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MGL Chapter 41 Section 81R
The proposed Rice Pond Village project is not in the "public interest". However, the proposed Rice Pond Village project is in the "private interests" of the applicant and developer, Steven F. Venincasa, of Whitney Street Home Builders, LLC, and the land owners, the Rice Pond Realty Trust and the McLaughlin Family Living Trust.
Rice Road To Be Reopened
The Millbury Department of Public Works insisted that Rice Road had to be reopened to the public due to many months of public safety concerns, therefore the deep open holes were filled in and the road openings were paved over by EverSource Energy's subcontractors. That portion of Rice Road between Aldrich Avenue and Providence Street (Route 122A) is scheduled to reopen later this week.
Neighbors Try To Nix A Proposed 46-Unit Condo Development On Rice Road
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, Lisa Redmond authored an article in the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle on neighbors trying to nix a proposed 46-unit condo development on Rice Road in Millbury, Massachusetts.
No Affordable Housing At Rice Pond Village
The developer for the proposed Rice Pond Village project at 17 Rice Road in Millbury, Massachusetts, Steven F. Venincasa, doing business as Whitney Street Home Builders, LLC, has repeatedly said that he wants affordable housing credit benefits for the proposed project, but has made it abundantly clear that his organization does not want affordable housing units on the proposed Rice Pond Village property. The optics appear to be somewhat like a NIMBY scenario? Perhaps there is another reason for this that has not been articulated by the developer.
Proposed Project At 17 Rice Road Will Destroy Neighborhood
It is April 2021, I walk out to my mailbox and find a letter with no return address listed. In large bold font the letter states, "52 Condominiums Proposed." Reading through the fine print, I can see this proposed development is at 17 Rice Road. As a direct abutter to the proposed project, I found myself in a state of shock. How can this be happening? Who would propose such a monstrosity in this small neighborhood?
Rice Road Closed Due To EverSource
This continued and prolonged closure presents an inconvenience to all residents of Rice Road, Thomas Hill Road, Aldrich Avenue, and Captain Peter Simpson Road at a minimum, and could cause delays in providing emergency services to the 43 households should such services be required during the extended closure of Rice Road. In the event of a storm bringing down limbs, trees, or wires the residents could be cutoff from getting to or leaving their homes for an extended period of time until the issue is resolved.