Resources

Here are several valuable resources connected to the proposed Rice Pond Village project set to be situated at 17 Rice Road in Millbury, Massachusetts:

Public Entries

Laws and Regulations

Local Regulations

Reference Materials

Project Documentation (Chapter 40B)

During the public hearing for the previous condominium project, Steven Venincasa, as observed by numerous meeting participants and documented on video, made statements that were widely interpreted as threats directed towards both the neighborhood residents and the Millbury Planning Board. He warned that unless we conceded on public safety issues, he would submit an even larger project (with fewer than 225 apartment units) under Chapter 40B. When confronted during the meeting, he promptly tried to backtrack. Neither the neighborhood nor the Planning Board acquiesced to his ultimatum, leading to the denial of the proposed project by the Millbury Planning Board.

Below are the documents related to the Chapter 40B Local Initiative Program project currently under review by the Millbury Board of Appeals. The project entails a 192-apartment development featuring three four-story buildings, a single access point, situated in a Suburban II Zoning District that does not allow multi-families on a minor road. The proposal includes insufficient parking, a growing list of waiver requests, and lacks substantial public safety enhancements which only exacerbates the public safety and liability issues raised in the previous project.

Project Documentation (Condominiums)

The initial public hearing for the proposed Rice Pond Village project commenced virtually on May 10, 2021. The project was initially presented with 52 condominiums designed as side-by-side duplex units. However, the number was later decreased to 46 due to concerns about the proximity to Rice Pond and the wetlands. Ultimately, on February 14, 2022, the Millbury Planning Board rejected the initial proposed project, citing the developers' failure to address public safety concerns and their non-compliance with local regulations.

  • 2/14/2022 - Notice of Decision - Multi-Family Special Permit (Denial)

  • 2/14/2022 - Notice of Decision - Stormwater Management Permit (Approval)

  • 1/20/2022 - Response to Funding Request from Genesee & Wyoming Railroad

  • 1/11/2022 - Request for Funding Request to Genesee & Wyoming Railroad

  • 1/10/2022 - Stipulation of Fence Along Railroad

  • 1/6/2022 - Email Message - Providence & Worcester Railroad Response

  • 1/5/2022 - Traffic Improvements Plan On Rice Road At Providence Street Plan

  • 1/5/2022 - Email Message - Traffic Improvements Plan On Rice Road At Providence Street

  • 1/4/2022 - Email Message - Stantec Peer Review

  • 1/3/2022 - Providence & Worcester Railroad At Grade Crossing Proposal & Estimate

  • 1/3/2022 - Providence & Worcester Railroad At Grade Crossing Design Plans

  • 12/28/2021 - Turning Radii Providence Street To Rice Road Plan

  • 12/28/2021 - Turning Radii Providence Street To Rice Road Plan

  • 12/28/2021 - Email Message - Restripe Providence Street Centerline

  • 12/13/2021 - Email Message - Updates

  • 12/13/2021 - Response to Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services

