Dear Neighbors,

I am writing because I need your help. Like many of you, I moved to Boxford because I loved the rural woods feel, big lots, and small-town environment.  Yesterday, I received a certified letter in the mail that was extremely concerning.  It was informing me of a developers plan to build a large-scale multi-unit community on the 27-acre plot of land that is currently 105 Depot Rd.  Currently zoned as a single family residence.  The plan outlined three different options, the smallest being 66 units and largest 252 units.

I want to make you aware in addition to asking for your support to rally against this development in East Boxford, directly down the road from Cole School. On February 21st, the development company will be presenting their ideas to the planning board, and this is our chance to speak out.

The developers are only required to notify property abutters, and they did the bare minimum. They are trying to sneak this by before residents have a chance to object.  It is important to our entire community that we are all made aware.

I moved to this community for its quiet roads, large lot sizes and intimate town feel. The biggest beneficiary of this is the developer, at the expense of the aspects we know and love about Boxford. The developer does not live in the community or have to live with the long-term repercussions of dramatic changes to our town.

Here’s what you need to know:

Site Location:

105 Depot Road

There are three different community plans being proposed:

252-unit 40b affordable housing development
205-unit with a 10% affordable housing requirement
66-unit 55+ adult community

Reasons to oppose:

Zoning Restrictions: Boxford has a zoning restriction of a minimum lot size of 2 acres. The planned community proposal could result in up to 9.3 homes per acre, far from the standard 2 acres lots we all enjoy.  

Density Concerns: 66 - 252 additional housing units at an average of 3.13 persons per household will result in an additional 200 - 800+ residents and, on the high end, has the ability to increase our total town population by 10%. This additional population will place great strain on existing infrastructure, services, and resources such as our well water tables, trash collection fees, schools, parks, playgrounds, and roads.

Traffic Congestion: Increased traffic congestion resulting from the influx of residents and vehicles associated with the planned community. This will lead to longer commute times, safety concerns, and decreased overall quality of life. Residents have already expressed dissatisfaction about the traffic as a result of Kelsey Road changes; this planned community will put several hundred additional cars on the roads in Boxford.

Environmental Impact: Our Conservation Commission does an excellent job of enforcing the town rules and regulations on homeowners. Per the guidelines, we need permission to cut down trees on our property that are within the wetlands, and this proposal would involve an enormous amount of change to areas as a homeowner, you have a very difficult time making changes to. In addition, we will see a negative impact on local wildlife, water quality, and air pollution.

Aesthetic Concerns: If you moved here to enjoy Boxford's rural woods feel, this community is the opposite of that. It does not fit with the character or visual appeal of the surrounding area, a big appeal of why residents choose this town.

Infrastructure Strain: For residents who live within the vicinity, it is unclear how providing water via 4 wells for such a large development will impact the existing residents' water table. When the Andrews Farm Road development went in, several homeowners had their wells redrilled (at their own expense) due to changes in the water table.

Decreased Property Values: Prospective buyers value the rural feeling of Boxford; it's a big part of why they choose to live here. Building a planned community in the middle of a rural town zoned with a minimum lot size of 2 acres will unquestionably have an adverse impact on the East Boxford home values.

Lack of Public Input: Objectors may feel that there was insufficient public input or consultation in the planning process for the proposed community, leading to concerns about transparency, accountability, and democratic decision-making in the town.

Legal Compliance: Some objections might stem from concerns about whether the planned community complies with local zoning regulations, building codes, and other legal requirements. Residents may question whether proper procedures were followed in the approval process for the development.

How many communities like this do we need? In West Boxford, a 55+ community similar to this was built. It's unclear if this community has had a positive impact on the residents, and we should understand before we approve another one.

Who this will impact:

Close by Neighborhoods:

- Depot Rd

- Bare Hill Road

- Boren Lane

- Sunrise Road

- Laurel Hollow Road

- Walker Lane

- Cross Road

- Bridle Spur

- Pond St

- Sayward Road

- Kelsey Road

- Georgetown Road

Here is how you can help.

Sign and share this petition sharing your support AGAINST building a planned community.  Hoping to reach at least 1500 signatures prior to the zoning meeting.

 

Attend the VIRTUAL meeting 2/21 @ 7:30.  This will be the first time the developer is presenting the plans of the community and important to show support against this type of development.  
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89137257873