Mr O’Brien talks about using Chapter 61A (where Sudbury taxpayers pay the property tax on a farm until the estate is transferred in return for the town to have right of first refusal on the property) to preserve open space but when we had the chance to do that to prevent the Landham Crossing 40B at the intersection of Landham Road and Route 20, Mr O’Brien and Mr. Drobinski voted 2-1 against Mr. Haarde and forfeited the right of first refusal on this property for which Sudbury taxpayers had paid decades of property taxes.
Instead of buying this land and leasing it to Buddy Dog and letting Bosse expand or many other options which could have been pursued, Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Drobinski allowed a 40B builder to buy it resulting in 31 housing units and only 8 of them affordable (subsidized by CPA tax dollars).
Developments like these are not in the best interest of Sudbury. They add housing and children to the schools but barely move the 40B needle toward 10 percent because the denominator grows by much more than the numerator. These Sudbury 40B deals are great for builders - they are not homes for poor people - they are high-end brand-new homes and builders make significant profit on them but do very little toward getting us to 10 percent.
They barely help moderate income people. Poor people do not qualify. It is a builders' dream. It is a strategy to overdevelop the entire town while never reaching 10 percent. So not only did our current BOS and planners give us the predatory Johnson Farm 40B on environmentally sensitive land, it also gave us the Landham Crossing 40B where the land was perfectly suitable, and desirable, for much needed commercial development. Sudbury, we can do better.
Dan De Pompei
Candidate for Selectman
In This article
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Buddy Dog Humane Society
Joined Patch Thursday, February 2, 2012 -
Bosse Sports
141 Boston Post Rd, Sudbury, MA
jonathan
6:03 pm on Thursday, April 12, 2012
This just goes to show how completely uninformed Mr. DePompei is. Go read the law on 61A first, look at its origins, it's intent, ask some of the farmers who's land was on 61A. The town does have right of first refusal on a 61A property, but you can't apply it during purchase agreement because Johnson was never a 61A. The town was trying to buy the land, the father passed away, kids sold to developer. Their right, their land. BTW, anybody who really is interested in this stuff can find it all on either the town web or go to the state program site!!!! When you try to sound informed but aren't, the folks around here will call you out every time.
Pat Brown
6:46 pm on Thursday, April 12, 2012
Johnson Farm is at 189 Landham Road. No, it was not a 61A property. It was mentioned as an afterthought in this letter, a separate project from Landham Crossing which Mr. De Pompei believes could have been handled better.
Landham Crossing is at 192 Boston Post Road. Yes, it was a 61A property. Yes, the town had the right of first refusal, and no, the town didn't take it.
This discussion will be more informative if we are clear which properties we are discussing.
siobhan hullinger
8:58 pm on Thursday, April 12, 2012
Exactly, Pat! I think in order to critique, one must be clear not immature and anonymous such as "Jonathan".
carol
9:27 pm on Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sioban, I believe you are a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Foolishness.
Indeed.
jonathan
10:06 am on Monday, April 16, 2012
Interesting that Ms. Hullinger continues to harass on the blogs, please refrain from comments about who is who, you only make yourself appear desperate. Make a point. Please.
siobhan hullinger
10:47 am on Monday, April 16, 2012
I certainly do not intend to "harass" but if so - please point it out. I would be happy to apologize. Perhaps you would like to apologize for your directed insult to me on these blogs.
Try to elevate the discussions, perhaps the town will begin to work together, instead of anonymous personal hits.
Feel free to call me if you would like to discuss - after all, I am not anonymous
...
Edward Stark
9:07 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
Why is anyone attacking Siobhan Hullinger? She is a good person and has done nothing to wrong anyone on here. She makes honest posts and unlike the rest of us she has the courage to use her real name. I am sure unlike some in town she also files and pays her income taxes. This town needs more honest folks like the Hullingers.
BFKASS
12:32 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
@carol and @jonathan
The anonymous comments you are making is one reason why it is so difficult to find anyone who wants to participate in town government. Did you see how hard it was to find people for the school committee? Why would anyone want to put up with your comments in these blogs and be involved?