Press & Commentary
Barnstable Patriot Column --December 2005
There are many challenging issues confronting the
Town of Barnstable and I appreciate the privilege
of representing Barnstable Village. As I cannot represent
in a vacuum however, please continue to write, call
and email me. I also commend the Barnstable Patriot
for providing this forum to the Town Councilors to
facilitate communication with you. Here are some issues
of interest:
Village Green: When I was running for election
in the fall of 2003, my opponent, then an incumbent
councilor, and I would debate about the proposed "affordable
housing" project known as Village Green to be
located in the Industrial Park. I was told then and
several months later again by the state representative
that Village Green was a "done deal". It
was apparently just a matter of how many units would
ultimately be allowed on the site. At the time, the
developer had originally proposed 210 units and the
project had been negotiated down to 180 units. All
units were designated as rental and thereby considered
"affordable" in the bean counting forced
on municipalities by the mandates of Chapter 40B even
though only a small percentage would actually be "affordable".
I believed in the integrity of the public process
however and continued to participate in the public
forum. After negotiation requiring months of sweat
and expense, a working group consisting of representatives
of the developer, the Town, Zoning Board of Appeals
(ZBA), Planning Board and Housing Committee among
others, announced a settlement which would allow the
developer to build five and a half buildings consisting
of 136 units, 35% of which were to be "affordable".
Months later, in November 2005, the developer approached
the Housing Committee with an alternative plan for
conversion over time of some of the rentals into condominiums.
This plan was rejected. The developer then requested
a modification to allow an increase in units to 148
units in six buildings and a decrease in affordables
to 25%. The hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals
was expedited because the developer claimed he had
to pull permits immediately. I opposed the granting
of this modification because I thought it defeated
the goal of creating truly "affordable"
housing by lowering the number of actual affordable
units and because I thought it created a bad precedent
to reject months of good faith negotiation. The ZBA
granted an increase to 148 but imposed a requirement
of 35% affordable.
After months of negotiation and wrangling, I was
reluctantly resigned to accepting this project as
a "done deal" at 148 units.
On the Agenda for next Town Council meeting however
is a Resolve that as written requires the Planning
Board to "develop zoning" in order to "bring
(Village Green) into conformity with Chs.40R and 40S".
CH. 40R and S are complicated zoning incentives to
encourage developers to build more affordable housing
by allowing them more density and Town officials to
accept the density by granting one time monetary awards.
Pardon me for being cynical but perhaps the density
issue on Village Green is not a "done deal"
after all. Close perusal of the law reveals that if
zoning is changed to accommodate a 40R development,
the developer can build at least 220 units (20 units
per developable acres-20 X 11 acres). In my mind,
148 units in six barracks like buildings under the
power lines, across from the airport, adjacent to
future Exit 6 ½ , down the street from an adult
entertainment zone, and in an Industrial Park without
sidewalks or street lights is barely attainable. I
understand the need for affordable housing, but as
a supporter of accessory housing and the proposed
alternative to 40B, the AHOD, I believe allowing 200
or more units at that site is not worth the approximate
$375,000 one time incentive payment (plus modest yearly
allowance for school age residents of the project).
The Town is reluctant to abandon this project, but
at some point, sacrificing the future well being of
our community for the satisfaction of a short term
goal is not "good deal".
McManus Property: The Town of Barnstable
is exploring offsite destinations for effluent discharge.
Due to the growing areas on both the North and South
sides of the Cape that are Areas of Critical Concern
for failing septic systems, this is not a question
of whether effluent discharge should be explored but
where it should occur. The Bearse's Way plant has
topped out and the Town simply cannot expand its sewer
system until discharge sites are identified.
McManus, a 44 acre forested parcel adjacent to the
Hyannis Golf Course, is one of four sites actively
being considered. McManus was purchased in part with
Town money with the intent to use the site as a future
discharge area. (a 6.9 acre use easement was acquired)
The potential controversy lies in the fact that land
bank money was also used for the purchase of the remaining
acres. While arguably the use of land bank purchased
property for the contemplated subsurface discharge
may not be technically illegal when coupled with the
surface use for recreational ball fields (an allowed
land bank use), the idea makes more than just a few
land bank supporters (like me) uncomfortable. Additionally,
the discharge poses a potential threat to two nearby
wells controlled by the Barnstable Water District
and to privately owned wells down gradient of the
site.
