On Eve of Votes, Conflict Flares Over Village

By Victor Tine, The Daily News of Newburyport, Mass.

Jun. 24–NEWBURY — With Special Town Meeting votes scheduled for tonight, conflict over the proposed Village at Little River shopping and housing development surged over the weekend, as project opponents contended that as many as 150 anti-Village signs were stolen from private property.

“They stole 150 signs in one day. They stole 20 off my land,” said Tendercrop Farm owner Matt Kozazcki, who has emerged as the principal spokesman in opposition to the project. “They stole people’s right to free speech, and that’s not right.”

Kozazcki said he and some other residents had been placing signs at various locations around town. The wording on the signs is “Save Newbury/Vote No on Little River Project/Town Meeting, June 24.”

Police Chief Michael Reilly said yesterday the department had received two complaints, one of illegal placement of signs on town property and Kozazcki’s complaint of signs being stolen. He said Detective Aaron Wojtkowski was investigating the complaints but otherwise declined comment.

Finance Committee Chairman Frank Remley, who supports the 150-unit project that would also include several stores and a senior center off Route 1 near the Newburyport line, said the signs were being placed on public land and he had e-mailed a complaint to Reilly.

He said many signs had been placed around the transfer station on Boston Road on Friday night in anticipation of Saturday’s recycling. He also said people were handing out leaflets raising questions and contradictions about the project.

Kozazcki has been erecting what he calls “haymen” as platforms for the anti-project signs.

A hayman is two circular hay bales stacked on their flat surfaces, with a third bale mounted upright on top. Paper facial features are taped to the upright bale. Signposts are stuck into the hay on the sides and top of the bales. As of yesterday afternoon, three haymen could be seen on High Road in the vicinity of Tendercrop, and others on Scotland Road, Hanover Street and Parker Street.

There are also three “Vote Yes” signs along Rolfe’s Lane.

Both sides have engaged in a skirmish of advertisements in The Daily News. Kozazcki and six other residents placed a total of four half-page ads on Friday, yesterday and today. Beacon and Coastal countered with full-page ads yesterday and today.

Kozazcki argues that the development will end up costing Newbury taxpayers, will lead to the taking of some of his land for a well site, and will open the door for more multiunit condominium buildings that are out of character with Newbury. The developers have argued that the project will bring in a net gain in tax dollars, and will not require land-taking for water sources.

Vote tonight

A Special Town Meeting is set to convene this evening at 7 at Newbury Elementary School to vote on four warrant articles, all of which are crucial to the project. It would be the largest development in Newbury’s history.

Two of the articles require only simple majority votes to pass: an agreement negotiated with the developer, and authorization for the selectmen to execute agreements with Newburyport should the city decide to provide water and sewer service to the project. Newbury has requested water and sewer service, and the developer has proposed paying for improvements valued at nearly $4.4 million.

The other two articles are amendments to the zoning bylaw and will need two-thirds majorities to pass.

The Village at Little River is a joint venture between Beacon Communities Development of Boston and Coastal Partners of Beverly Farms, proposed for 99 acres at the intersection of Route 1 and Middle Road.

It would consist of 68 apartments and 82 condominiums, along with 122,000 square feet of retail space — including a small supermarket, a pharmacy and a restaurant — and 48,000 square feet of office space. The complex would also include a 5,000-square-foot senior center.

There would be 52 townhouse condominiums and 30 other condos with deed restrictions mandating buyers be at least 55 years old. Eight of the deed-restricted condos would be classified as “affordable” under state guidelines, as would 14 of the rental apartments, and 70 percent of those units in each category — or five condos and 10 apartments — would be reserved for Newbury residents.

The project has the support of the Planning Board, the Finance Committee, the Open Space Committee, the Council on Aging, the Parker River Clean Water Association and — on a 2-1 vote — the Board of Selectmen.

One of the zoning amendments on tonight’s warrant would establish a specific district under a state law variously called “smart growth” or “Chapter 40R.”

The so-called Smart Growth Overlay District would cover only three buildings in The Village at Little River. Included in the district would be two buildings with a total of 68 rental apartments and another with the 30 deed-restricted condos.

Once Newbury establishes a Chapter 40R zoning district, it will be eligible to receive a $75,000 state payment. The town will also receive $3,000 for each of the 68 rentals and 30 age-restricted condos, a total of $294,000.

The second zoning amendment, called the Planned Village Overlay District, would authorize the residential, commercial and office uses in an area that is currently zoned for industrial uses.

The Planning Board has been working with the developers for about a year and a half, both in refining the design and drafting the zoning.

Beacon and Coastal are also awaiting word on whether neighboring Newburyport will provide water and sewer service to the project. The developers have estimated the Village would use as little as 25,000 gallons of water per day, although when the project is plugged into a state water consumption formula, the estimate rises to about 50,000 gallons.

A look at the Village at Little River

Size: 68 apartments and 82 condominiums, along with 122,000 square feet of retail space.

Residential: 52 townhouse condominiums and 30 other condos with deed restrictions mandating buyers be at least 55 years old. Eight of the deed-restricted condos would be classified as “affordable” under state guidelines, as would 14 of the rental apartments, and 70 percent of those units in each category — or five condos and 10 apartments — would be reserved for Newbury residents.

Commercial: A small supermarket, a pharmacy, a restaurant and 48,000 square feet of office space. The complex would also include a 5,000-square-foot senior center.

A look at the Special Town Meeting

When: Tonight at 7.

Where: Newbury Elementary School

Article 1: Ratify development agreement between Newbury Board of Selectmen and developers Beacon Communities Development LLC and Coastal Partners LLC.

Article 2: Amend zoning bylaw to establish Little River Smart Growth Overlay District.

Article 3: Amend zoning bylaw to establish Planned Village Overlay District.

Article 4: Authorize selectmen to enter into intermunicipal agreements with Newburyport to allow the city to provide water and sewer service to the Village at Little River.

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Copyright (c) 2008, The Daily News of Newburyport, Mass.

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