All of us here at The Preserve condos, located directly across from Hopkinton State Park, are facing a critical issue from the Town of Hopkinton Planning Board. The Planning Board is recommending that The Preserve be rezoned to allow upwards of 750 high-density multi-unit family housing to be built on this parcel of land. This is in response to the state mandate that all towns along the MBTA rail line create more housing.

The town does not have to target our property, but it has, citing our closeness to the rail station. But the town can pick any parcel of land in town, and certainly not one with people living on it. The Preserve is a heavily wooded parcel of land with a diverse population of Hopkinton residents living here with established ecosystem. The Preserve Board and the vast majority of our residents believe this is wrong choice by the Planning Board, and we are fighting to be removed from consideration. The rezoning would certainly impact our property value in a negative way, let alone turn this area upside down.

I urge all our fellow citizens in this town to join us and vote down such a drastic rezoning of this beautiful property. If the town wants to comply with Beacon Hill, then select sites that are not inhabited and already developed, such as along South Street.

— Eric Wieland, Hopkinton

Editor’s note: The opinions and comments expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Independent. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and must include the writer’s name and contact information for verification. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event or thanking sponsors or volunteers. Letters may be edited by the Independent staff for space, errors or clarification, and the Independent offers no guarantee that every letter will be published. For a schedule of deadlines for letters and other submissions for the print edition, click here.