Credit should be given to Barnstable DPW Director
Mark Ells, Director of Environmental Services Lindsey
Counsell and Assistant Town Manager Paul Niedzwiecki
for hosting a Wastewater Workshop before the Town
Council on January 26th where a lot of these concerns
and more received a fair airing. I will continue to
work with these gentlemen and with Barnstable Water
Superintendent Jon Erickson towards a determination
of an acceptable site and any necessary mitigation,
monitoring and expense allocation.
The Barnstable Village Civic Association will host
an informational forum on this topic on February 27th
at 7 pm at the Barnstable West Barnstable School.
Mary Dunn Road: On February 7th, a crew will
tackle a cleanup at the end of Mary Dunn Road. Kudos
to those who are undertaking this public/private partnership
to address this problem: Tony Shepley, Shepley Wood
Products; Arch Construction; Josh Miller Landscaping;
Deputy Chief Craig Tamash and Lt. McDonald, Barnstable
Police; the inmates of the Bourne Correctional Facility
through Sheriff Jim Cummings and David Neal; and Town
of Barnstable employees Joe Slominski (Structures
and Grounds) and Glenn Santos (Solid Waste). Shame
on those few violators who use the Conservation area
as a way around paying landfill fees. It is illegal,
as well as dangerous, unsightly and unsanitary. What
should be a pastoral setting for hikers and a protectorate
of our watershed is strewn with luggage, sinks, appliances,
bedding, construction materials, and rusting cars.
(See photos on my website: www. anncanedy.com) The
Town is exploring ways to increase surveillance, stiffen
dumping fines and ramp up enforcement.
Cleaned up 2-8-2006 by:
Barnstable County Sheriff's Inmates in cooperation
with Barnstable Town DPW, Barnstable Police and local
businesses Arch Construction, Josh Miller landscaping
and Sheply Wood Products.
Indian Trail has been under assault from litterbugs,
dumpers and late night partygoers. The Barnstable
Police will be patrolling the area. Please call Barnstable
Police Deputy Chief Craig Tamash immediately to report
illegal dumping, drinking or parking. Additionally,
I have requested that DPW place a trash barrel at
the Town Way to Water.
Freezer Point: A growing number of residents
of Barnstable Village and other villages have expressed
a renewed interest in the Town acquiring the Point
for open space and various marine uses. (See
Miriam Kornish's ABC's of Freezer Point on my website.)
The developer Stuart Bornstein has appealed the Regional
Old Kings Highway Commission's decision to deny demolition
of the cannery building on the site. That hearing
is scheduled for trial May 19th. Interestingly, Barnstable
resident Herb Kronish's Boston Architectural Center
Community Design Center Studio students are using
the cannery as a model for abandoned buildings in
marine areas and are designing imaginative and creative
marine uses for that structure. By the way, anyone
interested in joining the community effort to preserve
this unique harbor setting should call Duncan Gibson
at 508-362-3981 or email me at acanedy@comcast.net.
Railroad Clearing: I have been getting quite
a few calls from residents concerned about what they
feel has been drastic tree clearing along the railroad
tracks undertaken by the Bay Colony Railroad. The
railroad does have a 32 foot right of way and is doing
the clearing as a safety matter in the wake of several
trees recently downed by wind across the track. Neil
Andres of the Town's DPW is looking into the complaints
and will work with Bay Colony RR in an effort to mitigate
the damage.
Cape Cod Commission: Barnstable Village resident
David Ansel, who has been the Town of Barnstable's
representative on the Cape Cod Commission for many
years, is retiring from that position. Mr. Ansel has
been a dedicated and rational voice for the interests
of Barnstable and the Cape and will be sorely missed.
Former Town Councilor Royden Richardson will replace
him. Congratulations to Mr. Richardson and heartfelt
thanks to Mr. Ansel from a grateful community.
Roads Committee: After a brief hiatus, the
Roads Committee, of which I am a member, reconvened
on February 7. The first order of business is the
reinstitution of the Temporary Roads Policy and a
discussion of hybrid roads. These are roads that are
part public/part private such as Braggs Lane and Mary
Dunn or roads that have questionable status such as
Indian Trail which was taken as a public road but
which is still listed as a private road.
Because I am organized this year and have diligently
purchased and stacked a winter's supply of wood and
financed my gas heat plan, we are experiencing a record
warm winter season. Not that I am complaining! The
unpredictability of the Cape's weather underlines
and makes me appreciate the reasons I chose to become
a Cape Codder. I admit, however, I am holding my breath
for the big season finale. So enjoy this great weather
while it is here!
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Canedy
Barnstable Town Councilor Precinct One
I invite your opinion.
What’s your issue? Send
me your comments. Thank you, and it continues
to be a pleasure to serve the people of Barnstable.
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