(NADD)
| A look at the financial impacts of the
Sharon Hills Project There are costs associated with Brickstone's Sharon Hills that were not accounted for in the alleged $3.2 million benefit promised by Brickstone and Town officials. Mitigation offered by Brickstone is also far less than promised. Some of the liabilities that the developer did not include in revenue projections are examined below. School Costs The Brickstone project will result in the need for 69 additional units of affordable housing, adding approximately 121 children to the school system. The developer repeatedly stated that the senior living facility would draw approximately 16% of its elderly occupants from the Town of Sharon. More ….. |
| Integrity In Government Is
Indispensible Here are some highlights from the recent decision from the District Attorney (DA) regarding the violation of the Open Meeting Law by the Sharon Selectmen: The DA stated, “This Office has found that the Selectmen violated the Open Meeting Law dozens of times by meeting in closed session to discuss the Brickstone Development.” The town’s attorney, Mr. Gelerman, wrote several letters attempting to explain why breaking the law didn’t occur. The DA’s decision rejected these explanations. This is the third time since 2001 that the DA’s office cited the Sharon Selectmen for breaking the Open Meeting Law. The DA stated, “Using closed sessions to discuss how options could be kept from the public is contrary to the letter and spirit of the Open Meeting Law.” The DA stated that the Selectmen should publicly acknowledge the DA’s finding that their “closed sessions regarding the Brickstone Development were a significant violation of the Open Meeting Law.” More ….. |
| Over 55 Housing Glut The Boston Globe article entitled “The age of broken promises” (http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/03/30/the_age_of_broken_promises/?page=1 ) discusses the glut of housing for people over 55 in Massachusetts and the problems this is causing the developers, the towns, and the residents of the age-restricted housing. The article states that “developers in .....[other towns] and Sharon, are saying that age restrictions, formerly a hot marketing tool, are now hampering sales.” The Globe also notes that – “Under Massachusetts law, local cities and towns cannot mandate zoning conditions that prevent sales.” As you may recall, NADD argued that the glut of elderly housing in the state might result in Brickstone ultimately asking for relief from the age restriction at Sharon Hills. This article gives even more support to that contention. Below is an excerpt from a presentation at town meeting in November, 2007 regarding the housing glut: The current senior housing glut in Massachusetts could impact the tax revenues Sharon receives from this proposed project. CHAPA is particularly worried about this issue as they promote residential building. Therefore, they commissioned a comprehensive study in 2005 regarding age-restricted housing which includes Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), the type of project Brickstone is proposing. More ….. |
| Traffic Issues - The developer and
town officials stated that traffic impacts would be minimal.
Our response: Traffic reports prepared by the developer were inaccurate, and severely underestimated the impacts to residents. The traffic study prepared by the developer was incomplete. Specifically, the developer stated, and the Selectmen parroted, that the traffic associated with the proposed development would be similar, if not better than, traffic generated by 88-single family homes. In fact, during Town Meeting, Selectmen Chair William Heitin stated that 88 single family homes would result in more traffic than the proposed rezoning (personal observation from watching tape of Town Meeting). These statements are directly contrary to the Town’s own consultant’s report, which states that the alternative of 88 single family homes would result in weekday morning peak vehicles of 72, and evening number of vehicles of 96, while the proposed senior living would result in morning peak of 111 vehicles, and an evening peak of 126 vehicles. More..... |