HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-09-BLMNCD-min
Meeting Notes Regarding the Neighborhood Conservation District
Wednesday, November 9, 2016, 7:10 PM
Present: Donna Moultrup, Chris Neurath, Rich Goldhammer, Wendy Russman-
Halperin, Tina McBride, Diane Pursley and Bob Creech.
The primary purpose of this meeting was to meet with the Turning Mill NCD
representatives. They were willing to share their experiences so far in the process to
help the Byron/Lockwood/Mass. Ave. group be ready for the scheduled public hearing
at the Historical Commission on November 16th. The four possible candidates for the
Byron/Lockwood/Mass. Ave. Study Committee were invited to the meeting.
Diane Pursley started by outlining the steps in the process: meet with the Historical
Commission; have a public hearing open to all neighbors in the defined area plus those
living 100 feet from the border of the defined area; have a Study Committee appointed;
produce a report on the goals of the NCD; have a final public hearing with all neighbors
inside the NCD defined area and neighbors within 300 feet of the area border; and
finally, a citizen petition to Town Meeting which ultimately approves the formation of the
NCD.
With input from all of the Turning Mill representatives, there was discussion of their
process so far. They had their first hearing in July, but because the Attorney General
had not yet approved the Town Meeting article, the Study Committee could not be
appointed. Even after the approval by the Attorney General, it took until recently to
have the committee appointed and their first meeting is the week of November 13th.
There is some feeling that, although Town Meeting approved this article, Town
government has been slow to be accepting of the process. This has implications for the
Byron/Lockwood/Mass. Ave. group since we have a very short time to complete the
process once the November 16th hearing is finished. Since they have a large number
of homes involved, it is also going to cost over $2,000 to send the final public hearing
notices certified mail. Donna quickly estimated that it might be around $200 for the
Byron/Lockwood/ Mass. Ave. hearing.
Bob Creech shared their neighborhood process to determine what characteristics their
NCD would try to preserve. Since they have over 150 homes in their NCD, the process
was more involved. The comments from their process ended up in five general
categories: woodland setting and feeling, architectural style, nature, responsible
homes, and privacy. Architectural style; small, affordable houses; and preserving the
1930s feel of the neighborhood were things identified by the Bryon/Lockwood/Mass.
Ave. group.
There was considerable discussion of the pros and cons of adding the somewhat
different Mass. Ave. houses to our defined area. One of the houses was the original
farmhouse and owner of land on which Bryon/Lockwood was built. Since most of the
driveways back onto Rhodes St., the houses are an integral part of the neighborhood.
The houses have their own architectural style, different from Byron and Lockwood, but
consistent among themselves. Lastly many of those owners have expressed a sincere
interest in being a part of the NCD. The plan is to include Mass. Ave. if at all possible,
and until those houses, perhaps, opt out in the final analysis.
We were referred to the Turning Mill website for more information. We were also
referred to the Denton Rd., Wellesley, and Machine Shop Village in Andover to see
examples of the final reports produced by the study committees.
The meeting ended at approximately 8:30 PM. Sincere thanks were expressed to the
Turning Mill representatives for taking the time to share their experience with us. It was
expressed that, hopefully, we will be able to work together to make sure the Town
understands our purpose and we will be successful in petitioning this spring's Town
Meeting to allow us to have our NCDs.
Donna Moultrup, Volunteer Recorder