We oppose the Bill H01169, an act to prevent additional shadows over certain parks due to the economic implication of passing such bill. This bill seeks to protect certain parks from any new shadow no matter how big or small or how long the shadow is cast during the day on parks located within the vicinity of prime city residential and commerical space. The following list contains the parks in question:

Bill proposed by Reps. Marty Walz and 2nd Division Chair Byron Rushing.

“Back Bay Fens”, the land in the city of Boston bounded by The Fenway, Park Drive and Boylston Street. 

“Charles River Esplanade”, the land in the city of Boston bounded by the Charles River Dam, the Boston University Bridge, so called, the Charles River, Embankment Road, and James Jackson Storrow Memorial Drive. 

“Christopher Columbus Park”, the land in the city of Boston bounded by Atlantic Avenue, the Boston Harbor, Long Wharf, and Commercial Wharf. 

“Commonwealth Avenue Mall”, the land in the city of Boston bounded by Arlington Street, Kenmore Street, Commonwealth Avenue (westbound) and Commonwealth Avenue (eastbound). 

“Copley Square Park”, the land in the city of Boston bounded by Boylston Street, Clarendon Street, St. James Avenue, and Dartmouth Street, excluding therefrom the land occupied by Trinity Church. 

“Magazine Beach Park”, the land in the city of Cambridge bounded by Memorial Drive, the Charles River, the Boston University Bridge, so called, and River Street. 

The consequences on future Boston development and progress can be dire with the passing of this bill. The restriction can further limit any moderate to large size development along these parks. Because of the location of these parks, most of which are located in the heart of Boston, and the city's small land size, the bill will severely decrease the already depleting space available for development. The bill will also impede Boston's progress by limiting job growth and creating a business unfriendly environment.

We believe that by passing this bill, future developments may be pushed further away from areas such as Back Bay and the Financial District and into low-rise residential neighborhood such as Beacon Hill and the West End, causing a disruption. By restricting development in areas that have always been dedicated for vertical growth, the city risk pushing these developments into areas that are not. We believe that growth and development at a reasonable height and reasonable amount of shadow* cast in areas that make sense, i.e. within the confines of the Financial District, Downtown, Back Bay, etc. will allow businesses to take advantage of public transportation, economic interaction between businesses, and services such as hotels for clients, convention centers, banks, and etc. This will help promote growth in all industries. 

We urge the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reject the terms of this bill. Please support this petition. No further restriction on development that will impede progress and job growth!

The bill: http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/House/H01169

*An example is if the proposed project casts a shadow on a park for one hour at 6:00 am only in Winter season. We feel that such a shadow cast would be reasonable because it is very rare that anybody will be using the park at that time during the cold winter.