Below is the rationale provide by Mr. Ventresca in response
to my demand as a citizen that Town Meeting Reps who
voted against mixed use show transparency, proclaim their
negative vote and provide a brief rationale as to why they
see Mixed Use Zoning Overlay to our current Spot Zoning
as not in Billerica's best interest.
I will not comment on his rationale, but leave it to the
readers to decide for themselves, the validity of his
position:
I want the traffic configuration in the center fixed first. I
would like rt3-a put back onto Boston rd. I would like
Charnstaff lane widened and returned to a two way street. I
would like the traffic on Concord rd. coming towards the
center to head up Charnstaff. I would like to see the part of
concord Rd that abutts the common be narrowed to a single
lane for emergency use only which can be controlled by
electronic bollards. I would like to wait for the court
decision regarding the mall. I want to get the traffic pattern
right so we are not going back 30 years later and fixing it
again. People were told that this current pattern would not
work. It didn't. So let's fix it and get it right. Then we can
assess the traffic and see if the center can handle anymore
congestion. I personally think the center area is already too
congested. The Mall area is a seperate issue. As the center/
common area is not a state highway, the Mall is on a state
highway. I also don't think it is the best thing for all
concerned to have anymore residents on Boston Rd. I'd
rather see more commerical. I also would rather see the
town focus on more commercial office and industrial than
retail. Billerica's best asset is it is centrally located and has
easy access to all major highways on the east coast. That
makes us better suited for wharehousing, which is what the
public will need in the new E business era.
And as I have stated before, I voted for the mixed use
overlay for the mills in N. Billerica. The property owner
came to us and asked for it. However, No one not you nor
Jeff,has answered the water/ sewer issue. We already have
water conservation measures the last two summers and
they have been very rainy summers. At some point we
become fully developed. What is that point? Water is huge
issue. It is not right that business has all the water they
want and the residents are stuck with 65gallons per day per
capitia.
As stated before and a graph was posted showing this. This
town does not have a revenue problem. It has a spending
problem. When Revenue to the town doubles in 15 years
(1994 2008), If it spent at a rate of 4% a year there would be
almost enough to pay for the new Parker as proposed with
cash. We would not need an override.
Since we are in an economic slow down let's take the time
and get it right. You don't need the overlay now.
Are there busineses breaking down town hall doors
demanding to get into the center area? I don't know. I
haven't heard of any. Have you? If so please tell us.
In Liberty,
Anthony M. Ventresca
to my demand as a citizen that Town Meeting Reps who
voted against mixed use show transparency, proclaim their
negative vote and provide a brief rationale as to why they
see Mixed Use Zoning Overlay to our current Spot Zoning
as not in Billerica's best interest.
I will not comment on his rationale, but leave it to the
readers to decide for themselves, the validity of his
position:
I want the traffic configuration in the center fixed first. I
would like rt3-a put back onto Boston rd. I would like
Charnstaff lane widened and returned to a two way street. I
would like the traffic on Concord rd. coming towards the
center to head up Charnstaff. I would like to see the part of
concord Rd that abutts the common be narrowed to a single
lane for emergency use only which can be controlled by
electronic bollards. I would like to wait for the court
decision regarding the mall. I want to get the traffic pattern
right so we are not going back 30 years later and fixing it
again. People were told that this current pattern would not
work. It didn't. So let's fix it and get it right. Then we can
assess the traffic and see if the center can handle anymore
congestion. I personally think the center area is already too
congested. The Mall area is a seperate issue. As the center/
common area is not a state highway, the Mall is on a state
highway. I also don't think it is the best thing for all
concerned to have anymore residents on Boston Rd. I'd
rather see more commerical. I also would rather see the
town focus on more commercial office and industrial than
retail. Billerica's best asset is it is centrally located and has
easy access to all major highways on the east coast. That
makes us better suited for wharehousing, which is what the
public will need in the new E business era.
And as I have stated before, I voted for the mixed use
overlay for the mills in N. Billerica. The property owner
came to us and asked for it. However, No one not you nor
Jeff,has answered the water/ sewer issue. We already have
water conservation measures the last two summers and
they have been very rainy summers. At some point we
become fully developed. What is that point? Water is huge
issue. It is not right that business has all the water they
want and the residents are stuck with 65gallons per day per
capitia.
As stated before and a graph was posted showing this. This
town does not have a revenue problem. It has a spending
problem. When Revenue to the town doubles in 15 years
(1994 2008), If it spent at a rate of 4% a year there would be
almost enough to pay for the new Parker as proposed with
cash. We would not need an override.
Since we are in an economic slow down let's take the time
and get it right. You don't need the overlay now.
Are there busineses breaking down town hall doors
demanding to get into the center area? I don't know. I
haven't heard of any. Have you? If so please tell us.
In Liberty,
Anthony M. Ventresca
