URGENT - Save Borderland

[borderlandbiker]

We need your help! Borderland State park, home to a great NEMBA trail, is at risk from a huge development. A developer wants to put up six 8-story buildings with 624 units of elderly (this is luxury housing...it costs $600,000 to get in the door), a golf course, 150-bed nursing home, fire station, 8 restaurants, dry cleaner, etc., right on Borderland's edge (on Mountain Street). We have been trying to get the State to append this 337-acre parcel of land to Borderland for years...we came very close a few years ago. Please go to http://devalpatrick.com/issue.php?issue_id=7610139 (or just search the issues for "Borderland") and post your support for adding Rattlesnake Hill, the parcel in question, to the park! You do need to create an account on his web site under myissue.devalpatrick.com if you don't already have one, but this is SUCH an important issue. We need your help!
Thanks!

[baddogg79]

Thanks for the heads up , i joinded up and voted!

[Superb Man]

So the parcel to be developed isn't part of Border land??--are they're any NEMBA trails on this eparate parcel? How is it being used now?

Is this critical because specific trails are being detroyed--or is it just uncomfortably close (for some) to the riding area??

[Rich]

So the parcel to be developed isn't part of Border land??--are they're any NEMBA trails on this eparate parcel? How is it being used now?

This parcel is NOT part of Borderland. The are no public trails on this parcel. It is private land. Is is not being "used" in any way now that I am aware of.


Is this critical because specific trails are being detroyed--or is it just uncomfortably close (for some) to the riding area??

Again, there is no riding there - legally- that I know of.

Under the current proposal:

250 acres will be donated to the Conservation Commission and 36 acres will have a private restriction by deed. 286 of 337 acres will never be built.

for more info:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/04/01/624_unit_development_proposal_is_called_best_optio n_for_sharon/


Rich

[C.P.]

I'm very aware of this project, and have attended many of the Brickstone meetings. However, this urgent need to protect and "Save" Borderland as if it were risk of being developed itself (as noted by some of the comments in the deval link of this thread) is a bit mis-leading. The peice of property in question is adjacent to Borderland. It is privately owned by Brickstone. As private property owners, they can do as they want with it, provided they meet lot size requirements for the town (Sharon, MA) and go through the building permit process. Currently, the high density (hi-rise building) nature of the current proposal is requiring a special vote by town meeting to get the "special" building permit they'll need.

To me, the single best place to spend effort for the stopping of this project is to raise awareness in Sharon itself. At this stage of the game, I dont think the State cant do very much at all...short of buying the property outright, which aint gonna happen. I've spoken with people in Sharon, and many are not aware of how big this proposal is. They are, however, aware of the developer's promise of increased tax revenue (from the full page ad's they've run in local papers) which, currently, the town is in desperate need of ('course tax payers have forgotten that all important definition of "revenue" and appear to be jumping on board in droves). The vote is coming soon, and just so happens to be on the docket the same day the town will be asking for over-ride money for the schools, so it might even pass easily.
Another note, It has already been clearly stated by Brickstone, that if they do not get the permit, they will carve out a typical residential neighborhood, consisting of anywhere between 40 and 80 single family house lots.
Anyways, I personally am sad to see this proposal on the table, mosty b/c I ride trails at Borderland, and I know the sheer size and scope will leave a mark that will change the area forever.

Edit: Here are some of the "developer's visions" of the proposed plan, and their website:

http://www.seniorlivinginsharon.com/images/land-use.jpg

http://www.seniorlivinginsharon.com

[digger]

The key to these developments with retained open space is the useability of the OS and the uses ultimately allowed. This one seems to have a substantial amount of upland and may retain some connectivity across the property. If this were in my town, I wouldn't be happy about it, but there may some good trail opportunities in those 250 acres of OS.

[borderlandbiker]

In answer to your question as to why it is critical:
1) Yes, it is very close to the trails;
2) the 135 foot buildings will be visible from many of the trails;
3) the 250 acres that they are allegedly going to preserve may end up becoming a school, affordable housing, or some other development - they still have not hammered out language that preserves this land, so it is up in the air;
4) the proposed development will harm water quality, wildlife habitat, and will have noise impacts on Borderland (part of the proposal is a fire station); and
5) the developer has mentioned restricting at least part of the 250 acres, if saved, to Sharon residents only. People have used the trails on Rattlesnake Hill for years, despite the fact that it was privately owned.

The bottom line is that this is the LAST chance Borderland has to expand its borders. The proposed development will adversely impact the Borderland experience for everyone.

[C.P.]

This is a letter being circulated by the Board of Selectmen in Sharon...

Dear Friends,

The Board of Selectmen has called for the Annual Town Meeting to be held on
May 7, 2007 at 7:00 pm. Please mark your calendars and attend this very
important meeting for the Town of Sharon.

One items in the Warrant relates to substantial work being done by the many
boards and committees in Town. This group will be finalizing the zoning
change and development agreement for Rattlesnake Hill for a development now
known at Sharon Hills.

It has been almost 15 months since Brickstone Development purchased the 337
acre parcel of land know as Rattlesnake Hill and since day one the Board of
Selectmen and the Conservation Commission have had ongoing discussion
regarding the use of the land. At first we had thought that there was a
possibility of purchasing the land from the developer, but soon learned that
was not an option. We also learned that through the purchase Brickstone
inherited the 40b permit which is currently in front of the Housing Appeals
Court which would allow for the development of 250 units on 200 acres of
land leaving the remaining 137 acres open for future development. At that
point in time, January of 2006, we began discussion on the concept that
Brickstone wanted to bring forward to the community and shortly after those
meetings we held a series of public forums to allow for the many boards and
committees to hear from Sharon n residents, but more importantly, so that
Brickstone could present their plan and get feed back from the Sharon
community. We held more than 10 public sessions, in various venues, during
that period of time.

