at 7 PM at the Sharon High School
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