On 9/9/2021 the Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously (3-0) to DENY the developer’s Special Permit Request. On 9/30/2021 the developer filed a lawsuit against the ZBA asserting the denial exceeded the ZBA’s authority and should be annulled. It is possible that the Town will negotiate with the developer in advance of the trial, which is set for 3/31/2022.
Our new campaign is to ensure that the Town defends the unanimous decision to reject the Special Permit on multiple criteria, and that the Town counsel and ZBA honor the community’s rejection of the proposed subdivision in any negotiation with the developer.
Town Bylaws are constructed for a reason. We cannot let a developer dictate what can and cannot occur in our town.
Please support us in ensuring that the Town upholds this important decision.
Thank you,
Friends and Neighbors of Save 1442 Main
----------------------------------------
BACKGROUND:
The proposed subdivision at 1442 Main St. in West Concord is a bad deal for Concord. This ill-suited plan requires clear-cutting eight acres of healthy trees, and flattening the natural topography of the property to accommodate roads, traffic circles and the large houses. This will dramatically impact the character of the neighborhood, cause irreparable damage to the natural environment, and be injurious to abutters, the neighborhood and our town.
- Clear-cutting 8 acres will expose the community to the MBTA railroad, which will create a significant new source of noise pollution to abutters and the community, including the Fowler Library
- This increased noise pollution will reduce property values of abutters, especially those directly across Main Street.
- The exposed railroad and tree loss will increase hazardous diesel emissions and the concentration of diesel particulate in the surrounding area. This includes less than 750 feet from Thoreau elementary school, the Concord Montessori School and a community garden, and less than 1100 feet from the Concord Children’s Center and the Fowler Library.
- Constant exposure to diesel emissions has been proven to increase risk of asthma and respiratory disease, particularly among children and older adults.
- Clear-cutting 8 acres will result in compromised erosion control and may increase runoff to abutting Center Village
- The request to remove >60,000 cubic yards is excessive. The constant movement of dump trucks to and from the site will cause significant safety concerns with pedestrians and cyclists, and result in substantial hazardous diesel emissions. Trucks will enter the site every 10 minutes, 6 hours/day, for 60 straight days. And this is just for trucking earth.
- Flattening the natural topography of the land is a clear encroachment on nature, violating the town’s Sustainability Principles
- Clear-cutting 8 acres of healthy trees and the resulting earth removal is injurious to the town as it removes important carbon sinks. It forces Concord to incur future climate-related mitigation costs.
- This reduction in carbon sequestration capacity clearly violates the spirit and intent of the town’s Climate Action and Resilience Goals
Based on the above, many of the conditions necessary to grant the developer a Special Permit (sections 7.5.3.3 and 11.6.2, 11.6.4, and 11.6.5, and 11.6.6 in the Concord Zoning Bylaw) for earth removal simply cannot be met.
For more information, please visit www.save1442main.com
Updates
December 8, 2021
The legal pressure is mounting but the community sentiment remains firm. We are keeping a close watch on any private discussions between the Town and the developer.
Reached 100 supporters
December 8, 2021
30 Comments
The proposed massive earth removal and tree clear-cutting is a non-starter for this project. A much smaller development on this land would be far more appropriate.
I followed every meeting of the ZBA on this issue and found their reasoning to be sound, logical, responsive to the community, and in-line with the wording and intent of the bylaws. Please continue to stand firm against this unreasonable intrusion on the nature of our community.
This ill-suited plan requires clear-cutting eight acres of healthy trees, and flattening the natural topography of the property to accommodate roads, traffic circles and the large houses. This will dramatically impact the character of the neighborhood, cause irreparable damage to the natural environment, and be injurious to abutters, the neighborhood and our town.
Please uphold Concord's Zoning Bylaw and the ZBA's unanimous decision to reject a Special Permit for earth removal as requested by Symes LLC. The proposed development of 1442 Main Street includes the destruction of 8 acres of mature trees and wildlife habitat (which serve as a natural noise and pollution barrier) and stands in stark contrast of what Concord residents deem desirable.
The request for the amount of earth removal was beyond any norm. Please uphold the decision; anything short will put abutters, neighbors, children and adults at a health peril.
Thank you for all your work stopping this monstrous corporate plan to destroy the environment and Concord by Symes.
Concord does not need more development. What the town does need is to conserve its open space. Keep Concord natural!
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On 9/9/2021 the Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously (3-0) to DENY the developer’s Special Permit Request. On 9/30/2021 the developer filed a lawsuit against the ZBA asserting the denial exceeded the ZBA’s authority and should be annulled. It is possible that the Town will negotiate with the developer in advance of the trial, which is set for 3/31/2022.
