Category Archives: Planning and Development

Planning and Development, Newburyport, MA, urban planning, the design, construction and organization of Newburyport’s urban spaces, architecture and activities.

Newburyport, MA, Planning Director

Well, no offense to whoever wrote today’s editorial in the Newburyport Daily News, but as far as I’m concerned Doug Locy, the chair of the Newburyport Planning Board and City Councilor James Shanely, who is on the City Council’s Planning and Development Committee know an awful lot about planning and development. And not to repeat myself, but they are two outstanding and honorable men and I would trust them to do right by the City of Newburyport, thank you very much. (Does whoever wrote this editorial even know these two gentlemen?)

I know that there are folks who didn’t like him, but for many of us Nick Cracknell set a very high bar for what a Planning Director can be. And Doug Locy and James Shanely not only worked closely with Mr. Cracknell, but my guess is that he taught them a great deal, and we are lucky to have two men who, along with many, many others, were more than willing to learn.

So, I’m not real big on the bashing Doug Locy and James Shanely thing, in what they felt was taking an honorable stand. This doesn’t work for me.

And yes, I know that it is Mayor John Moak’s choice who the new Newburyport Planning Director will be (as long as it gets the Newburyport City Council’s approval), but I’ll come right out and say it, darn it, I just don’t trust Mayor John Moak when it comes to picking a Planning Director for Newburyport, Massachusetts (I really would like to have a different opinion on this one.) And I think a lot of people feel the same way.

Our Mayor has let the position languish for 3 months, claiming it would be too expensive to fill it right away. This has never worked for me.

Yes, the survey came in for the Waterfront, and guess what, people do not want it to be a parking lot (that however is a whole other post), but we have this weird “task force on the waterfront” thing going on by Mayor John Moak, the goal of which seems to be to “get around” the survey. Good grief.

And then there’s the whole business of the 40B housing project being resurrected on Low Street, when there was an excellent compromise (see earlier posts) at hand.

If I trusted the Mayor on this appointment, I wouldn’t be blogging my little heart out about it.

And again, no offense to whoever wrote that editorial. “Reasonable people can disagree,” however, I think the Newburyport Daily News is really, really wrong on this one. And I think an awful lot of people following this whole process would agree.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Condominium Development Proposal

There’s been so much to blog about that I haven’t even gotten around to Great Woods Post and Beam proposed development concerning 7-9 Cherry Street.

The proposed condo plans for those two lots and the neighborhood objections (uproar) was in the Newburyport Daily News ages ago, Friday July 21, 2006 (another story by Stephanie Chelf) and came before the Newburyport Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Tuesday of this Week (Today’s Thursday.) And to tell you the truth I don’t know how the whole thing turned out. (Talk about being out of the loop.)

Great Woods Post and Beam hasn’t exactly been getting good press lately. And this time the developer wanted to take down two, as I understand it, perfectly good houses that are in keeping with the neighborhood and put up 2 two-unit condominiums. And I think the neighbors were right, this was not for the good of the City of Newburyport, but good for the developer’s bank account.

What’s interesting is with the departure of former Planning Director, Nick Cracknell (will we find out this week who really got the grand prize of an offer to replace him), the residents are becoming much more aware of what is going on and much more vigilant. And what I see are citizens picking up some of the slack, no longer having Mr. Cracknell there to protect them.

Maybe folks would have turned out with pitchforks objecting to the developer’s proposition, or maybe not. However, they are now and good for them.

No matter who gets picked for Planning Director for Newburyport, MA, it will be imperative for citizens to keep on being vigilant and speak up and protect our seaport city from what we believe to be inappropriate development.

Maybe developers, lawyers, architects and the Mayor will wish they had kept on former Planning Director Nick Cracknell. Let’s make having a “chat” with Nick Cracknell look like a “walk in the park,” wouldn’t that be fun.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

(Editor’s note: A follow up: Apparently the Newburyport Zoning Board of Appeals denied the application by Great Woods Post Beam to permit a multi-family use for the properties at 7-9 Cherry Street. As I understand it the findings of the Board will soon be finalized and signed.)

The Job for Newburyport’s Planning Director

The information on the fact that the job for Town Planner for the City of Walpole was posted on July 25th came as an anonymous tip.

I’m not kidding. And the Newburyport Political Blog has never received an anonymous tip before.

