*CALLS FOR FIGHT BACK RESPONSE*
WINN BROOK SCHOOL - OCTOBER 24

With a full speaker rostrom of professionals on the Environment, 40 B housing and a House Legislator and Belmont Selectman.

The thrust was a 'fight back' for neighborhood rights and watershed requirements, and for preventing an overzelous developer from exploiting prime real estate in a rare woodleand, in a flood plain vicinity and wetland riverine corridor. John Belskis from state's Coalition to Reform 40B, noted the many successes of his Coalition throughout the Commonwealth with many of the developers (45 percent) dropping their plan, to the need to reassess the amount of real town land, minus trusts, easements, parks, etc. with a tried and true formula for calculating accurately the 40B limits. Also he reminded us that 40 B developers are exceeding their 20percent profit limit.

John Cleary, a coordinator of the Neighborhood Coalition, noted the history of the developer, Brian O'Neill and questioned his right to maximally exploit the property after his extraordinary gain of 40 million from his sale. He called on the neighborhood of over 60 attendees to work together to protect their homes and property values and the woodlands and watershed.

Gerard Natale, a Little Pond resident, real estate professional, also noted the serious flooding and sewage problems, the misuse of the area by the developer, and his own personal experiences as a home owner on the Pond. He encouraged everyone to oppose the zba plans and to request a no from the zoning board.

Charles Katuska, certified Forest and Wetlands Specialist, explained the pollution that would come forth from the development into the Pond would overtax the subwatershed significantly. He noted the 2.5 million gallons of water to Little Pond and the loss of rare habitat and loss of important pollutant and flood control from the maple roots and forest ecosystems.

Ann Paulsen updated the group about the Senate's Bill 1909 and its status, whereby the "Moratorium" language is in question She said to call our elected officials in the state house and that she would continue to try and advocate for the best language that would protect the Uplands.

Will Brownsberger also shared the Selectmen's recommendations to the Zoning Board to make all deliberations 'above board' with transparency and to aviod permits without the proper studies. They supported the Havern Bill, and asked that anything built be very small.

Ellen Mass of FAR spoke of the watershed and the impact of the development on wildlife. She spoke of the accomplishments made by organizations, agencies and other town efforts to defeat the development on the Belmont Uplands.

Sumner Brown spoke of the sewage problems and a report from an engineer. He said the town was lax in allowing developers easy mitigation far below other areas, which will negatively impact the environment. He used the example of Maclain's development.