In Plymouth, we all know that two pieces of property that are next to one another constitute adjacent or contiguous land. At the Select Board meeting last week, what The Pinehills asked Town Meeting to do, in Article 22, is to change what contiguous means.
The reason for this is interesting, Bobbi Clark has more on the story.
The Pinehills Managing Partner Tony Green addressed the Select Board:
“The first part of Article 22 changes the definition of contiguity. Land can be added to OSMUD if it is contiguous to other land even if it is divided by a town road like Clark Road, or a big road like Route 3.”
Selectman Betty Cavacco voted no:
“Contiguous land that has a roadway in between is no longer contiguous.”
And Green says, Article 22 also requests that…
“…town owned open space be considered the same as those kinds of things for the definition of contiguous.”
This would make the 104 acres that The Pinehills owns eligible to become part of OSMUD, the Pine Hills development plan.
“We could then give that land to the town for nothing. Acceptance of that 104 acres into OSMUD would allow 104 permits to be built.”
Selectman Cavacco:
“So, the 104 buildable permits that The Pinehills want and the 104 acres that we, the town would accept, there’s no equality there. Their buildable lots would probably venture somewhere—20 million dollars in revenue, and for the town it’s worth less than a million.”
Selectman Chair Ken Tavares is concerned about added density and the effect on the already narrow roadways, and also says:
“I think we need to listen a lot more and have a greater discussion on that density. In fairness to the residents, in fairness to the town, I think it would be better to not take action on this Article and to have some further discussions with the residents and the Town of Plymouth.”
With Selectmen Joyce, Flaherty and Quintal in favor, the article advances to Town Meeting.
Photo Credit: thepinehills.com
