Numerous abutters sent opposition letters to the Millbury Conservation Commission requesting the denial of a permit to perform work within the 100 foot wetlands protection buffer zone due their significant concerns about the proposed Rice Pond Village project with a project site address of 17 Rice Road in Millbury, Massachusetts.

Dear Conservation Commission Members:

While I/we respect the rights of the McLaughlin Family Living Trust, John Antaya (husband of Patricia (McLaughlin) Antaya)) and Kathleen (McLaughlin) Mardirosian (the “owners”) and Whitney Street Home Builders, LLC (the “developer”) to develop their consolidated properties known as Map 62 Parcels 75 and 144, I/we cannot support and are in strong opposition to any removal of trees, natural vegetation and wildlife habitats within the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone simply for the benefit of the owners’ and developers’ bottom-line profits (i.e., by their own estimates, an additional $4,000,000.00± gross profits) to add 10 additional condominium units, a private roadway, any and all associated grading, utility and drainage infrastructure, and any other site improvements within any portion of the wetlands or 100-foot wetlands buffer zone.

Therefore, I/we respectfully request that you deny any and all requests to grant permission to proceed with the alteration and destruction of any portion of the wetlands or 100-foot wetlands buffer zone to construct Units 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, the private roadway, any and all utilities and infrastructure or any site grading, as identified on Site Plan Layout S3 of the developer’s proposed plans, dated March 26, 2021, with no revisions, and any and all other plans or documents. The wetlands and the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone provide important wildlife habitats and noise mitigation for the neighborhood from the Worcester and Providence Railroad and the vehicular traffic on Providence Road (Route 122A) and any alteration will adversely impact the peaceful enjoyment of residences in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Thank you kindly for your anticipated support,

Those properties are considered direct abutters of the proposed project by the Millbury Assessor.

Those properties who have no other means of entry or egress other than Rice Road and will be impacted by the proposed Rice Pond Village project.

The strong opposition to the proposed Rice Pond Village project has nothing to do with NIMBY. In fact, the neighborhood agrees that the McLaughlin Family Living Trust, John Antaya, and Kathleen Mardirosian have the right to develop their property in a responsible and neighborhood appropriate manner, meaning any development is in harmony with the surrounding properties (i.e., single-family houses).

NIMBY, an acronym for the phrase “not in my back yard”, or Nimby, is a characterization of opposition by residents to proposed developments in their local area, as well as support for strict land use regulations. It carries the connotation that such residents are only opposing the development because it is close to them and that they would tolerate or support it if it were built farther away. The residents are often called Nimbys, and their viewpoint is called Nimbyism.