Help with a Development mis-justice

[lentower.livejournal.com]

Update: The ZBA denied the Special Permit.

See my comment below.


My neighborhood still needs a favor.

I'm reposting this for two reasons:

• In December, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) postponed public testimony until January.
  
• People who were busy with the holidays in December, may now have time to help us.
  

Could you please forward this on to anyone who might come and support my neighborhood? And help tell developers that they have to play by the rules in Somerville!

Thank you either way. -len tower

Please write a letter to the ZBA saying you are opposed to the granting of any special permits for 1-4 Hayden Terrace.

Richard Daley, Chairman,
Zoning Board of Appeals,
Somerville City Hall,
93 Highland Avenue,
Somerville, MA 02143

If you don't have the time to US Mail a letter, please send an email to zba@ci.somerville.ma.us. But a written letter is more effective. It's OK to do both. You have another week or so to do so.

Just stating your opposition is enough, though it you can add a few reasons that would make your letter even more effective. You can find possible reasons at the web sight.

If you are free you can also come and speak at the public hearing at Wednesday, January 17, 2006, 6 PM, at Somerville City Hall, on Highland Avenue at School Street.

The web sight is at http://www.haydenterrace.com/ with all the reasons why these special permits should not be granted! And pictures and maps!

You are welcome to come by and look at the development in question.

A list of other recent inappropriate developments in Somerville is at http://www.provost-citywide.org/what.html#H3

There is also another one in my neighborhood at 7 Carver Street, off Porter Street between Elm and Summer Streets, that will be before the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals soon.

One more thing to do is to call the Somerville Journal's Speakout phone line at 671-776-9844 and comment on the article that George Vroom got started and
is quoted in. It is at

http://www.townonline.com/somerville/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=565347&format=text

When I've done this in the past, they made the headline out of the first few works. I know suggest a headline at the start of my Speakout.

A developer has illegally added a 3rd story and gable roof to 1-4 Hayden Terrace, off Linden Avenue. We want the building returned to just 2 stories. It's 45 feet behind my yard, and is blocking light/air/views for me and many homes around it. It has added a lot of traffic and parking congestion when it's occupied. He played tricks with the permits and a building department inspector, so no one knew he was doing more then interior rehab, and then used pre-built trusses, etc to put up, in less then two weeks, a third floor with a gable roof on a building that had been two stories with a flat roof. The gable roof was framed in under a day.

Come by Hayden Terrace and look at the monster. Also go uphill on Linden Avenue two houses and walk up Gussie Terrace to see the side and back of the monster. You'll see why the neighbors are upset. Even people 3 and 4 houses up the hill. Even people 3 or 4 blocks away, e.g. on Brastow Ave. A loss of parking, privacy, air circulation, and views. There is no parking on that lot. The spaces and garages on Hayden Terrace belong to the two houses on Linden Avenue.

Might you be interested in helping us fight it by coming to a hearing? Just attendance would help. Attendance and signing in helps more. Attendance, signing in, and speaking your opposition would be the best.

Please forward this on to anyone who lives in Somerville, you think might be interested in coming to the hearing and asking that the building be stopped.

Thank you either way. -len tower

Comments

[sly-salkie.livejournal.com]

We're all neighbors here. Whether I agree with you or not, this topic is far more important and relevant than those considered "not spam" by the people who have complained in the comments to this post. We can talk about silly things like the fillings of crepes, but it's really harsh to censure someone because they wish to preserve one of the last good places in the boston area.