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 835 1855 4333 or watch it on either Verizon FIOS channel 26 or (Charter) Spectrum channel 191, or afterwards on Millbury Video-On-Demand.

The agenda that has been published lacks any sub-items, and there are no new documents available from either the developers or their project engineer. Several neighbors and residents expressing concern have submitted written public comments to the Millbury Board of Appeals, and a summary of these comments is provided here. This list will be tracked and updated as needed.

So you can plan ahead, public hearings for the proposed Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village project will be dedicated solely to discussing the proposed Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village project on the second Wednesday of each month. Additionally, on the last Wednesday of each month, there would be a divided session, starting with public hearings on other local projects that fall under Chapter 40A, as necessary, followed by the focus shifting to the proposed Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village project. The meeting venue could change based on the availability of meeting spaces.

While our community collectively views the proposed Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village projects as highly implausible, the following obstacles, as voiced by neighbors and community members across town, must be addressed, mitigated, or resolved. The list is presented without any specific order or priority.

1. Deny the requested waiver for a density increase. The density should closely align with the neighborhood, set at 2.5 dwelling units per acre. A more reasonable adjustment would involve reducing the proposed 192 dwelling units to no more than 36 dwelling units.

2. Reject the requested waiver to allow the proposed building height to be adjusted from 65 feet 6 inches to comply with the zoning bylaw height limitation of 30 feet.

3. Deny the requested waiver for parking reductions and uphold the local open-air parking regulations in adherence to local zoning, without any reduction or attempts to circumvent our regulations with the use of compact parking spaces and counting leased garages.

4. Reject any requested waiver for a reduction of established sewer betterment fees, as this only benefits the developer, not the taxpayers.

5. To address speed issues both now and in the future, we request the installation of official speed limit signs not only on Rice Road but also on South Main Street and Providence Street. While signs may not entirely resolve excessive speed problems, they provide our police department an opportunity to enforce speed limits with actual posted speed limit signs.

6. Installation of stop signs and stop lines at Thomas Hill Road and Aldrich Avenue intersections with Rice Road.

7. Install stop signs and stop lines on Rice Road at the intersections with South Main Street and Providence Street and add reflective centerlines nearing these intersections (100’±) to assist drivers in maintaining their own lanes and orienting drivers to new driving patterns.

8. Install a stop sign and stop line within the public Rice Road right-of-way at the exit to the proposed development so that the police department can enforce any violations of failing to stop. The police department cannot enforce traffic controls on private property.

9. Reinstallation of railroad crossing symbols on the pavement that were removed during repaving on both sides of the railroad crossing on Rice Road.

10. Installation of new state-of-the-art railroad crossing gates.

11. Install an energy-efficient LED streetlight to illuminate the railroad crossing similar to intersections throughout town, especially with the odd geometry and steep slope that currently exists.

12. Expand and redesign the railroad crossing to facilitate the comfortable passage of two vehicles simultaneously and improve the overall visibility, equal to the pavement width for the traffic volume (i.e., not less than 32-feet) with a center dividing line to direct traffic to remain in their own lanes.

13. Install two directional change signs on both sides of the approach to the railroad crossing, signaling the sudden shift in the road's geometry at the Providence & Worcester Railroad crossing.

14. Install a guardrail on the east side of Rice Road between Providence Street and the Providence & Worcester Railroad crossing.

15. Decrease (minimize) the grade of Rice Road and expand the pavement width to 32 feet, in accordance with local regulations. This is necessary to address the traffic volume between Providence Street and the Providence & Worcester Railroad crossing, aiming to minimize hazards caused by winter accumulations that make condition treacherous.

16. Uphold the necessity for two entrances to this development and refrain from granting exceptions for access from a minor street to multifamily developments, as mandated by our zoning bylaw. Reject any attempt to replicate the impracticality witnessed in the previous project where developers proposed two entrances on Rice Road less than 200 feet apart.

