I have been receiving more information on Article 52 on the special town meeting warrant for tomorrow night (December 5, 2011, 7:00 PM at Tantasqua High School). I wish I had know about this earlier so we could mobilize the forces, heck if the four Sturbridge residents who read this blog vote "No" we might win. All kidding aside...
If this article passes, (Article 52) it will cost anyone who builds or remodels their property more money per square foot, probably an additional three dollars per square foot. In addition, the current part-time building inspector would have to be trained to be able to check for compliance (your tax dollars) and those of us who have lived here for awhile know this will either lead to this becoming a full time position or at least a raise since he has so much more work to do.
Part of this Stretch code will require all buildings which are vacant to be made compliant. With the amount of empty commercial building in Sturbridge now and all the hoops which we currently make people jump through who want to move in or buy them, should we really be adding even more hoops and costs to them? Well, unless of course we don't want businesses in town.
For example, look at the Old Sturbridge Village property on Route 20, the old motel, let's say either they or someone wanted to buy this property and convert it into some type of shopping center where small businesses could renovate the existing structures for their stores and shops, how much money would it take to make them green and comply with the code? Probably enough to dissuade any potential buyer. (By the way that is a subtle hint of what someone should propose for that property)
What about the Mill yard Marketplace, if a store is vacant will they have to comply with this when a new tenant moves in and has to make some changes? Again at what cost?
I understand there are those in town who want to keep Sturbridge this quaint little town they think it is and have all the services of the big city but some of us can no longer afford the taxes and would love to see new businesses and residents move in to spread the burden. Controlled growth is necessary.
And as i mentioned in another post, do we really want government telling us what we can or cannot do to our own private property? Believe me this will only be the beginning.
I am using anonymous only because I don't know my URL. my name is Don Miller.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we need to reject article 52. I met with the BOS, the Finance Committee, and the Bldg Inspector to present my argument against it. I believe I may have convinced at least some members of the FinCom to change their vote and I think two members of the BOS, maybe three. But to defeat it we need people to show up at the town meeting and send a message to the town planner, planning board, and others proponents by voting "no". And it is important to send this
message not only to defeat article 52, but to let these "I know what is best for Sturbridge" people know we have had enough and won't tolerate it any more.
Article 52 is just one of several "programs" or
"projects" that the various town committees and boards have on their agenda. They won't come up at the Dec 5 town meeting, but they will come up
in the next year or so -- and they all require
$'s and it is a certainty that the $'s will come from residential property taxes.
We need to get residents actively involved, going to the BOS meetings, the meetings of the boards and committees and asking questions, make them explain the benefits of what they are proposing. This includes challenging the various and many items in the so-called Master Plan (everyone has to read this and pay attention to its implementation)
If you are interested in becoming a member of a group of residents who will do this, pls contact me as I am trying to get such a group organized.
Don Miller
508-347-6488
DAM1943@charter.net
VERY TRUE ! Green is a nice color but when it costs so much green to go green taxpayers get gangrene.
ReplyDeleteENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Don, This is why I believe the tea party should concentrate as much effort as possible at the local level. These are the places where we will have the most effect.
ReplyDeleteIf we can change the big spending, big government culture at the bottom it will work it's way up. While I certainly think changes need to be made at the national and state level, we also need to work on things like this.
Also, you don't need a URL just leave it blank.
Meeting in auditorium tonight? Hope to be there.
ReplyDeleteLawrence Dunn
Podunk Rd.
Well said by all.
ReplyDeleteRed Foreman
Fiske Hill Rd