We STILL need to be ready.
We are nearing the one-year anniversary of Save Chebacco Trails and Watershed Inc.’s (SCT&W) second “Big Win” regarding the undeveloped and pristine open space property at 133 Essex Street. For the first “Big Win” we mounted a major technical and legal effort before the Hamilton Planning Board (PB) in support of its denial of a proposed 50-unit pricey condo development on the site. The applicant, Chebacco Hills Capital Partners (CHCP), then came back with a modified “40B” approach to the same project, this time in front of the Hamilton Zoning Board of Appeals. SCT&W, along with strong community support, successfully raised legal/regulatory arguments that forced CHCP to withdraw its judicial appeal of the PB’s denial AND forced a one-year delay of any consideration of the 40B permitting effort. That year is almost up.
SCT&W has not been idle during the past 11 months. We have been pursuing various alternatives for preservation of the property (which is currently listed for sale by the owners). We remain committed to opposing any development on this unique 66.2-acre site and will engage vigorously to the full extent of our ability to oppose any further development plans by CHCP, or others. We take comfort in the facts that 1) no one has stepped forward in the past year to pursue a permit site development, 2) the previous permitting effort by CHCP demonstrated the massive difficulties, site impact, area disruption, risk to water supplies and high costs that would attend any such development, likely discouraging other potential purchasers/builders and 3) the continued strong opposition to site development by the people of Hamilton and the whole North Shore. That said, CHCP has continued to hold the site “Under Agreement” which clearly indicates that they are considering an “Act 3.” This could be another attempt at a 40b-based luxury condo development, maybe the long-threatened subdivision, or similar site exploitation. We need to be ready… now.
