Berlin’s new affordable housing complex Cannery Village has already had its share of setbacks, as move-in dates have been pushed back multiple times and by several months.
Now, it looks like the development could have a problem with its neighbors on Flower Street.
The first item for discussion during Monday’s Town Council meeting in Berlin was a request for fence around the development. Residents Barry Jarmon and D.J. Lockwood addressed the council.
Lockwood said his property was particularly close to Cannery – he estimated 25 feet – and that he had security concerns. With 44 homes coming to the development, he said he expected more than 200 people, including nearly 100 children, all close to his back porch.
During a recent open house at Cannery, he said several personal items had been upset on a paved basketball court in his yard.
“To expect new residents to respect our properties – who we don’t even know – we don’t want to have to take that risk,” he said.
“This is affecting homes that … have been there 50 years or so,” Lockwood continued. “I’m just saying, do what’s right.”
The residents created a petition to put up a fence around the area of Cannery Village that borders existing homes on Flower Street. Berlin Councilmember Elroy Brittingham said he signed that petition.
Brittingham said he owned property there, and that he had longstanding concerns that schoolchildren from Cannery Village would cut through yards and open spaces.
“That’s the biggest concern – trying to get some privacy between the two properties,” he said.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said the town had spoken to the Worcester County Board of Education, who agreed to put an additional bus stop at Cannery Village. He said the lack of a barrier was still an issue, but hoped for a compromise with the developer.
“I’ve lived here longer than you’ve been alive,” he told Lockwood. “All I’m saying is, there are ways we can mitigate things.”
The town had already facilitated one meeting with residents to try to address the issue, and Williams said Berlin had no legal authority after the planning commission approved Cannery last year.
“Planning and zoning, their job is to deal with all of this stuff. By law, all kinds of precedents can require the developer to create whatever barriers the neighborhood feels are necessary. That opportunity was missed,” he said. “Now we’ve got to figure out what we can do when we have no legal authority.”
Councilmember Troy Purnell, a local developer, said he generally puts fences up around new properties, at his expense. He asked if anyone had tried to contact the developer, Osprey Property Company. As it turned out, company principal Andrew Hanson was in the room.
Hanson said he had reviewed the petition and spoke with several homeowners on Flower Street.
“I understand the concerns they’ve expressed. I’m afraid some of them are ill conceived. I’m afraid you, Mr. Mayor, are among those,” Hanson said.
“Right off the bat, you said the residents of Cannery Village may not respect their neighbors. I truly hope that’s not that the case. We have worked hard to create a very unique community here,” Hanson continued. “Everyone I’ve spoken to is very excited, and I think once they get to know their neighbors, I hope that there will not be issues.”
Hanson said he spoke with Jarmon as far back as 2013 and agreed to put “vegetative screening” around the property, which had been installed.
He said the request in the petition was for a 2,500-foot-long fence, which could cost $100,000.
“I’m trying not to get emotional,” Hanson said. “It’s sort of like, we’ve got these new renters who are moving in and we’re … trying to create a barrier to keep them out.
“That’s unfortunate,” he continued. “These folks – they are going to be working in the town, are going to be shopping in the town, sending their kids to the town schools, and I really would not like to welcome them to Cannery Village with a six-foot, white, ugly privacy fence.”
Councilmember Lisa Hall said she sympathized with the residents and had a similar personal experience.
“I think this goes back on planning and zoning,” she said. “When they start granting variances, they need to look at the big picture and what the impact is going to be on existing homes.”
As a compromise, Hanson said a smaller permanent barrier, roughly 250 feet and finished by a vegetative fence, was possible.
“We want to be good neighbors,” he said. “I’m happy to sit down and listen and talk about some possibilities.”
“I’d rather us try to find a solution upfront, because the farther this goes, the harder it will probably be to get done,” Williams said. “You guys can lead by example … let’s find ways to help each other. It’s actually easier in the long run than the other way.”
After the meeting, Lockwood said he was not comfortable with the outcome.
“We all understand that our town is developing, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of current residents,” he said. To believe that new renters won’t cut through [exiting properties] is absurd.”
Lockwood noted that other developers, including Purnell, put fencing around their properties as a courtesy to nearby residents. He also said he felt Williams was playing politics, and that a vegetative barrier “sounds good, but it takes 10 years for them to become effective.”
