Letter – Proper planning is the key – October 3, 2007

Controlling development is probably the most important and complex issue facing the city council. New buildings continue to go up putting more strain on the city’s already overburdened infrastructure. Homes are torn down and replaced by new oversized homes or even worse by a group of homes.

When you question city councillors about these problems, the usual reply is that there is nothing you can do about it. However, when you read the newspaper you realize other communities are doing something about it.

There are many things that can be done to protect our neighborhoods. Many communities have passed demolition delay ordinances to protect older properties. Historic Districts can be formed protecting a whole neighborhood.

At the present time Wellesley is considering a zoning change that ties the size of a house not only to the size of the lot but to the scale of the neighborhood. The ordinance also requires a neighborhood review board to evaluate the proposed house. The board would determine if the construction would negatively affect the quality of life in the neighborhood. Will the new home block a neighbor’s sunlight? Will the location of the driveway cause headlights to shine in the homes of others? How will the placement of the air conditioning unit affect the abutters?

In Waltham, a real Master Plan would have laid out what the city hoped to see built on the various open parcels around the city. Somerville recently did this with the revitalization of the old Assembly Square Mall. The city decided what they would like to see built and then began looking for people to do it. This is an advantage to a developer because when everyone is on the same page, the city can expedite the permit process and a project can go from the drawing board to an occupancy permit much quicker.

Two years ago when I ran unsuccessfully for the city council I proposed an Architectural Review Board to review all new developments. The idea never went beyond the League of Woman Voters debate. However, if it were put in place it could do many of the things that Wellesley is currently proposing. There are many things that could be done to control development in Waltham. Continuing to do nothing is no longer an option.

A real Master Plan and strict zoning ordinances will not stop all development. It will only control the quality of what is built. No one can or wants to stop development. It is one of the most important ways to control property taxes. No matter what action the council takes, developers will develop and builders will build. We can, with proper planning and oversight, see that our neighborhoods are not encroached on and our infrastructure is not overburdened.