On February 28, 2024, the Millbury Board of Appeals held the fifth public hearing for the proposed Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village project to be located at 17 Rice Road in Millbury, Massachusetts.

It's worth mentioning that the previous public hearing was held on January 31, 2024, meaning there has been no public hearing for nearly a month. Additionally, Steven Venincasa and James Venincasa submitted their materials on and after the deadline set by the Millbury Board of Appeals, providing the board and peer reviewers with only a week to review the documents before the meeting.

Kenneth Perro, the chairperson of the Millbury Board of Appeals, initiated the public hearing and clarified that testimony or public comments would not be received. He elucidated that the developers had presented documents that both the board and the town's peer reviewers hadn't thoroughly examined and addressed. Consequently, the public hearing would be postponed until March 13, 2024. The board then voted to continue the public hearing and adjourn.

The strategy consistently employed by Steven Venicasa and James Venincasa reflects a pattern observed by our neighborhood in their projects. Despite their efforts, the previous attempt at 17 Rice Road in Millbury, Massachusetts did not succeed, thanks to the persistent attendance, preparedness, and resilience of neighbors and community members who addressed all relevant concerns. The rejection of the last proposal by the Millbury Planning Board underscores the community's commitment to advocating for safe, responsible, and sustainable development that aligns with its surroundings in terms of height, density, and architectural style—a standard not met by the current proposal and is inconsistent with the design requirements outlined in 760 CMR 56.04(4)(c) and the related guidelines.

Once again, these developers resort to delay tactics to frustrate the public, showcasing their disregard for community concerns. Despite their familiarity with these tactics, they remain unsuccessful. Steven Venincasa disclosed his strategy to certain neighbors and planning board members, outlining a playbook that relies on delays to exhaust and discourage abutters. His aim is to achieve his objectives when only a small group is present at subsequent meetings. These maneuvers only serve to highlight the unprofessionalism and disorganization of Steven Venincasa and James Venincasa. These developers consistently exhibit a pattern of dismissing residents' concerns, seemingly believing that by ignoring valid issues, they can sway decision-makers to overlook them. The Millbury Board of Appeals must ensure accountability from these developers by thoroughly addressing every issue raised during the public hearings or submitted as public comments. It's important to highlight that all of these required deliverables should have been submitted along with their application several months ago, but no, rules and norms do not apply to them, at least in their minds.

These delays also function as an attempt to exhaust the time allotted, especially concerning a Chapter 40B project where there is a statutory deadline of 180 days for public hearings, a deadline which we are either at or beyond the halfway mark.

Stay informed about the details of this proposed project by accessing the Resources page, regularly updated with all submitted documents, peer reviews, and public comments. It's a vital resource to stay in the loop. Additionally, subscribe to this blog to receive email notifications whenever new content is added. Whether you're a Millbury resident or from another community dealing with Steven Venincasa, James Venincasa, or the potential of another Chapter 40B project or similar endeavor, staying connected is crucial.

The upcoming public hearing for the proposed Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village project will be conducted by the Millbury Board of Appeals. It is slated for Wednesday, March 13, 2024, commencing at 7:00 PM. The location for this meeting will be determined and announced shortly before the public hearing.