(One of the 3 candidates for Newburyport Planning Director, Christopher Ryan, is or was, I guess, the Town Planner for Walpole.)

I really and truly have no idea what this means. It could in fact mean any number of things. But one thing that it does mean is that people are really, really watching the process of who the next Planning Director for Newburyport, Massachusetts will be. And that, I guess, says a lot.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Planning Director, Newburyport

Ok, just to be completely paranoid here, the job for Town Planner for Walpole (see previous post) was posted on July 25, 2006 (and expires August 25, 2006.) That was yesterday.

Pure speculation, but it is an odd coincidence that it was posted yesterday and John Moak has been meeting with candidates this week.

Just a reminder. The Newburyport City Council has to approve whatever nomination Mayor John Moak makes. And if Christopher Ryan is in fact his candidate, and does not have the skills and experience necessary, we are counting on the Newburyport City Council to step up to the plate big time. We as citizens are counting on the Newburyport City Council to vote down any candidate that would not be qualified for the Planning Director of Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Planning Director

Oh boy folks. The Town of Walpole appears to be seeking a new Town Planner. This is from the Massachusetts Municipal Association website.

I got to tell you that I am a little confused as to why the Walpole Town Planner is a candidate for the Newburyport job. Not to be cynical here, but does Christopher Ryan still have the job? And why did Mr. Ryan leave? And to be really, really cynical has the job as Newburyport Planning Director already been promised to Christopher Ryan? Wow.

Here is the information that has been posted on the Massachusetts Municipal Association website:

*Town Planner*

Town of Walpole

Walpole seeks individuals for Town Planner position. Works under direction of Planning Board. Highly technical, administrative work in planning, organizing and coordinating the programs that shape short/long-range land-use/community development needs of Town. Works with Planning Board to rewrite Town’s Zoning Bylaws. Assists in research, preparation and administrations of proposals/ grants for applicable governmental/private funding sources. Bachelor’s degree in land-use/urban planning or closely related field with 2 years municipal planning experience required. Master’s degree in urban planning/related field; AICP certification preferred. Knowledge of urban/regional planning principles/practices, zoning laws and comprehensive plans including their formation, process of adoption/enforcement. Knowledge of civil engineering, architecture, graphic presentation as applied to planning, economic, sociological and environmental aspects of planning. Knowledge of GIS. $57,846-$66,447. Send cover letter with resume to Town of Walpole, Personnel, 135 School St., Walpole, MA 02081 by 8/31/06. (posted 7/25, exp. 8/25)

http://www.mma.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1114&Itemid=191

The posting is also on the Town of Walpole’s website: http://walpole-ma.gov/JobPost.htm

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Endangered Historic Resources

hsgarden.jpg
Sally Chandler © 2004
Wheelwright Historical Garden

The gardens of Newburyport’s Wheelwright House have been nominated for Preservation Massachusetts’ (formerly called Historic Massachusetts) Ten Most Endangered Resource Program.

Endangered Resource Program “chump change?” No.

High Street was nominated and won in 1999. The only roadway ever nominated. It was a very, very big deal. (Fenway Park made it to the top ten that year too, and it’s still standing, thank you very much.)

People bellyache about the Federal Street Overlay, but in 2001 the two historic houses, the William Barlett House and the William Johnson House in the Federal Street Overlay District made it to the top ten. Not only are they still standing, but they both have been lovingly restored, with deed restrictions no less.

(If we can’t have a large Local Historic Districts anytime in my lifetime, maybe people with historic properties could think about deed restrictions for the benefit of the future generations of Newburyport, Massachusetts.)

The “Common Pasture” made it to the top ten in 2004, and the Common Pasture has had many successes. So all of you out there in web land who are sick of acquiring Open Space, don’t forget that one.

From what I can make out, deed restrictions are being placed on the Wheelwright dwelling itself, but nothing that I’ve heard protects the historic Wheelwright gardens.

So what’s with the gardens anyway? Who cares? Parking lots are practical. And how much work would it take to keep that thing up anyway. And who even gets to see it, good grief.

You can hear the rational. Yes?

But historic gardens, like open space or any other historic resource in Newburyport, MA, add to the intrinsic value of the place that we all live or love to visit. To pave over this little piece of paradise would be an incredible travesty and the garden is something that could never, ever be replaced.

