I just read Nicole Haley’s story in Mondays Tribune (2/5/07) with the headline “Building projects on the docket”. Why am I not surprised that these developers are requesting special permits so they can build something that does not meet current code?
At Lowes (2300 car trips), they want to build a parking lot that is smaller than required. On Green St. (2000 parking spaces) they want to put up a development twice as large as they are allowed. The Polaroid property(2500 car trips) has not yet provided plans but you can be sure they will be looking for something. Although the zone change at Main and Moody was shot down, you know Northland will be back with a special permit looking for more than they are allowed by right Add to that the newly created overlay district on Totten Pond Road.
The reason that these developers continually come to the city looking to build these oversized developments is because we continually allow them to do it. Traffic Commissioner Ching said that the city has accepted the traffic studies of Lowes and Green St. Did Lowes factor in the additional traffic created by the new condos just over the line in Watertown? Will the Polaroid plan factor in the new overlay district as well as the Green St traffic?
The issue that should be at the top of the city council agenda is buried somewhere in committee. It’s called a Master Plan. With a master plan in place we can develop the city to the vision we choose. Without one we will continue the chaos and congestion.