“At least the wheels are in motion,” Lockwood said. “Hopefully, we can get a resolution.”
Now, it looks like the development could have a problem with its neighbors on Flower Street.
The first item for discussion during Monday’s Town Council meeting in Berlin was a request for fence around the development. Residents Barry Jarmon and D.J. Lockwood addressed the council.
Lockwood said his property was particularly close to Cannery – he estimated 25 feet – and that he had security concerns. With 44 homes coming to the development, he said he expected more than 200 people, including nearly 100 children, all close to his back porch.
During a recent open house at Cannery, he said several personal items had been upset on a paved basketball court in his yard.
“To expect new residents to respect our properties – who we don’t even know – we don’t want to have to take that risk,” he said.
“This is affecting homes that … have been there 50 years or so,” Lockwood continued. “I’m just saying, do what’s right.”
The residents created a petition to put up a fence around the area of Cannery Village that borders existing homes on Flower Street. Berlin Councilmember Elroy Brittingham said he signed that petition.
Brittingham said he owned property there, and that he had longstanding concerns that schoolchildren from Cannery Village would cut through yards and open spaces.
“That’s the biggest concern – trying to get some privacy between the two properties,” he said.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said the town had spoken to the Worcester County Board of Education, who agreed to put an additional bus stop at Cannery Village. He said the lack of a barrier was still an issue, but hoped for a compromise with the developer.
“I’ve lived here longer than you’ve been alive,” he told Lockwood. “All I’m saying is, there are ways we can mitigate things.”
The town had already facilitated one meeting with residents to try to address the issue, and Williams said Berlin had no legal authority after the planning commission approved Cannery last year.
“Planning and zoning, their job is to deal with all of this stuff. By law, all kinds of precedents can require the developer to create whatever barriers the neighborhood feels are necessary. That opportunity was missed,” he said. “Now we’ve got to figure out what we can do when we have no legal authority.”
Councilmember Troy Purnell, a local developer, said he generally puts fences up around new properties, at his expense. He asked if anyone had tried to contact the developer, Osprey Property Company. As it turned out, company principal Andrew Hanson was in the room.
Hanson said he had reviewed the petition and spoke with several homeowners on Flower Street.
“I understand the concerns they’ve expressed. I’m afraid some of them are ill conceived. I’m afraid you, Mr. Mayor, are among those,” Hanson said.
“Right off the bat, you said the residents of Cannery Village may not respect their neighbors. I truly hope that’s not that the case. We have worked hard to create a very unique community here,” Hanson continued. “Everyone I’ve spoken to is very excited, and I think once they get to know their neighbors, I hope that there will not be issues.”
Hanson said he spoke with Jarmon as far back as 2013 and agreed to put “vegetative screening” around the property, which had been installed.
He said the request in the petition was for a 2,500-foot-long fence, which could cost $100,000.
“I’m trying not to get emotional,” Hanson said. “It’s sort of like, we’ve got these new renters who are moving in and we’re … trying to create a barrier to keep them out.
“That’s unfortunate,” he continued. “These folks – they are going to be working in the town, are going to be shopping in the town, sending their kids to the town schools, and I really would not like to welcome them to Cannery Village with a six-foot, white, ugly privacy fence.”
Councilmember Lisa Hall said she sympathized with the residents and had a similar personal experience.
“I think this goes back on planning and zoning,” she said. “When they start granting variances, they need to look at the big picture and what the impact is going to be on existing homes.”
As a compromise, Hanson said a smaller permanent barrier, roughly 250 feet and finished by a vegetative fence, was possible.
“We want to be good neighbors,” he said. “I’m happy to sit down and listen and talk about some possibilities.”
“I’d rather us try to find a solution upfront, because the farther this goes, the harder it will probably be to get done,” Williams said. “You guys can lead by example … let’s find ways to help each other. It’s actually easier in the long run than the other way.”
After the meeting, Lockwood said he was not comfortable with the outcome.
“We all understand that our town is developing, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of current residents,” he said. To believe that new renters won’t cut through [exiting properties] is absurd.”
Lockwood noted that other developers, including Purnell, put fencing around their properties as a courtesy to nearby residents. He also said he felt Williams was playing politics, and that a vegetative barrier “sounds good, but it takes 10 years for them to become effective.”
“At least the wheels are in motion,” Lockwood said. “Hopefully, we can get a resolution.”