(NADD)
Article 1 - Zoning Change
Brickstone is requesting a new height restriction of 482 feet above sea level (not including mechanical structures on top of the buildings) rather than the specific number of stories (8) and building heights in feet (105) as specified in the current zoning. The 482 foot height equates to an allowable height which is about 5 stories or 50 feet higher than the top of Rattlesnake Hill. At a recent Selectmen’s meeting, Brickstone showed a block diagram representing one of the buildings. When pressed, Brickstone admitted that when looked at from the Bay Road side, a viewer would be seeing a 14 story building. Brickstone has never shown the community an artist’s rendering to illustrate what their high-rises would actually look like.
Article 3 - Mountain Street Access
Brickstone is requesting Mountain Street construction access for a period of at least three years. Prior to the Town Meeting vote in 2007, Brickstone repeatedly promised residents that Mountain Street would not be used to access the site due to safety and environmental concerns.
Brickstone’s own estimate is that the project would add 1,800+ vehicle trips per day through Sharon. Likely routes include Route 27, North and South Main Streets, Massapoag Ave., Morse Street, Mountain Street, East Street, Billings Street, Gunhouse Street, Pond Street and many others. Traffic will impact the train station, our schools (Heights, East, Middle), schoolchildren walking and at bus stops, and virtually all our neighborhood streets. After 18+ months, both Mountain Street and Bay Road would be used for construction access for an additional 18 months or more.
For at least 18 months, construction vehicles with more than 6 wheels will be required to access the construction site on the following routes: Inbound: Bay Road to Wilshire to Hampton to Mountain. Outbound: Mountain to Hampton to Deerfield to Bay. How these vehicles get to Bay inbound, or where they go after they reach Bay outbound, is not restricted. The average truck traffic volume on these streets would be one truck approximately every 1 minute.
Scare Tactics
The 88 Homes or 40B Threat
Brickstone has used these threats repeatedly to influence the outcome of our vote. On Oct. 6, 2009, Brickstone announced that they are presenting alternative plans to build 88 conventional homes or a 40B development (affordable housing units) that would “involve the entire piece” of land. The entire parcel cannot be developed as many areas do not have soils legally required to construct septic systems. In addition, the parcel contains many wetland areas, vernal pools, and endangered species habitats which limit development potential. Moreover, if Brickstone builds high rises as proposed, 69 additional affordable housing units would have to be built elsewhere in Sharon to satisfy Brickstone’s fair share of 40B quota. This would bring a comparable number of children to Sharon as 88 non-40B homes would. Brickstone has also publically stated that if we deny the proposal, they will sell the land.
A Better Alternative
The Nature Conservancy has designated Rattlesnake Hill as “highest priority” for preservation. Moreover, since the last vote, the Commonwealth has designated Rattlesnake Hill as a “Priority Protection Area.” Sale of the land to these entities could now be financially feasible for Brickstone.
Years of construction traffic through our residential streets and past our schools is unacceptable. Our quiet community will be forever altered by this high-rise housing complex with its traffic, congestion, and safety concerns.
Vote “NO” on articles 1 and 3 at Town Meeting on Monday, November 9, 7:00 at Sharon High School.