The story
The abutter developers appealed the density calculations for the apartment complex last week, among other things.
Rewind
We’ve been talking about this abutter development off and on all year. Developers Dick Anagnost and Bill Greiner want to build a 120-unit apartment complex off Chestnut Drive, 30 units of which will be workforce housing.
So what’s the problem?
Like we said last week, town planning director Becky Hebert’s density calculation only allows for 90 apartments to be built. While the developers were already going to request a variance for the 120, since they only calculated a density for 110 apartments, they also appealed her density calculations. 10 more apartments, who cares! 30? A little more noticeable. The developers are also asking for a variance to allow developing on the wetlands.
Remind me why I care
Four reasons, although only one of them is valid: More traffic, the environment, school crowding, and more taxes. Want to take a guess at which one? It’s the environment. A portion of the proposed development site is wetlands, so special approval is needed to build anything there. Apparently, wetlands are very important and protected areas. But we think town is really just concerned about its squirrel population after the genocide last Fall.
What kind of special approval?
Approval from the Bedford Conservation Commission. The developers are requesting permission to fill 6000 square feet of wetlands, and the commission recommended (page 26) that the planning/zoning boards say no, or at least get a wetland scientist to inspect. We think the most valuable lesson out of all of this is that there is such thing as a wetland scientist, and no one should aspire be one. The commission is also a ‘lil concerned that Riddle Brook (the stream, not the school) is nearby. But the developers swear that no polluted runoff will go into the stream. We’ll believe them when they at least pinky promise.
What about the other concerns?
We’ve already explained that there will be no added costs for taxpayers, and that the increased school enrollment will be so miniscule that it won’t have any noticeable impact, except maybe 14 kids in advisory, instead of 13. Which is just beyond crazy. The traffic concern seems somewhat reasonable, but the developers and town have debunked that too.
How so?
The town is saying that, while there will be added traffic, it will be fairly insignificant, especially if the developers expand Chestnut to have left- and right-hand turn lanes. We think we believe them, because there were three separate studies (page 9) done that reached the same conclusion. But, there will be 246 parking spaces for the complex, and one study only predicts that 32 cars will leave on weekday mornings.
Excuse-moi?
We feel like we’re doing a second grade word problem. There are 120 apartments, and, if you assume that each one of those 32 cars represents a different unit, then that means about 90 units don’t have at least one person working regular hours. Leading to our next question: how are they paying rent? On top of that, the same study shows that 11 cars will enter the complex each morning. A complete WTF. We can’t even begin to think about what the heck those 11 people are doing. Now we feel like they aren’t building a safe establishment.
So traffic conclusion?
We don’t know. There are three separate reports saying that it will be no big deal, and our only qualifications for making any judgment is that we drive cars. But, the math doesn’t add up.
The Runaway
We wait some more, because the zoning board has postponed the decision for another month, because all board members have a strict 10:00 bedtime. You think you’re upset? We watched a three-hour long meeting video, only to find out that no decision was reached. At this point we don’t even care, we just want an answer.
What to say…
When you can’t figure out what winter sports games to go to…
Play it safe, and go to Boys hockey. The team is currently in first place, with Pinkerton and Concord not far behind. And, we will be playing Pinkerton this Saturday, and Concord the following Wednesday. But, we feel like it’s safe to say that they will be going into their fourth straight championship game. (Knock on wood. Or ice. Either one will work). On the flipside, the girls team, currently in 10th place, is barely hanging on to a spot in playoffs, their pre season goal. We’re rooting for them to make it, really because we’re curious at what they’ll do with their hair. Keep track on our sports guide, or on the BHS hockey twitter, which every account should aspire to be like. It’s like being at the game, but with GIFs.
When you’re sick of the “spoiled Bedford brat” reputation…
Don’t judge a book by its cover. We know, cheesy grandma advice, but not exactly far off. With the end of budget season (**sigh of relief), we decided to see if our supposed “overflowing wealth” is all that it’s cracked up to be. Looking at last year, Bedford spent approximately $12,900 per BHS student. Other high schools? Manchester: $13,000. Londonderry: $16,000. Goffstown: $13,800. Merrimack: $16,300. Milford: $15,800. Bow: $15,200. Hollis Brookline: $15,500. So how ‘bout that? We purposefully chose not to compare the cars driven in each town.
When you keeping praying that our senior football players will get held back another year…
Keep dreaming. Though we will get a small consolation: the CHaD fundraising game. 88 players around the state are asked to play. Want to guess how many Bedford players? Seven. But, you know, it makes sense. We are state champs (**shoulder shrug). Ryan Toscano, Harry LeGoullon, Thomas Morgan, Jacob Collins, Lucien Mumpini, Andrew Twite, and Madison Lucontoni (the first ever female all-star) will be carrying Team West, since the other good DI teams are on Team East. We will be rooting for a solid second place.
Things to Know
Upcoming Games
We’ve got boys and girls hockey vs. Pinkerton on Saturday, and boys and girls basketball against Alvirne on Friday. Those are about the only sports we’re concerned with.
Just to be Annoying
Write, report, or market for us! Email us here or DM us on Twitter or Instagram @runawaybulldog.