Concern Regarding Proposed Development at 185 Woodland Avenue

We, the residents of Grand Avenue, Portsmouth Avenue, Huntington Avenue, and Willard Street, are concerned about the proposed development at 185 Woodland Avenue.

For more than 15 years, our neighborhoods have experienced repeated flooding. When the combined sewer system becomes stressed, rainwater and human waste overflow into yards and, in some cases, homes. Cleanup efforts have already cost residents tens of thousands of dollars. Drainage from the Eastside Plaza, the nearby golf course, and surrounding areas contributes to this ongoing problem.

We have asked the Department of Public Works the following questions:

Will this development connect to the same combined sewer system that services the Eastside Plaza and the surrounding neighborhood?
What analysis has been conducted to evaluate the cumulative impact of this project on system capacity during peak or surcharged conditions?
Can you confirm whether adding these units will not worsen flooding and overflow issues affecting Grand Avenue, Portsmouth Avenue, Huntington Avenue, and Willard Street?

We request that the Zoning Board not grant a variance for 185 Woodland Avenue unless the Department of Public Works provides absolute assurance that the project will not utilize an already over stressed system, worsen flooding, deposit wastewater into homes or yards, or create hazards for residents.

Residents’ safety, health, and well-being must come first, and no approvals should be granted without full evidence and transparency