Time For Change
On December 11, 2008 CC&F received their special permit for Westwood Station. They have less than 2 years to start going vertical. The way I see it, time is against Westwood Station and the Town. Next year the Town will most likely be looking for an override and for all we know Westwood Station will still be a pile of dirt. Our Town Selectman and boards need to come to the realization that the project may be to big for the Town and the developer. There is no sign that the developer has any funding available to move forward.
I am not against Westwood Station, how can I be I live over by the High School so it does not directly effect me. On the other hand an override does directly effect myself and my family. Many residents in the town have said for years now that the project is just too big. That point of view fell on deaf ears from our boards who then told the residents one thing and did another.
It's time to vote someone on the board that can think outside the box and is not just another hand picked candidate from the Board of Selectman.
How can Mr Rafsky stay objective when it comes to Westwood Station? He sat on the Economic Development Advisory Board and he and Nancy Hyde are the face of Westwood Station. We need new faces, new Ideas on not only the planning board but all our boards.
I hope to garnish your Vote on Tuesday April 28.
Comments
Planning Board
What the Planning Board needs are members who are familiar with policies to manage growth and shape our future. They need to be highly cognizant of details. The fact that your post refers to "death ears" and not DEAF ears as well as the project as "to big" and not TOO big makes me think you are not the man for the job.
editorial note
David Feyler called me about 5 minutes after posting his original comment and asked me to fix the typos.
Hmmmm...you missed a
Hmmmm...you missed a few.
~
John Craine
50 Blue Hill Drive
no grammar warranty
I'm just trying to help here...I'm not going to proofread and edit people's writing unless they ask me to make specific changes. I just don't want the technology to get in the way of the conversation.
Guest 9 I will admit when I
Guest 9 I will admit when I make a mistake and yes I posted my comments without proof reading. What concerns me is
that you hide behind a screen name and in my eyes don't stand up for your own post.
If I get elected to the planning board I will stand behind what I say. If you posted your name behind what you had to say, then I could respect what you have to say.
See guest 9 I have no problem admitting when I make a mistake. Now instead of a sneak attack, stand up for what you have to say and post your name next time.
Issues not Typos
I wish this blog could be used as a means to discuss the issues facing this town and the planning board.
Why I think it is time for change on the Westwood Planning Board...First of all, I think Steve is a great guy and I had numerous conversations with him after planning board meetings. He has put a lot of time into this project as have all the board members. That being said the big picture was never addressed. Steve did a great job talking about and fighting for placement of bike racks. He also did a great job about addressing how many gallons per flush the toilets should use. That conversation went on for well over an hour and those of us at the meeting got to hear what size toilets Bruce M. has in his home. And the conversation went on.
However, I was there to find out when the size of Westwood Station would be addressed. It never happened. I also did a lot of research on the crime committed at large developments in the Boston Area. I spoke to members of the Braintree Police, the Burlinton Police and Mansfield Police. I asked Steve Olanoff numerous times to make just 1 phone call to any of these police stations and speak to the men and women of law enforcement who deal with large developments on a daily basis. Every meeting I would ask him if he made the call. 1 phone call. That was all I was asking for. He didnt do it. Now, I realize these are volunteer positions which are extremely time consuming. But was that asking too much?
I want someone on these boards who will work with the residents to make this town a better place. People who will not just rely on the paid consultants opinions -- people who do a report and are then done with the project. How about listening to the people who deal with these projects after the fact.
Steve Rafsky sold this project to our town at town meeting. He convinced the town to change the zoning for the 50 acre project. 50 acres turned into 150 acres and all Steve and the Selectmen could say was "we never thought they would buy all that land". Come on. This is experience?
David Feyler and Jason Lee deserve the chance to bring some new ideas to the board and help Westwood Station become a project that makes Westwood proud.
Mr. Feyler, you have my vote
Mr. Feyler, you have my vote for sure. Unfortunately, I know people like myself are in the minority, since most of the people that live in Westwood are not directly affected by the Westwood Station project, and couldn't care less about what happens to the "other side" of town.
However, people in this town are incredibly naive, thinking that Westwood Station is going to make Westwood a better place. Taxes will go up for everyone to cover additional police, fire, and cleanup services. The notion that Westwood Station will reduce taxes for anyone in this town is a joke. So far it has been nothing but a financial liability to the town, and will continue to be that way. The Rt. 128 train station will no longer be viable. The MBTA is severly in debt and will cut services in the future - not add. Section 8 tenants will move in to our town and schools, bringing crime and overcrowding. The massive amounts of traffic they want to bring in will wreak havoc to our infrastructure, which is completely insufficient.
And even if Westwood Station is built, it will fail, and become as lifeless as the Dedham mall within 2 years of being built. You can't keep building malls in close proximity with one another. Everyone knows that their imaginary income and money from the economic bubble that just exploded is gone. It will never return, and shoving massive malls into residential areas will never be viable again.
No one will give Cabot and Idiots a construction loan because that is the equivalent of giving a McDonalds employee a $1,000,000 home loan. CC&F will never pay it back, the project is bound to fail, especially in this economy, and at least some people are smart enough to realize this.
I never wish unemployment to anyone, but hopefully this economy stays in the tank and CC&F will just pack their bags and go away. It will be better for everyone in the long run.
Time for a change and Go Away Doherty
How could anyone hope that this economy "stays in the tank" so that Doherty "will just pack his bags and go away". Either you're without a mortgage, debt-free, living on a trust or simply in a bubble. What's your solution? Hope you have a good understanding of applicable land use regulation. Keep in mind that the courts have placed limits on a board's authority. Land use is subject to regulation under various Town Bylaws and Statues of the Commonwealth. When you vote on Tuesday remember this--effective leaders work as closely with their opponents as they do their supporters. I think I'll go with experience.
What has experience done for us?
Well, it has given us a beautiful pile of dirt on University Ave to look at and think about all the revenue not coming into Westwood. Had Mr. Rafsky and other town officials shown experience in dealing with developers, we would be in a much better position. For example, let's rezone University Avenue but not have controls in place for how much land one developer can buy and build on. Humm. That was smart.
Had Mr. Rafsky show any leadership at all, the fight over the license issue as well as the special town meeting would have been completely avoided. Nope, those leaders made a mess out of that situation. It was an embarassment for Westwood.
And how about the experience in dealing with our neighboring towns? That is a whole different can of worms.
Let's elect some new faces to the Planning Board and see what fresh ideas can do for our town.
Also, I am disappointed the experienced candidates (Mr. Rafsky and Mr. Olanoff) can not take the time to post to this blog. Even Mr. Doherty gives us that satisfaction.
Rafsky and Olanoff Comments
I love to see the ads listing Rafsky's experience!! And Olanoff please. http://www.ccfne.com/pages/news/onboard.html
Check out the Boston Globe article which basically says Rafsky brought WS to town to save our tax base. Hah! That pile of dirt is going to cost us huge. Building knocked down that were housing businesses. Now we have nothing but a permit for a massive development noone wants to fund.
And Olanoff is quoted as sayin.. "no one expected them to buy soo much land!" The town didnt protect itself from that. SHAME on the people who run this town.
TIME FOR CHANGE!!!