Our new campaign is to ensure that the Town defends the unanimous decision to reject the Special Permit on multiple criteria, and that the Town counsel and ZBA honor the community’s rejection of the proposed subdivision in any negotiation with the developer.
Town Bylaws are constructed for a reason. We cannot let a developer dictate what can and cannot occur in our town.
Please support us in ensuring that the Town upholds this important decision.
Thank you,
Friends and Neighbors of Save 1442 Main
----------------------------------------
BACKGROUND:
The proposed subdivision at 1442 Main St. in West Concord is a bad deal for Concord. This ill-suited plan requires clear-cutting eight acres of healthy trees, and flattening the natural topography of the property to accommodate roads, traffic circles and the large houses. This will dramatically impact the character of the neighborhood, cause irreparable damage to the natural environment, and be injurious to abutters, the neighborhood and our town.
- Clear-cutting 8 acres will expose the community to the MBTA railroad, which will create a significant new source of noise pollution to abutters and the community, including the Fowler Library
- This increased noise pollution will reduce property values of abutters, especially those directly across Main Street.
- The exposed railroad and tree loss will increase hazardous diesel emissions and the concentration of diesel particulate in the surrounding area. This includes less than 750 feet from Thoreau elementary school, the Concord Montessori School and a community garden, and less than 1100 feet from the Concord Children’s Center and the Fowler Library.
- Constant exposure to diesel emissions has been proven to increase risk of asthma and respiratory disease, particularly among children and older adults.
- Clear-cutting 8 acres will result in compromised erosion control and may increase runoff to abutting Center Village
- The request to remove >60,000 cubic yards is excessive. The constant movement of dump trucks to and from the site will cause significant safety concerns with pedestrians and cyclists, and result in substantial hazardous diesel emissions. Trucks will enter the site every 10 minutes, 6 hours/day, for 60 straight days. And this is just for trucking earth.
- Flattening the natural topography of the land is a clear encroachment on nature, violating the town’s Sustainability Principles
- Clear-cutting 8 acres of healthy trees and the resulting earth removal is injurious to the town as it removes important carbon sinks. It forces Concord to incur future climate-related mitigation costs.
- This reduction in carbon sequestration capacity clearly violates the spirit and intent of the town’s Climate Action and Resilience Goals
Based on the above, many of the conditions necessary to grant the developer a Special Permit (sections 7.5.3.3 and 11.6.2, 11.6.4, and 11.6.5, and 11.6.6 in the Concord Zoning Bylaw) for earth removal simply cannot be met.
For more information, please visit www.save1442main.com
Updates
December 8, 2021
The legal pressure is mounting but the community sentiment remains firm. We are keeping a close watch on any private discussions between the Town and the developer.
Reached 100 supporters
December 8, 2021
30 Comments
The town and its residents spend a lot of money and time putting bylaws in place. What makes this developer special such that the rules don't apply to him? He asked to be exempt and was told no. Time to move on and finally accept that our bylaws actually represent what we the citizens believe in.
The proposed massive earth removal and tree clear-cutting is a non-starter for this project. A much smaller development on this land would be far more appropriate.
I followed every meeting of the ZBA on this issue and found their reasoning to be sound, logical, responsive to the community, and in-line with the wording and intent of the bylaws. Please continue to stand firm against this unreasonable intrusion on the nature of our community.
This ill-suited plan requires clear-cutting eight acres of healthy trees, and flattening the natural topography of the property to accommodate roads, traffic circles and the large houses. This will dramatically impact the character of the neighborhood, cause irreparable damage to the natural environment, and be injurious to abutters, the neighborhood and our town.
Please uphold Concord's Zoning Bylaw and the ZBA's unanimous decision to reject a Special Permit for earth removal as requested by Symes LLC. The proposed development of 1442 Main Street includes the destruction of 8 acres of mature trees and wildlife habitat (which serve as a natural noise and pollution barrier) and stands in stark contrast of what Concord residents deem desirable.
The request for the amount of earth removal was beyond any norm. Please uphold the decision; anything short will put abutters, neighbors, children and adults at a health peril.
Thank you for all your work stopping this monstrous corporate plan to destroy the environment and Concord by Symes.
Concord does not need more development. What the town does need is to conserve its open space. Keep Concord natural!
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The town and its residents spend a lot of money and time putting bylaws in place. What makes this developer special such that the rules don't apply to him? He asked to be exempt and was told no. Time to move on and finally accept that our bylaws actually represent what we the citizens believe in.