[SBC] another Somerville Journal article on MaxPak

[Ron Newman]

http://www.townonline.com/somerville/homepage/x280529090

Alderman bows out of Ward 5 Maxpak development talks
By Auditi Guha
Friday, March 02, 2007 - Updated: 06:43 PM EST
Alderman Sean O’Donovan recused himself from Thursday night’s  
discussions about a large upcoming development on Clyde Street  
Thursday, explaining he recently purchased property on Warwick Street  
in Ward 5.

Citing a conflict of interest, O’Donovan, who is chairman of the  
Committee on Land Use, read out his recusal letter announcing he will  
not be participating in the 60-63 Clyde St. – which is also in Ward 5  
– public hearing at the joint Planning Board and Land Use meeting.

He can, however, attend the meetings and participate in the  
proceedings as a neighbor, according to city lawyers.

Ward 2 Alderman and committee vice-chairperson Maryann Heuston  
stepped up to the podium to continue the public hearing on the  
development – the former site of a Maxpak factory.

During the hour of public comment, residents voiced concerns  
regarding a recent draft covenant that they were not privy to, the  
developer planning to use the bike path for access to the site, and  
rodents and dust during demolition.

Most residents attested that they want the city to change the zoning  
rules for the site so that it can be cleaned up and built upon.

“We have got the best we could get in this given situation,” said  
Ralph Russo of Warwick Street about the proposed development.

Developer Stephen Smith of KSS Realty Partners has proposed a  
residential development consisting of 199 units on the site, which  
currently consists of dilapidated industrial buildings on  
contaminated land.

“Stephen Smith has shown us something that looks good,” said John  
Field from Warwick Street.

The decision on the proposed amendment to rezone the five-acre  
property is expected be announced by the Planning Board on March 15.  
Residents have until March 10 to submit additional comments.

Some residents voiced concern about a large development in an already  
dense city.

“We are the densest city this side of Manhattan,” said Al Weisz from  
Hudson Street. “I am wondering how making this area more dense will  
improve the neighborhood. We need more jobs than housing.”

Members from the Somerville Bicycle Committee and Friends of the  
Community Path were also worried that use of the bike path, which  
leads to the development, could be damage during construction. It  
could also delay plans to revamp the path beginning 2009, bike path  
advocates argued.

The groups want the developer to remove the tracks or contribute  
financially to the bike path project if they use it as a construction  
access road for the development.

Alan Moore, chairman of the Bike Committee, said four bike path  
entrances were detailed in a previous community-recommended guideline  
for the project, but the developer is only providing one bike path  
entrance after the recent covenant agreement came to light.

Smith thanked neighbors for their cooperation and said they have  
tried their best to meet the proposed community guidelines, including  
providing access to Lowell Street, and adding public space and  
landscaping in the neighborhood.

“There’s a lot at stake here and I am speaking in favor of the  
project,” said Sandra Resnick of Warwick Street. “I would prefer a  
park here or even light industry, but that’s not coming. Both the  
development and the bike path are extremely important to me.”

After three years of discussing the project, area residents said they  
want the development to go forward, but they also asked for a fair  
and inclusive process.

“Decisions we make now and the input that we provide will decide how  
the construction will be and how disruptive it will be,” said Asher  
Miller of Warwick Street. “We need an open process with oversight and  
public input.”

Alderman At Large Bill White suggested a special public meeting on  
the draft covenant agreement that was reportedly authored by the  
city’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, city  
solicitors, the mayor and his planning staff.

Ward 3 Alderman Tom Taylor requested the board get copies of the  
covenant and the traffic study conducted for the development.