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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJoanne O'Connor Comment LetterFrom: Karle, Darcy Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 11:56 AM To: Cavanaugh, Kimberly Subject: FW: Park City Wind LLC Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Hi Kim, A comment leer regarding Park City Wind. From: info 1856countrystore.com [mailto:info@1856countrystore.com] Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2023 4:24 PM To: Karle, Darcy; paulabarnstable@gmail.com Subject: Park City Wind LLC Tom Lee, Chair and Conservaon Commiee Members, Councilor Shnepp, My name is Joanne O'Connor. I am one of the owners of the 1856 Country Store on Main Street in Centerville, Massachuses. I am wring in regards to the project slated to begin on Main Street in the fall of 2024 and run to 2027. I will be including informaon from business owners, a church, our public library and our historical museum. Main Street has been designated as a naonal historic district by the federal government. It is the route chosen by Avangrid to run cables from Craigville Beach in Centerville to a substaon being built to accommodate said cables. The alternave route is less desirable to Avangrid, not a "straight shot", it is longer and will be more expensive. There are fewer businesses and services along the alternave route that would be impacted. I'd like to take you on a tour of our village. The businesses and services will be greatly disrupted at best, closed at worst. The ming of these disrupons/closures will take place beginning in September 2024 and ending in May of 2025. The informaon provided below is from the same me period in 2022. This is the first phase of the Avangrid project. At the beginning of Main Street is Adrienne's Hair Lo. In 2022 Adrienne and her 6 stylists saw over 3000 clients. Dr. Alexis Hrynko-Kouri DC is located on Main Street. She sees 200-240 paents per month. The Centerville Public Library is located on Main Street. The library has 14 full-me employees and 50 volunteers. In addion to special programs the library offers each week, they have recurring monthly programs that include five book clubs, two kning groups, two bridge clubs, bi-monthly yoga, Barnstable Adult Community Center programs, bi-monthly Pilates, four story mes per week, and programs for neurodivergent children and teens. They also provide free wi-fi for many people who use the library to work. The Centerville Public Library is parcularly busy during the summer, this doesn't let up unl November. During the months of January through May this year the library has been unusually busy since the pandemic has subsided. They have seen a large increase in families and homeschooling families using the library. They also have adult ESL classes(English as a second language) and many tutors that use the space to tutor children in all grades. In 2022-Total programs, 356. Total Program Aendance 9,186. # of annual visitors 40,500. Meeng rooms used 261 mes. Total circulaon of materials 129,655. It is most important to note if the library doesn't meet circulaon numbers they may be decommissioned and will lose funding. This would be tragic. The South Congregaonal Church is next door to the library. On any given Sunday the church will see 30-45 worshippers. The church hosts 14 AA groups, Overeaters Anonymous groups, Boy Scout groups, Cub Scout groups, Girl Scout groups, a men's group and a beach appreciaon group. Over 100 people parcipate. The church is also the home to the Thriy Niche which provides financial support to the church. The thri shop sees 50-60 customers each week. Each year, in early May, the Veterans for Peace sponsors a Cape wide poetry reading contest for school children. This event is fully aended by the children and their families. Next door to the church is my family business, the 1856 Country Store. Our store has been here since before the Civil War, connuously operang. I am proud to say our store is supported by local residents as well as visitors to the area. We have seen many generaons pass through our doors. We employ between 7 and 14 people over the course of a year. A few doors down from us is the Captain David Kelley House, a beauful sea captain's home transformed into a bed and breakfast. The innkeepers hosted over one thousand guests in 2022. They are also the hosts to many charitable events on their property. Just a bit down the road is the Centerville Historical Museum. The museum has a membership of 180. The Cape Cod Community College, Cape Cod Academy, Girl Scouts, the Laurel School, Montessori School, home school groups and the Centerville Elementary School have all taken part in programs at the museum. The museum sponsors ten or so events per year to help keep them financially stable. These events are always sold out. In addion, in line with the mission of the museum, four to five historical lectures are held. The museum averages 4000 visitors per year. The museum took a major hit during the pandemic. According to the museum's director they may not survive another disrupon. Main Street is also home to a much loved and used playground...behind that a "Field of Dreams" park that is used for spring and fall sports. Next to that is a community building, host to gatherings of all kinds. Down the road a bit is an insurance agency which sits next to a newly refurbished Veterans' Memorial, which honors veterans of all wars. Avangrid has verbally promised migaon funding for business lost...we have nothing in wring as of today. What Avangrid can't replace is a walk down the street, a visit to the library, watching a child hit a home run, or a child's face as they receive an award for a poem they have wrien. I hope this gives you some perspecve as to our concerns. It isn't merely a financial concern for us. It is our community, not used only by the residents of Main Street but people from all parts of Centerville and beyond. Thank you for taking the me to read this. Respecully, Joanne O'Connor CAUTION:This email originated from outside of the Town of Barnstable! Do not click links, open aachments or reply, unless you recognize the sender's email address and know the content is safe!