Where are we today?

The Board of Selectmen after hearing feedback from the community re-engaged
Brickstone and negotiated a substantially change in the development. We are
in the drivers seat. We are again acting proactively to shape what would be
acceptable to the Town as a whole, not just putting up road blocks and
hoping that nothing would be developed or that we would be able to push
Brickstone out of Sharon. They are not a local developer. They are a very
large organization that has developed these types of developments time and
time again. Let me state that there will be development on this land, so
let's work with the developer. This approach proved very beneficial in the
development of Sharon Commons, the retail development approved at an
historical Town Meeting just a few weeks ago.

Today we have negotiated the following which will be included in a
development agreement, a legal contract including safe guards for the Town
and the direct abutters, between Brickstone and the Board of Selectmen:

A total of 286 of the 337 acres will be completely preserved and never
developed (a major goal of myself personally, the Board of Selectmen and the
Conservation Commission)

85% of the land will be preserved at no cost to the Town of Sharon (a value
to the Town in excess of $25.0 million)

The developer has agreed to built the much needed high pressure water
district increasing water pressure to more than 600 homes. The Town has had
plans to this for almost 20 years, but never the money to implement (a value
to the Town in excess of $6.0 million)

Town water will now be made available to residents in the area that
currently have wells and will allow for additional fire hydrants to be
installed improving fire protection

A state of the art State permitted waste water treatment facility will be
build having no impact on the current ground water (also being made
available to abutters for connections)

We negotiated a substantial reduction in units from 1,800 to 600.

All units will be restricted to residents age 62 and older. The average age
will be 72.

There will be NO student impact on the already burdened Sharon Public School
System

The donation of money today so that the Board of Selectmen can hire in FY
2008 additional public safety personnel

Other donations for some much needed items for the community as a whole

One acre of land will be saved and set aside for the future development of a
public safety sub-station for both Police and Fire. (this will address any
issues with public safety response time to the entire side of Town not just
this development)

$3.2 million net revenue (5% of the Town's annual operating budget) is
estimated from this development, after adding much needed fire and police
personnel, (This is much needed revenue that will come from the last major
development in the Town of Sharon. There are no other sites in the Town of
Sharon that can or will produce this level of revenue. There are no other
options)

What are we avoiding?

Another 40b development. 250 home in the first phase. This would have
substantial impact to the already burdened School System and preserve NO
land.

As of right, under the current zoning by-laws of the Town of Sharon, 88 home
could and will be built on all of the 337 acres, again preserving NO land.

What are we doing now?

The Board of Selectmen and the other boards and committees have and will
continue to reach out and hold as many public sessions as possible each week
until Town Meeting on May 7, 2007 at 7:00 pm. Please attend and support
this rezoning effort in addition to the bridge financing needed by the Town
until we see revenue from these initiatives.

We will be finalizing the zoning and development agreement over the next few
weeks based on the input we receive at the remaining public forums.

Once developed, Sharon Commons and Sharon Hills will produce over $6.5
million in net revenue (over a 10% increase to the current operating budget)
to the Town of Sharon, elevating the need for proposition 2 1/2 overrides in
the future.

Thank you again for your continued support. I look forward to speaking with
each of you in the upcoming weeks and at the Town Meeting on May 7, 2007
starting at 7:00 pm.

Please pass this email along to friends, family and other interested Sharon
residents. Urge them stay informed and to attend Town Meeting.

Regards

Bill

William A. Heitin, CPA

[cmoore]

The rezoning issue is up for revote in the Town of Sharon November 5th. Brickstone currently has approval to build six 8-story high rise buildings adjacent to Borderland State Park. Rather than a pristine, preserved, wildlife area you will have an area towered over by 8-story building - shining light and distributing noise into the preserved area 24 hours per day. Also, the wildlife areas will become contaminated with run off from the pesticides and fertilizers from the golf course and landscaping. I urge you to tell all your friends in Sharon vote yes on the three articles on November 5th at Sharon Town Meeting. Voting yes will allow negotiations to begin for the entire 337 parcel to purchased by an entity such as the state or the Nature Conservency, which would open up the area for passive recreation use such as moutain biking.

[hogboy]

it's about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[C.P.]

Yup hogboy, it's true, but it's about time us regular folk take a stand...

This development was marketed as "smart growth" - which can be good for communities with large pieces of land that have been surrounded with industrial or poorly planned/zoned growth, and can change these areas for the better with well planned development.

This project is a far cry from smart growth, if any of you dont know anything about Rattlesnake hill, it's a real serene place, this 337 acre parcel is surrounded by large residential tracts of land, wetlands and low lying ponds, and on one side, Borderland State Park...this location is a place that is about as far as you can get from being a good choice for development...especially high density/high rise buildings and the infrastructure that's going to be required to support them...

Unfortunately, for most of us here on the boards to do anything about it, it'll be nothing short of impossible, since the vote is for Sharon residents only.

It might land in better hands though (http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=918), apparently, the State earmarked $$ to buy this land(back in '02)...

Stay tuned...this aint over yet...

[Scott O]

Snakes and mountain bikers unite!
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/10/11/rare_snakes_at_issue_in_development_fight/

Not sure if that was posted yet.