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An article by Brian Messenger about the proposed Taylor Cove development was posted on the Eagle-Tribune on January 8, 2010:
ANDOVER — Some Ballardvale residents fear a proposed 32-unit development off River Street will destroy a rustic section of their neighborhood and make traffic problems in the south of town even worse.
The proposed development, named Taylor Cove, has skirted certain local zoning guidelines under state law Chapter 40B, which governs affordable housing projects.
“It’s pretty shocking,” said Frances Wheeler of nearby 4 Hillcrest Road. “It will basically be 10 acres of devastation that’s only being considered because it’s a 40B.”
[To read the rest of the article, go to: http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_007232700.html.]
Attend January 5 Hearing and Protect Our Neighborhood
Ballardvale resident Kathy Romig took this photo out her kitchen window on New Year’s Day 2010.
These woods are part of the 10 acres that the Taylor Cove developer wants to bulldoze in order to build the 32 condominiums, garages, parking spaces, and road.
Please come to the continued hearing on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at 7 p.m. in The Hall, 2nd floor, Memorial Hall Library, Elm, Square, Andover.
It may be the last hearing before the ZBA renders its decision.
Click on the link to view the Taylor Cove plan as it stood on December 23, 2009.
This article discusses a pending and a failed 40B attempt in two different Massachusetts communities, one on the North Shore.
“Brierneck challenge denied: City says judge’s ruling still leaves questions about condo project”
GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA:
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_362230018.html?keyword=top
On Monday, December 28, at 7:00 PM in the 2nd floor conference room, Town Offices, 36 Bartlet St, there will be a working session with the Taylor Cove developers and David Brown and Rachel Baime of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
According to Town Counsel, in terms of public participation for this working session, “…the public would have the right to observe this particular meeting, but they would not have the right to speak.”
On December 20 the Lowell Sun ran an interesting article about how Billerica is pursuing legal action against a 40B developer who appears to have pocketed more than the legal share of profits from the development.
Here’s a link to the article:
…and Oppose Taylor Cove’s Progress
About 15 people showed up tonight for the tree hearing, but only one or two letters were received by Superintendent of Parks Randy Pickersgill. He and his boss, Joe Piantedosi, will be making a decision on whether these trees—all located on town property—should be cut down to make way for the Taylor Cove driveway and related traffic site lines.
Randy said that people could still send letters for consideration. The decision will be made by next Tuesday or Wednesday, so sending a letter this week would be ideal.
Randy’s email address is RPickersgill@AndoverMA.gov. You can also mail a letter to him at the Town Offices. His official title is Superintendent of Parks.
New Location for Tree Hearing
Chris Young, a member of Friends of Andover Community Trees (FACT), suggests that, in addition to attending the hearing, concerned citizens should send letters opposing the removal of Taylor Cove street trees to tree warden Randy Pickerskill and his boss, Joe Piantedosi, and to copy the town manager, Buzz Stapczynksi.
Email sent to cemetery@andoverma.gov and/or facilities@andoverma.gov should reach both Randy and Joe. Buzz can be reached at manager@andoverma.gov.
In the letter list your objections to the trees’ being removed (environmental, aesthetic, decreased property value, erosion–whatever you are concerned about) and possibly your geographic connection to the land, if you live near the trees. Send the letter in advance or bring it to the meeting.
Also, the meeting location has changed. The current details are:
7:00 PM
Plant & Facilities Dept – Forestry Division
Town Offices – Bartlet Street
1st Floor Conference Room (moved from 3rd floor conf room)
A citizen who works to promote sustainability and environmentally friendly practices in the town of Andover just shared a note she received from another resident environmentalist.
It seems that the developer’s plan to cut down many mature shade trees in order to build the Taylor Cove development has kicked in a state shade-tree article which states, in part, “…public shade trees shall not be cut, trimmed or removed, in whole or in part, by any person other than the tree warden or his deputy, even if he be the owner of the fee in the land on which such tree is situated.”
And also “Tree wardens shall not…grant a permit for the cutting down or removal of a public shade tree if, at or before a public hearing as provided in the preceding section, objection in writing is made by one or more persons, unless such cutting or removal or permit to cut or remove is approved by the selectmen or by the mayor.”
Following is an excerpt from the note that my friend received and shared, including information about the town hearing:
“…I’m also letting you know about the tree hearing next Wednesday night regarding the Todd Wacome 40B development on River St., Ballardvale. Don’t know much about it, but a lot of trees will give their life for a driveway, from what I hear. See below…
“TOWN OF ANDOVER NOTICE PUBLIC MEETING TREE HEARING
Under Chapter 87, Sections 3 and 4, of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Public Hearing will be held to consider the removal of three 14 inch diameter White Oak trees and eleven 10-24 inch diameter Red Oak trees located directly across the street from 83 River St. (Proposed 40B subdivision). The public meeting will be held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, Dec.16th in the Selectmen’s Conference Room, Third Floor, Andover Town Offices, 36 Bartlet Street.”
Zoning Administrative Secretary Barbara Burke has announced that the next session of the continued hearing on Taylor Cove will be Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at 7 p.m. in The Hall, 2nd floor, Memorial Hall Library, Elm, Square, Andover.
Please attend if you can. At the last hearing, both the ZBA chairman and the town counsel urged Charlotte Drive residents to seek private legal counsel to protect their titles. A ZBA board member commented that the Taylor Cove plan might well be the least site-sensitive plan he’d ever been called upon to review. And there are many other issues.
Please, if you can, come to the meeting to protect our immediate neighborhood, Ballardvale, and all of Andover from this inappropriate, precedent-setting proposal.
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