Dear Cape Cod Commission, August 16, 2015

We, the undersigned citizens of Falmouth, oppose the Springhill Suites by Marriott proposed for 556 Main St., and urge you to do the same. We add our voices to the hundreds who have turned out for meeting after meeting of the Cape Cod Commission Subcommittee, and the over 100 people who have written letters in opposition to this project (http://www.capecodcommission.org/index.php?id=502&maincatid=501). We want to underscore the virtual unanimity of the opposition from the very town the Subcommittee claims this project is supposed to “benefit.” Of these hundreds of comments, perhaps two have been in support.

The proposal flies in the face of the town’s Local Comprehensive Plan and Business Redevelopment Bylaw, which were intended to extend the charm of the village center to the east end of Main St. with mixed use, small-scale, architecturally interesting construction that fits in with the community character. Instead we are faced with a giant, monolithic hotel that takes up the entire parcel, offers no interaction with citizens of Falmouth, and intrudes upon nearby neighborhoods. It is also inconsistent with the Commission’s own Historic Preservation and Community Character guidelines, as was demonstrated in several of the submitted letters.

If this building in itself were not bad enough, Troy Clarkson’s August 14 column in the Falmouth Enterprise ( ) points out the potentially disastrous consequences of approving this project, because of the precedent it will set for this and other developers along that end of Main St. Some of those plans may already be in the works.

This building is the tipping point. Will Falmouth remain an appealing town that draws visitors for its unique and charming village center, or will it become “Anywhere, USA” with large, character-less chain stores, hotels, and restaurants? We urge you to read and listen to the comments from Falmouth citizens, and stop this project before it destroys our town.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Cc: Board of Selectmen