After four nights, we're done with the 2009 Annual Town Meeting. I suspect we'll be back in the fall for a special town meeting, but we're burn that bridge when we come to it.
The only notable discussion was on the rezoning of the Sumner house's back half from residential to commercial. I supported it, and there was a lot of oppositional discussion. But it passed roughly 77%-23%. It made the Sumner House (currently run as a B&B) more marketable to future owners while keeping its status under the Historic District Commission the same. Win-win.
Done and done.
Wednesday, May 27
Yup, Done!
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20 comments:
There appears to be some underlying current of tension between the historical group representative and Mr. Lebeaux. Does anyone know why? I thought Mr. Lebeaux's behavior was out of line and very rude. Why is he continually allowed to act in that manner? He might not agree with people, but he really needs to be more respectful. I also thought Ms. Miller's comments at the end of the meeting were rather interesting? Seemed to be kissing up to town meeting members.
Ms. Miller is running for re-election so of course she is sucking up.
What was interesting was Town Meeting saw it for what it was which was pandering.
I am a Town Meeting member and I did not need a pat on the head from her or her board. I think they forget it is our Town Meeting and we are not their lap dogs.
SOOOO glad it's over. I listen all of the time, but, when they debate SO long over something like the Sumner House, it doesn't make sense. Years ago I visited the place, the folks who own it were wonderful and loved the house and took suck care of it, as much as they could afford. Zoning limited business will help them or the next owner to make a REAL success of a bed and breakfast. Without a "real" kitchen it's hard. From what I heard last night, it sounds like the Historical guy, (can't remember his name) bought the place? I was confused about that...anyone know more??
Regarding the other blog site. Mark, you mentioned that aboaut 60 people didn't attend the meeting last night?! Wow! Large or small issues on the docket, doesn't matter. They should be there. I'm disappointed in them, unless illness or death. I'm running for TMM next year!
I know Mark gets tired of the TM attendance topic, but I have to say that there are definitely times when Town Meeting cannot take the highest priority in someone's life. I myself have missed three meetings in the last few years: one when I was on pregnant bedrest; two when I was out of state for a family member's wedding. Clearly, these were not things that could be rescheduled to fit in local politics, although neither one involved a life or death situation. And you know what? I think that's ok. I want my Town Meeting representatives to have other things going on in their lives. Being busy should not exclude people from participating in the political process, even if it means that the attendance record isn't going to be spotless. Do we really want our representatives' best quality to be extra time on their hands?
The Historic District guy owned the Sumner house before the Glascocks. He sold it to them. His name is Kevin Samara. Anyway, I don't think the town won anything with the rezone on the house last night.
Town meeting should have left the zoning as it was and let Mr Glascock continue to try to market it with the idea that whomever was interested in purchasing it could come to a town meeting just like Mr Surabian did and ask for the back half to be rezoned. W/o a real buyer and proposal for a restaurant or whatever, the property can be sold, razed and anything the new buyer chooses to build be done as long as it complies with limitted business. Furthermore, somebody shold have asked that the Histroic district come before town meeting with a properly crafted warrant article when we convene in the fall for a zoning bylaw that would put demolition restrictions on propertied\s in our historic district. That would give the town the six months Mr Samara was talking about to try to relocate the structure or find somebody to purchase the property on right of first refusal. Something will definitely go in this location now and it won't be anything we're going to like as much as what we have there now. Town meeting did nothing to protect this site last night. And before you ask why I didn't propose this myself, somebody moved the question before I could be recognized to speak.
What is the point of a Historical District Commission or Historical Commission ( I think there are actually two separate committees) if they cannot protect our historical assets. The idea that any historical structure like the Sumner House could be razed is hard to grasp, especially when it is in relatively good shape and not an eye sore or a danger to anybody. I do agree with the comment made last night that if you own an historic home or building you do have the obligation to be the steward of that property for the historic and cultural benefit of the town. Maybe we need a new group of people on these committees who will work with the BOS and Planning Board on a town wide basis to get the protections needed to save our historic structures. Does anyone recall what happened to the historic Tavern that was placed in the parking lot of Shrewsbury Village? It was supposed to be saved and I think current members of the Historic Commission were involved, but I heard the building just disappeared?
I prefer not to speak at TM. Quite frankly, I've had months of hearings and I think that what I have to say has been heard.
That being said, I think a lot of unnecessary panic has been introduced about the Sumner House being torn down. The Sumner House has been listed on the Federal List of Historic Places for many years now. Tearing Down a Federal Register building is a long and drawn out process, and rightfully so.
This is not to say that other of our Historic Structures are not at significant risk; they are. What happened with the Olde Tavern was a damn shame.