So the Endangered Resource List is an incredibly powerful tool. And just because a garden has never been listed before, doesn’t mean that Preservation Massachusetts wouldn’t think it wasn’t just a dandy idea. It wouldn’t be the first time that they thought “outside the box.”

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, The Search for Planning Director

Shephanie Chelf wrote a terrific article in today’s Newburyport Daily News, July 25, 2006 on the search for a Planning Director for Newburyport, Massachusetts.

To quote today’s story:

“Moak declined to release the candidates’ resumes yesterday, citing an opinion from the city attorney. Capriola said the mayor would not release the information out of concern for personal information listed on resumes and cover letters.

Moak’s decision may be a violation of state public records laws. Typically, resumes of finalists are released because they are considered by state law to be public documents. The Daily News obtained resumes and cover letters for the three finalists from others who are involved in the hiring process.”

And so much for an open and transparent government. A possible violation of the state public records laws. My.

Good for Stephanie Chelf that she was industrious enough to get the resumes and cover letters from other folks.

And what do these resumes and cover letters tell us.

One of the things that I know many people are concerned about is that some of the candidates simply do not have enough qualifications for the job, and they are confused as to why they made it into the final cut, and other more qualified candidates did not. As Ms Chelf so tactfully put it, “The three remaining finalists have a range of planning experience.”

Of the three, Laura Harbottle, Town Planner for Scituate appears to be the most qualified, hands down. (You’ll have to read Ms Chelf’s story.)

Christopher Ryan, Town Planner for Walpole, would not strike me as being qualified for the job (at least on paper) of Planning Director in Newburyport, MA. Personally, I would want someone a whole lot more seasoned and experienced.

And Brian White, Senior Planner in Savannah, GA, according to today’s paper, “was informed of the planning position from Maria Capriola, assistant to Mayor John Moak. Capriola worked for the city of Savannah prior to coming to Newburyport.”

Again, not enough experience in my book, and Mr. White appears to agree.

“My educational background is in planning and geography. The position in Newburyport interests me because it would be a challenging opportunity to lead a planning department, but one I feel capable of doing.”

Personally, for such a vital, demanding and sometimes overwhelming job, I would want someone who knew they were capable of doing it and had proven it, not someone who felt they might be capable of doing it. Good grief. No wonder Mr. Moak didn’t want anyone to see these resumes and cover letters.

So good for the Stephanie Chelf and the Newburyport Daily News for doing a first rate story and getting the information that we all wanted to know, even though Mayor John Moak apparently didn’t want to part with it.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Speculation, Newburyport’s New Planning Director

Let’s take a look at the quote by Mayor John Moak concerning the he names of the 5 finalists for Newburyport’s Planning Director that are in the Newburyport Daily News, July 24, 2006.

“I’m not looking for an architect or engineer, I’m looking for a manager. Each has exemplified more of a full service type of planning directorship. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Mayor Moak always said he was looking for a “team player” and a “manager,” so that’s consistent. However that he’s not looking for an “architect” or an “engineer” is quite telling. I gather this must mean he doesn’t want a “big picture” person. He wants someone who will do what he tells them to do.

It’s interesting that only two of the candidates are from Massachusetts. Not only is it going to take 6-9 months to begin to get a handle on all the “players” around here, but I would think (and I’m in unchartered territory here) that the planning and development stuff for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts would be pretty complicated.

Would hate to see the existing personnel in the Newburyport Planning Office bring someone up to speed on all of that stuff. Would add quite a bit to the “job description” for Julie LaBranche and Geordie Vining. If that happened we would definitely have to give them a raise.

Let’s just take Chapter 91 for example and the waterfront. We would definitely want someone who understands that “tide-land rights are one of DEP’s most treasured tools for protection of Massachusetts shorelines and the DEP is not going to roll over and play dead.” (To quote and paraphrase from Jim Roy’s terrific piece in the Newburyport Current, July 21, 2006, “Chaos in Command.”)

And I would imagine that Mayor Moak would not want a big picture person like our former Planning Director Nick Cracknell. Been there, done that. No putting the breaks on folks who might have a loose interpretation of the Newburyport Master Plan. Or have the fortitude to “enforce,” if you will, a fairly literal interpretation of the Newburyport Master Plan.

