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Neighbors working together to preserve our neighborhoods and beyond.
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Rice Pond Village Parking Space Analysis
Steven Venincasa, James Venincasa, along with their project engineer James Tetreault, have submitted a request for a parking requirement waiver for the proposed Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village project, seeking approval for 209 less parking spaces than mandated by the Millbury’s Subdivision Rules and Regulations. They instead suggest a parking ratio of 1.66 parking spaces per unit, but provide no supporting data with their request for a waiver.
Chapter 40B Public Hearing - January 31, 2024
The upcoming public hearing for the proposed Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village project will be hosted by the Millbury Board of Appeals. It is scheduled for Wednesday, January 31, 2024, starting at 7:00 PM. The venue for this event will be at the Millbury Senior Center, situated at One River Street in Millbury, Massachusetts. Attending in person is encouraged for maximum impact. However, if you're unable to attend physically, you can join via Zoom using Meeting ID 834 1855 4333 or watch it on either Verizon FIOS channel 26 or (Charter) Spectrum channel 191, or afterwards on Millbury Video-On-Demand.
MBTA Inclusionary Zoning Area Disclosed
The MBTA Inclusionary Zoning might be inconsequential, either way, considering that the defined area is fully developed. Furthermore, the process of acquiring developed properties, demolishing them, and constructing densely populated housing units demands substantial capital. Up to this point, no major corporate investor has shown interest in pursuing any such endeavors in Millbury. The transition from the current state to achieving 15 dwelling units per acre is improbable to happen overnight.
Waivers, Waivers, And More Waivers
As anticipated, the number of waivers is increasing, consistent with our expectations from these developers. Steven Venincasa and James Venincasa seem to adopt a mindset where rules are perceived as non-applicable, deeming requirements irrelevant when they clash with their development goals. This disregard extends to public safety and environmental concerns.
Recap Of Chapter 40B Public Hearing #3
Steve Stearns, acting as the designated neighborhood and community spokesperson, delivered a concise presentation lasting less than 30 minutes. His critique covered the development plans, emphasizing compliance with local and state regulations as mandated by our zoning bylaws, subdivision rules, state building and fire codes, the wetlands protection act, and other pertinent design and development criteria. Based on his engagements with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), previously identified as the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), it is stressed that strict compliance with all state laws is mandatory and cannot be waived.
Chapter 40B Public Hearing - January 10, 2024
The upcoming public hearing for the proposed Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village project will be hosted by the Millbury Board of Appeals. It is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 2024, starting at 7:00 PM. The venue for this event will be at the Millbury Senior Center, situated at One River Street in Millbury, Massachusetts. Attending in person is encouraged for maximum impact. However, if you're unable to attend physically, you can join via Zoom using Meeting ID 897 0147 2250 or watch it on either Verizon FIOS channel 26 or (Charter) Spectrum channel 191, or afterwards on Millbury Video-On-Demand.