Residents Upset at Housing Development Prospect

Residents of Sudbury packed Town Hall, overflowing out of the main auditorium on Tuesday night, to voice their disapproval of a proposed housing development on Landham Road.

The public meeting, held by the board of selectmen in advance of drafting a letter to the Massachusetts Housing Authority, discussed a 120-unit housing complex in the works by Westborough developer Bob Moss. The proposed complex is a slated to be a 40b project—meaning it has at least 25 percent of the units must be affordable housing— which allows developers to skirt local zoning ordinances.

The development will be 120 units, made up of one-and two-bedroom apartments, and take up 35.6 acres on the site known as Johnson Farm.

Members of the town expressed a number of concerns about the development, most of them dealing with environmental issues and the matter of town character.

One of the groups worried about the environmental impact of the housing complex was the Sudbury Conservation Commission. Speaking on their behalf, Debbie Dineen, the Conservation Coordinator told the board that "based on the plans presented by the applicant to date, the Conservation Commission does not see this project as respecting the landscape and natural surroundings of the site."

Dineen pointed out that much of the site is wetlands, and that even construction close to the protected area could have a negative effect.

Andrew Donovan, an abutter to the property on Landham Road, said he was also troubled by possible impact on the environment.

Donovan said he was worried that the volume of water that would be discharged from the treatment facility for 120 households would significantly impact the level of water in the low-gradient creek that runs, "not at the edge of, but right through the heart of his property."

He pleaded with the board that "no preliminary approvals be granted until it can be shown to have no significant adverse impact on [his] little river."

It was not the environment, but rather the perceived assault on the personality of the town that most of the crowd took umbrage with.

"I think people live in a town like because there are interested in living in, and maintaining a town with character," said Jeff Jonas before the meeting began. "It seems to me that we keep developing and developing, and it defeats the purpose of why I live here."

Kirsten Roopenian summed up the views of many in the crowd when she told Bob Moss, "You are an unwelcome invasion to our town. Nobody wants you here." She left the microphone to roaring applause.

After the meeting was over, Roopenian clarified what she meant by her comments.

"This project is far too dense for this town," she said. "We are a rural community that takes pride in a quieter way of life. Nobody wants a monstrosity like this development in their backyard.  We are a community that doesn't like a lot of change."

Roopenian, like many others in the crowd, is also concerned about traffic and an influx of students in the public schools. Moss said he expected there to be a total of 882 extra car trips taken per day, and 20 additional children in the school system. He believed the number of children would be low because there are no three-bedroom units in the complex.

Peter Johnson, who is selling the property, also spoke at the meeting, begging the community to see that this change is not all bad. Johnson said he has been living in Sudbury for 62 years and has seen a lot of growth, most of it positive.

"When you think about this project, don't think about it being that negative. Things change," he said, admitting he was nervous in front of the crowd. "How much is it actually going to affect each and every one of you on an individual level? Many of you people came to town when I was here, and we welcomed you. Never once did I think that not everybody was welcome."

Moss and his lawyer, Steven Schwartz, pointed out that more than 80 percent of the area would be left untouched, but recognized it would be hard to win the support of the town.

"We're probably not going to satisfy all the citizens of the community," Schwartz said.