What I’ve heard folks say is it’s not just Mayor John Moak who wants a more passive Planning Director for Newburyport, Massachusetts, but it’s also Byron Matthews, among others.

I’ve been told that Mayor John Moak does listen to some folks. Three in particular. Yes, Byron Matthews, Dick Sullivan and Josiah Welch (Josiah Welch-that one was a surprise to me.)

And I’ve also been told that Byron Matthews is playing a “Dick Cheney” to Mr. Moak’s “George Bush.”

Whoever the new Planning Director is for Newburyport, Massachusetts ends up being, I’m sure that my version of what is going on is a whole lot different than Mr. Matthew’s version of what is going on (not that I don’t respect Mr. Matthews for all his contributions), and I hope whoever it ends up being, has the fortitude to sit down with me and all those other people out there in Newburyport like me and have a little chat.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport Planning Director Finalists

The names of the 5 finalists for Newburyport’s Planning Director are in today’s Newburyport Daily News, July 24, 2006.

To quote Mayor John Moak, “I’m not looking for an architect or engineer, I’m looking for a manager. Each has exemplified more of a full service type of planning directorship. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Since the candidates resumes were not available to the Newburyport Daily News on Friday, I thought I would Google them. So here’s the Google stuff.

*Laura Harbottle, Town Planner for Scituate, MA.*
* Lots of Google stuff on this young lady, including a picture. She looks like someone Mayor John Moak could get along with. And of all the names I ran by someone in the Planning and Development world in Massachusetts (no, it was not Nick Cracknell and no, it wasn’t anyone in Newburyport, MA), Ms Harbottle was they only one that they had heard of. The fact that Ms Harbottle is on Mayor Moak’s list is apparently encouraging.

*Christopher Ryan, Town Planner for Walpole, MA*
* No Google information on this gentleman.

*Ronald Meyer, Planning and Development Director for Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.*
* Lots of Google information on Mr. Meyer. Mount Pleasant appears to be slightly larger than Newburyport, MA.

*Brian White, Senior Planner in Savanna, GA*
* No Google information on Mr. White. Savanna, Georgia always struck me as being a southern sort of Newburyport, MA. The winters in Savanna have got to be a whole lot better that the winters in this seaside city North of Boston.

*Nick Colonna, Senior Planner, Leesburg, VA*
* No Google information on Mr. Colonna. Cannibal City, Newburyport, MA, might be quite something for anyone from out of state, or even in state. Wow! Being Planning Director in Newburyport, Massachusetts is not for the faint of heart.

It’s kind of sad that I’m reduced to Googling candidates to find out anything about them. If this was a process that Mr. Moak was proud of, certainly our mayor would let us all know about the people who are up for Planning Director in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Open and transparent government, that’s what I’m looking for.

And just as a btw…whoever ends up being Planning Director for Newburyport, MA, you know that there will be lots of Google stuff on them. Just Google “Nick Cracknell, Newburyport.”

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, The Interviews for Planning Director

I’ve heard all kinds of things about the interview process that’s going on for Newburyport’s Planning Director and none of it’s good.

To quote an unnamed source, “The Mayor wants a Planning Director who’s a dope that he can manipulate.” Harsh words from my unnamed source, however, reading between the lines in today’s Newburyport Current, July 21, 2006, it seems that that particular sentiment might in fact be true.

Ulrika Gerth is not only a first rate editor of the Newburyport Current, but she is also a first rate reporter. I was hoping against hope that Ms. Gerth would have a story on the search for Newburyport’s new Planning Director, and she didn’t disappoint.

Doug Locy the chair of the Newburyport Planning Board and James Shanley a Newburyport City Councilor on the council’s Planning and Development Committee both decided not to participate any further in the interview process.

What I have heard is that some of the candidates are so under-qualified that they would have to be trained by the existing personnel in the Planning Office. Ouch.

To quote from today’s article in the Newburyport Current:

“It’s the mayor’s appointment so he was kind enough to offer us the opportunity to participate. That’s nice,” Locy said, “but I felt like I was being used.”

Having been on a mayor’s committee and having resigned myself, I know exactly what it feels like to be used for political purposes. I didn’t exactly think it was enjoyable at all. So I’m very sympathetic to what Doug Locy has to say.

And a further quote from Ms. Gerth’s article.

