By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
5/21/09
A meeting of the Gov. Stoughton Trust Land Committee on May 13 got testy when some neighbors accused committee members of pushing a high-density type of development.
Neighbors at the meeting complained they have heard nothing but talks of high-volume affordable housing for the 34-acre parcel off Canton Avenue, also known as the Town Farm.
The land was once the site of a poor farm and must be used to benefit the poor of Milton, under Colonial Gov. William Stoughton’s will. Selectmen are the trustees of the property.
Mike Kelly, who lives on Whittier Road, said if a high-density development were constructed, it would be a “direct slap in the face” to Gov. Stoughton’s will.
“This is unacceptable. When did housing become the only option here?” he said.
Kelly said high-density units would put undue stress on town services and add dozens of new students to the school system during a time when it can least afford it.
Steve Regan, who lives on Gov. Stoughton Lane, said the committee is only considering an option that would “destroy” the neighborhoods’ character.
“I’ve been in town most of my life. I love my street. I don’t want to see this development,” he said.
However, committee members insisted they have heard several options and not all of them include housing. When pressed, they did not indicate what their plans are yet.
“We are not ready to go public with our plans,” member Webster Collins said.
Mark Boyle, chair of the committee, said the committee is “beginning to finalize” a draft, which it will present at a future public hearing. The draft would be recommendations on how the Selectmen can choose to use the land. The Selectmen, however, have the final say.
Boyle said there is a “scare tactic” going around town that the committee will recommend a high-density affordable unit plan to Selectmen.
“Someone is scaring you,” he said. “This committee is not going to be recommending high-density housing.”
Committee member Vanessa Calderon-Rosado said whatever plan the committee comes up with would require a planning review and public hearing. The Selectmen may decide it is not suitable for the property.
“This is a very broad, preliminary study. It is not in-depth yet,” she said.
While she agreed that she would “never support a dense housing project” for the Town Farm, committee member Julie Creamer said she would lean toward some type of affordable development.
“We want to make Milton affordable to other people. That’s why I’m on this committee,” she said.
Member David Hall said the town could utilize revenue from such a project to benefit the poor, as originally intended in the will.
However, some residents asked whether selling the property would have been what Gov. Stoughton wanted.
Meanwhile, neighbors presented a different scenario, which would involve restoring the land and maintaining it as a historic landmark. John Gillooly, of Canton Avenue, presented that recommendation for the group called Milton Friends of Town Farm.
If that were to occur, the town could acquire state or federal funds to maintain the property, he said.
“We have an opportunity here to set an example,” Gillooly said. “So many towns are continuously building homes and building homes. The plans we’ve seen presented by this committee end the use of this land. The plans we’ve put forward perpetuate the use.”
Some ideas the neighbors have are to build renewable energy structures on the property, grow and sell locally grown produce on it or allow school students to visit for science projects.
Under that plan, only between seven and nine affordable units would be built. Gillooly said his group has consulted with local experts and has legal counsel.
Their goal is to “balance the history and legacy of Gov. Stoughton” with a plan that requires “minimal impact on the town and its services,” he said.