17. Comply with the requirements outlined for a Suburban 2 development, including specifications for height (limited to 30 feet to maintain the character of our one- and two-story neighborhood without introducing skyscrapers), density, parking (ensure no reduction in parking requirements), setbacks, and other pertinent criteria.

18. Reconfigure the intersection of Providence Street and Rice Road to a standard “T” intersection to create turning lanes in both north and south directions so that vehicle stacking does not allow vehicles to back up onto the railroad crossing or Providence Street, as this would increase number of rear-end collisions or train-vehicle collisions. Fix the impossible right turn southbound on Providence Street onto Rice Road.

19. Install a sidewalk adhering to our subdivision rules and regulation along the length of the north side of Rice Road from the existing South Main Street sidewalk to Providence Street and along Providence Street to align with the existing sidewalk on the east side of Providence Street to permit walking to and from the local supermarket as elderly neighbors have done and do, and how other residents use as an exercise loop for walking or running. Install a crosswalk across Providence Street at Rice Road adhering to MassDOT design standards for easy identification and recognition.

20. Mitigate pedestrian safety issues on all neighborhood roads to safeguard all vulnerable road users, including but not limited to pedestrians walking, running, dog-walking, those involved in cycling or other exercises, and young children playing in or near roads.

21. Guarantee, by utilizing best practices, that the design does not affect the flooding of adjacent properties or have adverse impacts on wetland resources and wildlife habitats. The 1:1 and 2:1 slopes that surround the developed area of the site is of concern.

22. Erect a 6-foot vinyl chain-link fence along the northern perimeter of the property to establish a safety barrier between the site and the railroad, in compliance with any requirements for the New England Power Company easement.

23. Move the proposed underground infiltration systems outside of the setbacks, as they are not exempt from zoning bylaws.

24. Install 6-foot vinyl chain-link fences along the full length of the property lines for 11 Rice Road (east property line) and 19 Rice Road (west property line) with slate inserts and densely planted mature evergreen-type trees for a visual and acoustical buffer.

25. Maintain the current dense trees line along the New England Power Company high-voltage electrical transmission easement and any planned structures, walking trails, or other proposed site features. This measure aims to minimize prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) within an acceptable distance, as specified in the EPA documentation submitted to the Millbury Board of Appeals. The objective is to mitigate EMF implications on the health and safety of future occupants of the proposed project.

26. Install a catch basin and tie it into the existing drainage system in front of 1 Thomas Hill Road where water pools along the edge of the road pavement to ensue pooling and icing are not a problem for road users or the owner of this property. Check whether there is a problem on the Thomas Hill Road side of 14 Rice Road’s property. If an issue is identified, proceed to install a catch basin and connect it to the current drainage system.

This proposed project can't be left to chance, relying solely on the Millbury Board of Appeals to make the “right” decision. Waiting to react after a decision, especially if it doesn't align with personal expectations, isn't the solution. It demands proactive involvement from everyone directly or indirectly impacted. It's not solely the responsibility of a few dedicated individuals to protect the neighborhood or community. Everyone holds a stake in this decision, contributing to highlighting the genuine concerns about public safety, health, environment, design, and more, which we've been advocating for over the past three years is crucial. It's our obligation to offer the Millbury Board of Appeals insights from locals who intimately understand the challenges in the area. Your presence at the meeting matters, even if public speaking isn't your forte. Numbers count and show town officials the level of interest and engagement.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts overlooks the possible strain this project's approval could impose on Millbury taxpayers, spanning education, police, fire, emergency services, road upkeep, and crucial public services. Consider the impact of The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley mall with its single point of public access and the local and state tax responsibilities tied solely to the McCracken Road project, a result of oversight in greenlighting that extensive development with a lack of foresight to the impacts of neighboring property owners. Through eminent domain, private properties were acquired, significantly impacting and uprooting the lives of individuals. Town officials should heed past mistakes and avoid their repetition.

Residents and town officials from nearby communities like Sutton, Grafton, Auburn, and others grappling with similar developers proposing or pursuing developments are also encouraged to join. It's an opportunity to understand the permitting process you might encounter and glean insights into these developers.