“I was asked to be brought on to add what I think is false legitimacy to the process,” Shanley said. “The panel made it look open, but in reality it’s not. If the new planning director turns out to be a bummer (the mayor) can say that ’you participated,’ so that’s why I walked.”

Good for James Shanley. Everything I’ve heard so far would indicate that yes indeed, what Mr. Shanley has to say is “on the money.”

So, I hope the Newburyport City Council is up to the task of turning down mayoral appointments for Planning Director until we as a City get someone who is worthy of the task, if that is what is required.

At the very least we as a City would require a qualified candidate not a “bummer” or a “dope” and not one that would actually need to be trained for the job.

I want to be so wrong. I want Mayor John Moak to come up with a winner, someone we can all work with and be proud of. However, if Mayor Moak does not, I for one am counting on the Newburyport City Council to be courageous, repeatedly if necessary, and do the right thing.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Planning Director, Newburyport, MA

I’m not surprised, unfortunately, however I am very discouraged if not downright angry.

In today’s Newburyport Daily News, July 20, 2006, written by Stephanie Chelf, there is an article about how Doug Locy, the chair of the Newburyport Planning Office and City Councilor James Shanley of the Planning and Development Committee, both resigned from the interview process for Newburyport’s new Planning Director.

Both of these men have tremendous integrity and care deeply about the future of Newburyport, Massachusetts.

To quote from today’s Newburyport Daily News:

“NEWBURYPORT – Two city officials asked by Mayor John Moak to be part of the planning director interviews withdrew from the search committee, saying they did not support the way the mayor was handling the hiring.

City Councilor James Shanley and Planning Board Chairman Doug Locy decided not to participate in the interviews of eight semi-finalists because they felt the committee was being forced to follow the mayor’s office guidelines, interview candidates they had not chosen and ask predetermined questions.

‘I can’t do it,’ Shanley said. ‘I’m not going to mouth questions someone else has given me.’

Both Shanley and Locy withdrew from the process late Friday…

‘With all do respect, I still believe the structure of the interview and selection process that you’ve proposed compromises our ability to fully review each candidate’s experience and knowledge in city planning,’ Locy wrote in an e-mail to Moak….’In my career I’ve interviewed many engineers and managers for positions in my organization and I’ve had training in the interview process. I’ve never heard of a interview process, the type of which is being proposed here.’ “

As anyone who has followed the Newburyport Political Blog would know, I feel that who the new Planning Director is that Mayor John Moak appoints is crucial to the future of Newburyport, Massachusetts. That two outstanding men cannot accept the process in which the candidates are being selected is really, really bad news.

Thank goodness that the Newburyport City Council has to approve the appointment. And if Mayor John Moak does not appoint an acceptable candidate for Planning Director, I hope that the citizens of Newburyport will phone their City Councilors in droves and let them know just how strongly they feel.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Introducing the Newburyport Local Business Wiki

Several years ago, my wife and I moved here to Newburyport. The air is clean, the water is clean, it’s a nice place to live. But most of all we enjoyed the fact that Newburyport is a unique place which has a sense of community and local character. We enjoy the parks, the shops, the waterfront, the beach.

Years ago I worked in another “upscale” town, Greenwich, CT. It was a nice place also, but over time, the main street started to look live every other shopping mall – with quaint little storefronts replaced by The Gap, J Crew, Brooks Brothers, and other chain stores. Newburyport, I thought to myself, was different.

Recently, Allyson Lawless, who posts on the Newburyport Political Blog, wrote a summary of why local businesses are a great thing to have in Newburyport (or anywhere else). I thought that this very much reflected what I felt as well, and decided to put up a site where we, as people who care about the character of our town, can all come together and pool resources, put together a list of to-do’s, document what has been done already, and share information both among ourselves, and to anyone who might care to look at it, whether they are local to Newburyport or not.

Instead of putting up a site with some information, I decided that the best thing to do would be to have a *wiki*, and call it the Newburyport Local Business Wiki (I’ll take any suggestions for a catchier name).

The purpose of a wiki is so that we *all* can contribute – I’m just the administrator, and although I put together some preliminary content to jump-start the wiki, and I’m responsible for user administration, I’m not the person “doing” the site – we can all be contributors. Probably you’ve seen wikipedia (wikipedia.org). This is just like that, but focused on the goal of protecting Newburyport from the onslaught of chain stores.

