HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment from J Slater in opposition
Jefferson D Slater
Joy K Webber
16 Juniper Road
Centerville, MA 02632
October 7, 2025
Zoning Board of Appeals
I am writfng in oppositfon the proposal to change the plot of 40 Richardson Road and separate a
portfon of the plot for another use. I oppose approval because of where the parcel is going and
how it will be used.
It is no secret that the property owner of 40 Richardson has a shared familial interest and, very
likely, shared control with the developer of the large development project adjacent to it called
Centerville Cove. That development project is being shepherded through the zoning approval
process via state-level authoritfes under Sectfon 40 (b).
While I am generally not opposed to 40 (b) or the recently-signed legislatfon for ‘ADUs’ to
address the critfcal housing needs of our citfzens, I am concerned about the way this request for
variance at 40 Richardson is being used to enable a flawed development plan – then being
sheltered from local input under 40 (b). In so doing, the Town of Barnstable, abutters, and the
Centerville community loses most, if not all, influence to fix the flaws in this very large
development project. A project that included no consultatfon with local residents and very
limited, if any, study of the impacts on things of interest to local municipal planners and service
providers. In the interest of tfme, I will allow others to artfculate the many impacts identffied.
Therefore, I respectiully recommend that the Board exercise its authority and reject this request
for a variance / change to attach a part of the parcel at 40 Richardson Road and include it in the
40 (b) plan for Centerville Cove. I further recommend that this request for a change at 40
Richardson be held in abeyance untfl the developers of Centerville Cove adequately address the
concerns of the Town and Centerville community – partfcularly the abutters (like myself) and
the neighborhoods of abutters.
With consultatfon, I believe there is a way forward for these parcels of land and the project to
add critfcal affordable housing for our citfzenry. By maintaining local control over this 40
Richardson ‘triangle’ parcel, we will enable that consultatfon to take place and be successful.
Thank you for your tfme and the opportunity to speak.
Sincerely
Jefferson (Jeff) Slater