The Planning Board Meeting Recap

 

 The Planning board meeting was held on Monday, May 4.  DPW director Jonathan Beder presented his report to the Planning Board.  The Manomet current wrote a good article recapping the meeting that I am linking here. http://manometcurrent.com/pave-ship-pond-road/
Basically they agreed that the DPW's recommendation of adding gravel is a good place to start.  Sam Chapin, a spokesperson for Wildlands Trust was there and spoke in opposition of any plans the DPW  may have for widening or drainage. I tried to ask him what WLT objections are.The environmental damage caused by dust from gravel roads is well documented.  It’s a health hazard for both humans and wildlife.  Environmental Science for road design has come a long way, and drainage areas can be designed to become environmental enhancements for the wildlife in an area.
  He just repeated that they own 150 acres of land abutting SPR and made it clear that the town would have to take the property by eminent domain in order to use any of it.  This would cost the town millions of dollars in litigation.
Wildlands Trust owns property assessed at almost $18 million in the town of Plymouth.  All of it is 100% tax exempt. We support them every time we pay our tax bills. They should be discussing how they can work with the DPW to make SPR safer, not threatening the town with costly legal issues.
I think we need to start applying some media pressure to WLT to get them to reconsider their stand. This isn't just about applying gravel, without some drainage and widening,  any improvements are likely to be short lived. I'm gong to send a letter into the Old Colony memorial.  I urge you all to do the same. It’s time for them to start acting like the local community conservation group that they claim to be, and not the self-serving behemoth that they have become.