Any wiki, this one included, is a work in progress. It’s constantly changing, and right now, this one is very new and has very little content so far.

This is how wikis work – a community must build around it so that value can be created. The wiki has a link where you can request a username to log on and help us out!

Gene Volovich
Newburyport

(Editor’s note: For those of you out there in web-land who might be like me and had never heard of a “wiki” before, here is a definition:

“A wiki (IPA: [ˈwiː.kiː] or [ˈwɪ.kiː] [1]) is a type of website that allows users easily to add, remove, or otherwise edit and change most available content, sometimes without the need for registration. This ease of interaction and operation makes a wiki an effective tool for collaborative writing.”

This definition is from “Wikipedia,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki, the free encyclopedia.)

(Editor’s note: The new web address is www.supportnbpt.org/wiki, Support Newburyport Wiki.)

Newburyport, Mr. Karp and the “Mall Goes Undercover”

Wow! With a big “thank you” to Allyson Lawless. I got introduced to “The Newburyport Local Business Wiki ” which is administered by Gene Volovich.

This site is really, really brand new, in fact it looks like it is still “under construction.”

However, it has a very interesting link to an article on www.slate.com, by Andrew Blum called “The Mall Goes Undercover, It Now Looks Like A City Street,” posted on April 6, 2005.

Here is an excerpt from the first paragraph of Mr. Blum’s article:

“Like insecure teenagers, malls keep changing their style. They are ripping away their roofs and drywalled corridors; adding open-air plazas, sidewalks, and street-side parking; and rechristening themselves “lifestyle centers.” This new look may remind you of something: a vibrant urban street. Yet, while these new malls may appear to be public space, they’re not public at all—at least if you want to do anything but shop. They represent a bait-and-switch routine on the part of developers, one that exchanges the public realm for the commercial one. They’re also enormously successful—by the most recent count, there are about 130 lifestyle centers scattered around the country.”

I find one of the most unnerving lines in that paragraph is “They represent a bait-and-switch routine on the part of developers, one that exchanges the public realm for the commercial one.”

And if Allyson Lawless and Gene Volovich are right, it does sound exactly the kind of thing that Stephen Karp might have in mind for Newburyport, MA. And I gotta tell you, that makes me feel a little ill.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Stephen Karp and Downtown Newburyport

I don’t like surprises. And even though the outgoing Chamber of Commerce president advised me not to pre-stress over Stephen Karp’s plans (in particular chain stores) and to take a wait-and-see stance, I just couldn’t be so patient. So I did a little more research and this is what I found out.

The style of development Mr. Karp champions is called “lifestyle centers.” In an article published in the Boston Business Journal titled “Karp talks retail development, little about Fan Pier.” (October 29, 2004) I learned that retail development, as we’ve known it, is no longer a massive complex on a large track of land accessible only by car. The new design is aimed at developing retail “hot spots,” that look like urban open-air cityscapes and they’re popping up all over the place. The article lists several Karp projects and which market the “hot spots” are geared to.

“…Places such as Plymouth, where Karp is nearing completion on the first phase of a 500,000-square-foot center, and Leominster, where he has proposed a 475,000-square-foot retail center, are being transformed into retail ‘hot spots.’

While lifestyle centers won’t replace regional malls — the developments are an alternative, said Karp — there are few new malls being built these days for lack of available land.

Enclosed malls have high operating costs and need to be built big enough to accommodate two department stores to cover costs.

Lifestyle centers, which Karp said are easier to build, offer the same amenities as malls but are geared toward people with high incomes.”

After reading the article I began to think how naive all of us are. Our downtown is, for all intent and purposes, owned by one retail developer whose primary objective is to create a “lifestyle center” that serves the affluent. The parking issue on the Waterfront?- it is my belief that it is not going to end in anything that will serve the current residents of Newburyport. The likelihood of a senior center being built anywhere downtown? It is my belief that it is not going to happen.

Look what’s happening in Nantucket. There are numerous articles written by the “Nantucket Independent” that document the painful demise of a community and the building of a commercial empire. Take this for example from an article dated January 4, 2006.

“Yesterday, the Fee family announced that it will not reopen its downtown business following 37 years on Steamboat Wharf. In another blow, the Nantucket Cookie Company, owned by Andrew and Donna Fee and run from the Henry’s kitchen, is now for sale for lack of a new location.”

