I have closely followed the ongoing debate surrounding the rezoning proposal to convert the corner of South Street and Hayward Street from residential to commercial. This issue has surfaced repeatedly, and each time, the residents have overwhelmingly voted it down during town meetings. Yet, we find ourselves here again, fighting the same battle.
I have been following this topic since last year. After reading recent coverage, including the article and the comments, as well as letters to the editor (here and here), it seems clear that there are concerted efforts, particularly by Marguerite Concrete and the town planner, to push this proposal through the Zoning Advisory Committee (ZAC). Marguerite is seeking assistance from the town planner to influence the ZAC despite the consistent opposition from the community.
What’s most troubling is ZAC’s praise of Marguerite’s proposal and recommendation to the Planning Board for approval. While Ron Foisy of ZAC accurately pointed out that the committee is merely advisory and has no power to approve zoning changes directly, this raises the question: Why isn’t ZAC considering the people’s will? Every time this proposal has reached a town meeting, the residents have soundly rejected it. Yet, ZAC seems intent on advancing it.
This leads me to ask: Does the town planner truly work for the betterment of our town, a town that we, the residents, are deeply committed to? And what exactly does ZAC hope to achieve by pushing against the community’s clear wishes? It’s crucial that these bodies, which exist to serve the town and its people, act in accordance with the will of the residents, not the interests of a few developers.
It’s time the ZAC and town planner listened to the voices of Maspenock (and Hopkinton) residents and understood the weight of the decisions made at town meetings. Anything less would be a disservice to our community, which is defined by its residents’ collective decisions.
— Deepak (Shiv) Vokaliga, 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.
0 Comments