HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-15-2023 - Chris Kuhn Ms. Pina,
> Would you please forward this email, together with it’s attachments, to each of the Commission‘s members.
> Thank You
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> Dear Commissioners,
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> As one of the people who filed the appeal of your decision to allow the demolition and new construction of the buildings located at 307 Main Street, Hyannis, I am writing to provide
some information, which I hope might assist you in understanding, in part, my reasoning. Unfortunately my job prevents me from being able to attend this coming Monday’s Appeal Hearing
and as one of the Appellants I feel it‘s appropriate to offer you my thoughts.
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> Like everyone, I have what we all believe are, very reasonable expectations of the people whom we elect and who they then appoint and also hire, or contract with. When you choose
to run for an elected office, accept an appointment, or apply for employment, you do so with the understanding and acceptance of where your allegiance is required and expected to be.
It comes with the position. I to am a public servant and it is important to know what my employers expectations are of me. I take those expectations seriously, as I’m sure you do
as well. By including the following attachments I am merely suggesting it might be a help, not only for you, but for all members of our Town’s boards, committees and commissions. I
sat on our Town’s Conservation Commission for about four years in the early 1980’s and I remember having to occasionally reread and refresh myself with the purpose and regulations, because
there’s more to them than people think and reflecting on that was always very helpful in my deliberations. Your positions are very serious and important to the overall wellbeing of
our entire Town and not just Hyannis. So please keep in mind, not only what your purpose, duties and responsibilities are, but also keep in mind what the expectations are of all the
Town’s residents, who put the Town’s future and their faith in your judgment. Not unlike yourself, we all expect people to do what is right and truly in our best interest, when being
asked to do the job they’ve agreed to do, and to dutifully discharge their responsibilities, in conformance with their stated purpose. When I read Article III, Section 112-24, which
describes specifically what the Purpose of this regulation is, I am alarmed, because it appears to be very clear and completely unambiguous. Then, when I read Article III, Section 112-28,
it to is clear and completely unambiguous. It very clearly states that you are specifically bound by your Duty “to carry out the purposes of this article”. Those Purposes are clearly
identified in Section 112-24.
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> The Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic Commission is one of the many gatekeepers the Town has created to protect and preserve our Town. All the residents of our Town rely on
you and expect you to protect, preserve and conserve our heritage and the “unique community character through the preservation and protection of the distinctive characteristics of the
buildings, structures, and places significant in the history and architecture of Barnstable and through the preservation, maintenance and improvement of appropriate settings for such
buildings structures and places, and the encouragement of new design which is compatible with the existing historical and community character.” That is in large part what your fellow
residents expect you to do. Your duty requires it and they have every right to have that expectation of you. They expect this of you in the same way you expect the Town Council to
do their job.
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> I am certain you will hear from Mr. Brennan and possibly others, that there is no reason to preserve the past and live as though it’s 1953 and it’s time to move forward and bring Hyannis
and the Town of Barnstable into the twenty-first century. Mr. Brennan is a hired gun and will argue whichever side is paying him, he’s only in it for the money. I’m also pretty certain
the Winn Group hasn’t bought the property yet and won’t buy it without these permits, so we know exactly what their only motivation is. They and the other proponents of this kind of
horrific development have their own misguided agendas and couldn’t care less about the heritage and historic value and integrity of Hyannis, or our Town. They care not one bit about,
or have any interest in the consequences of their actions and we will be the ones to clean up their mess, when their tenants have no place to park, or when there’s laundry draped over
the balcony to dry, or trash falls from the third or fourth floors and people yelling to their friends and relatives who are down on Main Street. Our tourists will no longer enjoy the
experience of their trip to Hyannis to spend some money and have a nice meal, they won’t return. I could go on and on and on about the problems our Town will be faced with, but unfortunately
you know what I’m talking about.
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> Please be the gatekeepers you are meant to be and say no to these horrible and damaging proposals. There are lots of other very good and appropriate places in our Town for affordable
housing to be created. Places that offer many more opportunities for much better housing, with far fewer constraints, issues and impacts. The Village of Hyannis should be protected,
preserved and honored for its history and the huge contribution it has and should be allowed to continue to bring to The Town of Barnstable. We need Hyannis in order to continue being
the Village it has always been. It is an integral part of the identity of our Town and region and its Historic Integrity is an integral part of that. Saying yes to this proposal will
make it extremely difficult and likely impossible to say no and prevent all the future proposals that are very closely watching this one and they are on their way. This is only the
beginning, it is merely the first domino to fall.
From a purely practical and visual standpoint, it really is frankly impossible to build a three or four story apartment building in an area of existing and very historic one and two
story buildings, and then call it a historic looking, compatible and contributing building. I don’t see how that is even remotely possible.
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> Much of this 1924 building is still intact and could pretty easily be restored and brought back to it’s original state.
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If you take a close look at this end of the building you will see the wonderful details that still exist. The front is just a veneer that applied to cover the original entrance. It
could easily be restored.
Wouldn’t it be truly wonderful if this property were some sort of multipurpose facility with a very much needed welcoming center? Why don’t we have a Hyannis, or Barnstable Welcoming
Center?
I and our entire Town thank you for your time, attention, patience and deliberation in this critically important matter.
Sincerely,
Chris Kuhn