  • 12/9/2021 - Terry Burke Dotson - Local Regulations Highlighted *

  • 12/3/2021 - Rice Road Offsite Improvements - Sheet 1 of 2

  • 12/3/2021 - Rice Road Offsite Improvements - Sheet 1 of 2

  • 12/3/2021 - Email Message - Offsite Improvements Rice Road

  • 11/29/2021 - Revised Rational Method Calculations - Less Than 25 Year

  • 11/29/2021 - Revised Rational Method Calculations - 100 Year Storm

  • 11/19/2021 - Peer Review - Traffic Impact Study

  • 11/18/2021 - DPW Comment Memo

  • 11/18/2021 - Planning Staff Memo

  • 11/17/2021 - Mailboxes Cutsheet

  • 11/17/2021 - Peer Review - Stormwater

  • 11/16/2021 - Calculation Of Nitrogen Phosphorus Removal

  • 11/16/2021 - Peer Review - Site Plan

  • 11/8/2021 - Erosion & Sediment Control Plan - Sheet ESC1

  • 11/8/2021 - Erosion & Sediment Control Plan - Sheet ESC3

  • 11/8/2021 - Emergency Maneuver Plan

  • 11/8/2021 - Revised Site Plans

  • 11/8/2021 - Revised Drainage Report

  • 11/8/2021 - Pre-Development Drainage Area Plan

  • 11/8/2021 - Post-Development Drainage Area Plan

  • 11/8/2021 - Catch Basin Drainage Area Plan

  • 11/8/2021 - Rational Method Calculations

  • 11/8/2021 - Photometric Plan - Sheet LS2

  • 11/2/2021 - AK Associates Response To Peer Review

  • 10/25/2021 - Offsite Improvement Intersection Rice Road & South Main Street Plan

  • 10/25/2021 - Email Message - Request for Continuance

  • 10/19/2021 - Email Message

  • 10/19/2021 - National Grid - EMF Measurements Report

  • 9/20/2021 - Cover Sheet for Site Plan Revisions

  • 9/20/2021 - Planning Staff Memo

  • 9/12/2021 - Cover Letter For Revised Site Plans

  • 9/9/2021 - Email Message - Request for Continuance

  • 9/7/2021 - Waiver Requests

  • 9/3/2021 - Revised Site Plans

  • 9/3/2021 - Post-Development Drainage Area Plans

  • 9/3/2021 - Photometric Plan

  • 9/3/2021 - Drainage Report

  • 9/1/2021 - Additional Wetland Boundary Report

  • 8/2/2021 - Steve Stearns - Improvement Proposal Intersection Rice Road & South Main Street v2 *

  • 7/27/2021 - Cover Letter for Revised Site Plans

  • 7/27/2021 - Building Elevations

  • 7/26/2021 - Cover Letter for Revised Site Plans

  • 7/21/2021 - Revised Site Plans

  • 7/12/2021 - Steve Stearns - Improvement Proposal Intersection Rice Road & South Main Street *

  • 7/7/2021 - Offsite Improvements - Intersection of Rice Road & South Main Street

  • 6/8/2021 - Project Signage

  • 5/28/2021 - Reducing Transportation Noise

  • 5/28/2021 - Noise Study Information

  • 5/28/2021 - Offsite Improvements - Railroad Crossing

  • 5/28/2021 - Alternative Walking Path Plan v1

  • 5/28/2021 - Alternative Walking Path Plan v2

  • 5/10/2021 - Multiple Abutter - General Project Concerns *

  • 5/10/2021 - Abutters Summary *

  • 5/7/2021 - Planning Staff Memo

  • 5/7/2021 - Relative Elevations and Positions Of Units and Trains Plan

  • 5/7/2021 - Presentation Site Plan

  • 5/7/2021 - Peer Review - Site Plans

  • 5/7/2021 - Tracey Winner - General Project Concerns *

  • 5/7/2021 - Undisclosed - General Project Concerns *

  • 5/6/2021 - Public Hearing Protocols

  • 5/4/2021 - Peer Review - Traffic Impact Study

  • 4/13/2021 - Public Hearing Notice

  • 4/12/2021 - Project Cover Letter

  • 3/26/2021 - Drainage Report

  • 3/26/2021 - Pre- and Post-Development Drainage Area Plans

  • 3/26/2021 - Site Plans

  • 3/24/2021 - Certificate of Ownership

  • 5/20/1846 - Providence & Worcester Railroad Deed

  • Application for Special Permit

  • Application for Stormwater Permit

  • Development Impact Statements

  • Certified List of Abutters

  • Architectural Floor Plans and Elevations

  • Traffic Impact Study

  • Light Fixture Cutsheet

  • Photograph East Facing At Site Entrance

  • Photograph West Facing At Site Entrance

  • NationalGrid Electic and Magnetic Fields

  • Terry Burke Dotson - EMF Power Struggle Article *