Another short article dated February 1, 2006 reports the closing of a thirty-one year old art gallery. The closing scenario went like this:

The Spectrum leased the building for 31 years. After Karp purchased multiple Nantucket commercial locations last year, Spectrum co-owner Bud Heidebur was approached by Wyner (Henry Wyner, leasing agent for Karp’s Nantucket Island Resorts company) who explained that another party was interested in paying a significantly higher rent than the Spectrum was being charged.

Heidebur and his partners decided they could not afford to spend that much and closed the local store after its lease ended at the first of the year.

How many scenarios like these are being played out right now in Newburyport? My guess would be many.

So now I know – no surprises. It looks like there could be parking on the Waterfront -ramrodded down our throats by the Mayor and the people who will benefit the most from more commercial space. It looks like there could be larger upscale and chain stores where there are modest sole proprietor shops. And it looks like there could be a pseudo downtown that’s more like a outdoor mall than a community center that serves its city residents.

Allyson Lawless
Newburyport

Newburyport, Planning Board Meeting, Russell Terrace

People who have been following the Oleo plan for the Russell Terrace
extension development closely will want to confirm with the Planning Office that it a public hearing for the project is on the agenda for the Wednesday Planning Board meeting, and plan to attend.

The storm water management plan will be particularly interesting in light of the recent “extreme precipitation” events of Mother’s Day weekend.

Sited at the top of the Little River headwaters, it has the potential to have quite a run-off effect on downstream properties.

To paraphrase, this is a case of “where the water meets the road.” It will be important that the drainage plan get the numbers right!

little-river.jpg

This flood photo was taken immediately to the south of the proposed development – notice that the river is over its banks and trees are
in the middle of the river.

Marlene Schroeder

Editor’s note:

Public Hearing
Newburyport Planning Board
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
7 PM
Newburyport City Hall

New Planning Director for Newburyport, MA

I don’t know why I just can’t get “hot and bothered” by Mayor John Moak’s upcoming appointment of a Planning Director for Newburyport, MA.

Ulrika Gerth wrote a fantastic article in the Newburyport Current in Friday’s issue, July 14, 2006. I think one of the most discouraging quotes in the article is from Doug Locy, the Chair of the Newburyport Planning Board, “If the mayor is fair and open and we’re part of the decision process, that’s fine. We won’t know until afterwards.”

I hate to keep feeling so discouraged and cynical about our mayor and the new Planning Director for Newburyport, who, I take it, will be named by August 1, 2006, according to today’s Newburyport Daily News.

I was enormously relieved to see that Doug Locy, Ed Ramsdell, chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Geordie Vining of the Planning Office (I couldn’t figure out if Julie Labranche was on there or not), all people I absolutely trust, are on the search committee.

However, my fear is that Mayor John Moak would not heed what I am sure would be their very astute and valuable recommendations, and might listen instead to different ears.

And as Doug Locy has said we just won’t know until after the decision is made.

However, the decision does have to be approved by the Newburyport City Council. The Newburyport City Council in the past has turned down other Planning Directors that they thought might not be appropriate.

I trust that this Newburyport City Council will be very much on top of this appointment since it is an appointment that so many of Newburyport’s citizens care so much about.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, A Report on the Meeting of the Waterfront Task Force

Dear Citizens,

I am placing in bullet points some highlights of Mayor Moak’s meeting on July 12, 2006 (at the Newburyport police station conference room) regarding the Newburyport NRA central waterfront issue.

* The mayor’s hand out during the meeting is titled, “Central Waterfront Task Committee”; list the various individuals and groups as listed in the Daily news story of July 13, 2006.

* CEB Note: General Law Chapter 39, section 23A list committee or subcommittee however otherwise constituted, deliberating on public business, as a government body and guided by Chapter 39, section 23A of the Open Meeting Law. This is being referred for consideration.

* Susan St. Pierre was invited by the mayor to present a Chapter 91 overview to the Mayor’s central waterfront task committee.

* CEB Note: Susan St. Pierre worked for Roger Forster (directly or indirectly) during the time a hotel was being proposed for the NRA/Public lands.

* CEB Note: The NRA holds the deed for these two lots on the waterfront. The original intent for this creating of an entity to hold the waterfront deed was to keep local politics out of the decision process.

