BCAT News

The following is a Letter to the Editor:

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to a letter published on Wicked Local by Michael Runyan on April 5, 2021 about a proposed friendly 40B project on Richardson Road, known as Winnview Heights II.  There is a factual error in the letter that, as Chairperson of the Planning Board, I feel compelled to address. Before writing this letter, I reached out to Mr. Runyan for a discussion, but have not yet received a reply.

In his letter Mr Runyan states that during the 40B review process, “not one department responded with any concerns.”  That is incorrect. The planning department expressed concern about this proposal on multiple occasions.  We expressed these concerns to Town Manager Paul Sagarino, Town Counsel Lisa Mead, Attorney Tom Murphy, the acting Building Inspector and to the Chair of the Board of Appeals (BOA).  We were not given access to the plans and thus were unable to comment in specific detail, but we expressed general concerns, and concerns about possible issues with easements.  No plan was ever circulated to the town departments until December 2020, long after the proposal had received approval to move forward from the Board of Selectmen (BOS) and the State of Massachusetts.

Furthermore, I personally attended the BOS meeting in January 2020 at which this matter was briefly discussed.  At that meeting, no plan was shown or discussed and no public comment was allowed. I raised my hand to comment but Chairman Morandi denied me the opportunity to speak.  There were at least two other attendees that I know of at that same meeting who were similarly silenced.  If I had been allowed to speak, I would have shared with the BOS that I had serious concerns about this project and I would have requested that the BOS not support the request.

This proposed project has been submitted to the BOA for approval. The BOA, under a 40B project, steps into the shoes of all town departments.  The BOA must consider impacts on the neighborhood, traffic, and environment as well as over 30 waiver requests.  The project is not approved. We anticipate the BOA will reach out to the planning board and department as they move through the review process. It is my sincere hope that all town boards, including the BOS, will support both the BOA, and the residents affected, as they carefully consider whether this project is beneficial to the neighborhood and the Town.

Barbara L’Heureux

Chairwoman, Burlington Planning Board