Schleicher: 'Is Anybody Listening?'

Dear Editor,

Is anybody listening?

Just when you thought this summer was a time to relax and enjoy time with your family, Winchester desperately needs your attention to a massive 296 unit “affordable housing” development that is being thrust upon us, especially our neighbors in the Forest Circle area. Not only is this huge development inappropriate for the site, but is inappropriate…period.

While the goal of providing “affordable housing” was and still is desirable, Chapter 40B has been exploited by developers who maximize their profits while paying lip service to the goal of affordable housing. Using outdated Chapter 40B state law, developers of “affordable housing” override existing local zoning laws to build massive housing complexes without any regard to the neighborhoods where they are sited. Krebs Investor Group has already filed its application with Mass Housing to erect this massive housing complex. Approval from Mass Housing could come as early as this August!

While the developer argues that there is a need for more affordable housing, the reality is that only a small portion (25%) of the 296 rental units will be priced affordable according to existing regulations. Lip service! Massive housing developments like this hurt rather than help address housing needs. They pit neighborhoods against neighborhoods and hurt the Town and the area as a whole.

Our local state representative, Michael Day has done and said nothing about this issue. He hasn’t even gone to the meetings!

Maybe if State Representative Michael Day had some experience serving on a town board, he would understand that this outdated state law is unfairly tying the hands of our local officials and burdening local residents. His apparent lack of interest in listening to neighbors is very disturbing and not serving us well. Perhaps Representative Day has already made up his mind and doesn’t want to listen to the concerns of the neighbors.

Peggy Schleicher

Lochwan Street

Winchester