* It was noted several times that all data collected from the mayor’s task force committee was for a presentation to the NRA in the form of a position paper.

* Janet Marcus Chairperson of the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority noted the most recent public waterfront survey would be tabulated shortly.

* CEB Note: A rumor is floating that the current citizens’ survey on the use of the NRA/Public waterfront is indicating the public’s desire as the last survey and referendum before that; some parking (100-150) and mostly park.

* Mayor Moak stated that all he wants is what this group (Mayor’s central waterfront committee) determines as use/needs for the waterfront.

* The Mayor also noted he hoped that the people’s wishes to be in this plan. The mayor remarked about the process, would hate to see it stymie the imagination.

* As of this e-mail, the next Mayor’s central waterfront committee meeting is Aug. 9, 2006, 6 PM at the police station.

The public’s wishes have been expressed loud and clearly by majority votes and voices in referendums, surveys, and in the courts. If wisdom applied, it maybe wise to wait and listen to the most recent citizens’ survey STILL being tabulated. This would be wise if city government is interested in the voice of the people. I refer to the term city government; all officials elected by the people are responsible to maintain that trust of the ballot box.

It would be a grievous sin to allow the two Newburyport Redevelopment Authority lots; the most beautiful waterfront locations on the North Shore; to become an over flow parking lot for Mr. Karp’s Waterfront West project. This would also be a grievous sin towards the Citizens of our community and our Democratic Freedoms.

Albert G. Decie
Citizens for Environmental Balance (CEB)
Newburyport, MA

(Editor’s note: This is an edited version of a much longer email I received from Albert Decie. The longer email is a memo that is being sent to the District Attorney’s office enquiring whether or not the Open Meeting Law has been followed by Mayor John Moak. For the complete memo please contact Mr. Decie.)

Newburyport, The Mayor’s Waterfront Task Force Meeting

According to someone who attended the Mayor’s Waterfront Task Force meeting, it was well attended. In fact the room at the police station apparently was full. And yes, there was a reporter from the Newburyport Daily News.

Evidently folks like Mary Lou Supple and Albert Decie joined the group. And half the group, as someone explained it to me were “interlopers.”

“Interlopers” work for me.

And yes the Mayor was there and introduced the person, Susan St Pierre (I believe Ms St Pierre is with Vine Associates, 253 Low Street, Newburyport, Massachusetts,) who was to explain why Newburyport’s waterfront could be paved over.

As one would expect there were intelligent challenges made to the fact that somehow the Waterfront could get around Chapter 91. (For an explanation on Chapter 91 see earlier post.)

The Mayor apparently assured everyone that he would make sure that the Waterfront Task Force was posted.

Apparently much has been made out of the fact that this most recent meeting was not posted. At least two people have contacted the District Attorney’a Office and the Ethics Commission. Not good PR for Mayor Moak.

As I understand it, the Mayor told the gathering that the Waterfront Survey, from the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority would be one piece of information and the Waterfront Task Force would be another piece of information that would help guide the fate of this important piece of land.

Of course, this baffles me somewhat. It seems an odd way to govern, if the process of democracy is what one is after.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Please Do Not Demolish the Federalist Home on Ship Street

Dear Mary,

Tear down the Ship St Grandee (and rip out its orchard)? I hope it’s a baseless rumor.

The magnetism and magic of the house is palpable to one such as I who is easily lured off course by a promising pile of curbside trash (heaps that give off “value vibes”) and rotting majestic clapboard Federalist houses (with tired ghosts sighing “Save me … “.)

Doesn’t the building have a wonderful color (patina if it was a kneehole desk). It is a real life version of one of those Daily New photos of town in the 1960’s. Do the trees in back bear sweet fruit?

As it stands now, I suppose the house is a reminder of how far Newburyport has come in rehabilitating itself. Is it the last remaining unrestored old heap of a grand house?

I’m so happy to know that there is at least one other person who adores the grand duplex. I have been holding my breath for years in anticipation of this recent development. Ack, there’s that word again.

Thanks for your update. Keep up the great work.

PS. As you know, the design ratios of modern dwellings are based on measurements related to 4’x8′ (the size of sheets of plywood and dry wall). They are studded on 16 inch centers. The windows fit neatly in between. The roof line is nice and straight – never hogged looking. So calming to the eye. Not!

Ed Taylor
Newburyport