Worcester has a process for tearing down buildings that we should emulate. When you apply for a demo permit, the Worcester Historic Commission has (I think) ten business days to respond. If the building is determined to be of Historic significance, there is an appeal process. Most initial determinations occur within a matter of a few days. Something like this was brought to Town Meeting a few years ago, and for some reason it was not well received.
As a FinComm Member, I don't think it is my role to bring forth new regulations. I hope that someone will take up the gauntlet and adopt this important cause.
Once a Historic Building is gone, a little of our heritage is gone with it. Historic buildings are all that tie the average person to our past on a dailey basis. You might not read the Constitution every day, but you drive by the 1830 Schoolhouse, the Sumner House, etc. every day. Once they're gone, there's no getting them back.
It was clear that the existing owners wanted a big commercial lot to sell instead of forcing the new owners to go through the variance process.
I can hardly wait until the center of quaint Shrewsbury is dominated by a new Wendy's.
Robin...
I can understand if you were in need of bed rest during a pregnancy. But, 60 members out all at once? Plus, American Idol finished last week! lols
Seriously, there are only a couple of meetings a year, if that, so there aren't many excuses for 60 people not being there unless they all got the Swine flu at once! I think that's another good reason to have term limits on certain elected seats. Let the people who want to be there and participate be elected. I'm of the opinion that if you miss a certain amount of meetings, you should be dismissed.
Without the zoning change, it would be difficult to use the property for anything viable, other than a B&B, and let's be real. Who seeks a B&B in Shrewsbury?!! I do think there are more profitable and appropriate uses for that beautiful old building. Now something can be done. We've got enough protections in place that we really ought to be able to prevent a CVS or Wendy's from being built. Maybe while we're at it, we could find a way to get rid of some of the eyesore businesses in the town center?! Our town center really could be quaint and a destination to walk to - but it sure isn't now!
Just curious as to why the Sumner House is historic. Did a president sleep there, was a treaty signed there. Is there a reason it is historic or is it just old.
Isn't it part of the Underground Railroad?
Yes I thought there was a passage to the Underground Railroad. I recall one of my kids going on a field trip to the house a few year's back. Interestingly enough BOS member Jim Kane also lives in a historic property. It was a tavern that rumor has it General Washington slept in.
Yes the House Mr. Kane lives was once a Tavern. Not she if GW slept there but he did meet with Shrewsbury’s own General Artemus Ward there to take over command of the Continental Army which was based in Cambridge at the time.
The main issue at the Sumner house is the upkeep. One needs a hefty amount of cash to keep an old building like that going. I do not see how a B+B can generate enough income. Work on Historic homes usually goes to experts, not your average contractor. It's easy for us to drive by and say it's pretty when we are not paying for it.
I was going to ask but did not get a chance because debate was moved to end. I am new TM and didn't get recognized. I know other know other new members did, so I am not complaining just stating a fact.
What does the Fire Department think of having possibly more traffic around the new station if the Sumner House becomes more business intense? I was truly surprised that the chief or town officials didn't mention this. Perhaps as the Historical Commission implied the town officials have not done much homework on this particular piece of property.
The town cannot stop Wendy's or CVS from building if they comply with all the requirements and surely they can. If the Town had voted down the zoning change, then a variance would have been needed, but the town has lost that leverage. Worse, the new building will probably be smaller than the Sumner House, so we'll not only have more traffic at the center of town, we'll have less tax revenue.
We made a huge mistake by approving the zoning change.
Boy, George Washington sure slept around alot lot. I wonder what Martha thought of it.
I have often wondered if the owners hurt their house sale by selling that piece of property to the fire station. Would you want to stay at a B&B with the Main Fire station within spitting distance? What would their add same, lovely B&B near amenities like restaraunts, nail salon and flashing red lights and siren at 2am.
Mr. Samara began his remarks by very briefly saying that his board supported the proposal with the agreement that the it and the Glascocks came to. He then spoke at length at why the proposal should be defeated. It seemed to me that Mr. Glascock was taken by surprise, that he and the historical board had reached an agreement in good faith and Mr. Samara was telling Town Meeting something different.
I don’t want my town government to act like that. Even though I frequently disagree with many decisions made by the various boards, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one behave like that. I’m very disappointed in what I saw and heard.
Somebody asked in an earlier post about the old tavern by the Christmas Tree shops. It was called the Baltch Tavern I think. It was one of the oldest buildings in Shrewsbury, from the 1700’s. When the plaza was being built there was a fundraising drive and a lot of money was donated by Shrewsbury people to save the building. Our family donated. It was moved temporarily to another site on the property until a permanent home could be found.
It sat there for several years then out of the blue it was demolished leaving a lot of questions- still unanswered I think-about how that came to be, and what had all the money been spent on and how much was left.
Mr. Samara was the person in charge of that preservation project.
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