The Commons at Weiss Farm

On August 13,2013, Richard J High, President of John M Corcoran & Co. wrote an open letter to the Residents of Stoneham regarding his proposed apartment community called The Commons at Weiss Farm.  It sounded like an advertisement and that his companies spending of $50 million in Stoneham should be gratefully accepted by us.  

Public safety is the predominant factor for our community and traffic is one part of that issue.  Even with the property as he indicates being significantly set back from the street that is not a deterrent to traffic flow.   Remember your children will be attending Stoneham High School. He cannot equate currently trucks coming and going from Weiss farm with 1.9 additional cars considered if a 300 apartment building is built or a 200 or 100 building is built. 

Regarding the placement of the structures proposed I also question the location since of the 26 acreage approximately 8 acres is buildable and the rest is Wetlands.  Since this land is in excess of 25 acres the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act must be considered as to where and if he can actually build on this site.

Again public safety is an issue and for the period of September 2012 thru June of 2013 there were approximately 138 calls per month and over 1600 total out of 15000 calls for the whole community which with a development of this magnitude will have an increased work load on our police and fire departments and cost the whole community and nullify any additional revenue received from this development. 

This projected development is not conducive to a sense of community nor is the building scale consistent with established traditions in Stoneham.

He also indicated that 25% would be of low income and used the dollar amounts of $46000.00 and $72000.00.  That does not signify in my brain low income since in 2013 the average Social Security check a retired worker receives is $1261. And the maximum retiring at full retirement age is $2533.  Check out official website of Social Security and the 2013 Fact Sheet on monthly benefits paid. All would be below the low-income ratio of $46000.00 

Reviewing Military Disability Compensation Rate Tables a Veteran alone receiving 60% would be receiving $1009. 00 per month.  Check our Military Disability Compensation Rate Table/Veterans United Network for other rates. Considering that the average household in Stoneham according to the last state census earned approximately $74000.00 it does not appear many residents would be able to afford or qualify for proposed   low-income rentals.

I also question why our town has not learned from its past travels of mega developments such as the Boston Regional Medical Center.    Has anyone in our town read the Boston Regional Medical Center Reuse Plan Final Report January 2005 by Simpson housing Limited Partnership, Developer The Gutierrez Company.  It is for all to see on the Internet.  This is 2013, what happened to “ Stoneham Imagine “ or the plan.  In September of 2004 it was cited in the Stoneham Independent that the Selectmen were looking for volunteers to establish a committee regarding developing housing in our community.  Did that happen?

In 2004 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts established Chapter 40 R to create “The Smart Growth Zoning “ which would encourage communities to create dense residential or mixed-use smart growth zoning districts, including a high percentage of affordable housing units, to be located near transit stations, in areas of concentrated development such as existing city and town centers, and in other highly suitable locations. This law came into being after the Boston Regional Medical Center but is very appropriate for today.  The Commons at Weiss Farm is not a highly suitable location.

Our concerns and voices must be heard.  Come to the Special Town Meeting on September 3rd and be heard.