By Scott MacKeen
Times Staff
10/2/08

(previous)
Most of its five-acre campus is located in Hyde Park, but the college has been working with the town’s conservation officials to ensure that construction doesn’t impact a wetlands area on the Milton side.
“The wetland is not on our property, but we’re working with the town to make sure it isn’t an issue,” said Ward.
The new dorms, which will cost around $1 million, will house between 30 and 37 students each. One of the dorms being proposed falls within a hundred-foot wetlands buffer zone, and needs conservation approval.
“We can’t apply for a building permit without that approval,” Ward said.
“We’ve had two hearings with the Conservation Commission.”
At the most recent hearing last month, some neighbors raised concerns about potential flooding problems they foresee.
But in a letter submitted recently to the Selectmen, Rita Ronney and Germaine Riordan, both residents of Loew Circle, described their concerns about the project.
“Our neighborhood could be adversely affected by this development,” the
letter states. “Unlike other non-profits
in our town, the college offers nothing to Milton in return, such as taxes
or services.”
At the hearing, Elani Vidalis of Hyde Park said she began experiencing flooding problems at her home, which abuts the campus at New Bedford Street, when the first dorm was built back in 2005.
“There was significantly more flooding on my property,” she said.
She said the college had failed to properly install some drainage pipes and water from the campus had often flowed into her yard.
“I have a serious concern that by building another dorm, we’re just going to see more problems,” she said.
Ward disagreed with the claim.
All the infrastructure, including plumbing and drainage, was put in place (in 2005) for three buildings, he said. “This isn’t anything new.”
Conservation Commission Chair Don Neal said the town is still reviewing storm water and drainage calculations for the new dorms. Committee members recently did a site walk on campus.
The Conservation Committee resumes the hearing at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at town hall.