Letters To The Editor: Dec. 7, 2023

Pine Oaks Responds To Letter

Editor:

In last week’s Chronicle questions were raised about Pine Oaks Village IV and its affordability. As members of the board of directors of Pine Oaks Village Homes, we strive to make all of the current information about our proposed community available for anyone to see on our website at pineoaksvillagehomes.org/pine-oaks-village-iv/. That site also has a section for Frequently Asked Questions which address Pine Oak Village IV and its “affordability.” However, we are also happy to address any questions directly and publicly.

The primary question raised in last week’s letter was how affordable is “affordable.” More details are available online, but essentially Pine Oaks will restrict occupancy based on household income and ensure that residents represent a range of incomes as compared to the average in Barnstable County. Each year, HUD determines the Area Median Income (AMI) for the County, by household size. HUD’s rental limits (available on our website) are set at 30 percent of household income. While HUD sets the levels and the maximum rental for each category, we are committed to offering the majority (66 percent) of our units to families at 60 percent of AMI or less. We will also offer 34 percent of units as “workforce” housing, which falls in the range of 60 to 120 percent of AMI. In short, this project will provide housing options for folks who already live here, folks employed in our community, and folks who are trying to raise their families here.

On the question of what percentage of units are guaranteed for Harwich residents and workers, the answer is (also on our website) as follows: Pine Oaks Village will provide a local preference for the maximum allowed by state and federal regulations, up to 70 percent of all units, in the first round of applications for individuals and families who live or work in Harwich or have students enrolled in Harwich schools. With that many available, we are going to need the help of our entire community to drive local applications for these units — and encourage you to consider them for yourself, your adult children, your coworkers or friends in town.

We are not professional developers. We are not in this to make money. We are a nonprofit made up of your friends and neighbors who want to help solve our community's housing problem. Please follow us on Facebook or check out our website for updates as we have them.

Gregory Winston, Robert Doane, Forrest Eaton, Jr., Debra Bassett, Phyllis Cushlanis, John Clarke, Joseph Della Morte, Laurian Schultz, JoAnne Clancy, Joyce Williams, Kathleen Cockcroft, Bud Dey

Pine Oaks Village Homes Board of Directors

Questions Housing On Bay Property

Editor:

I attended the zoom meeting about the Brewster Sea Camp Bay property and the Long Pond property on Nov. 30. Absent from the Bay property plans was any alternative design containing no housing. I’m quite certain that Brewster residents did not purchase these properties with the intent of developing them into housing complexes. To the contrary, I believe we purchased them to prevent them from being developed into housing complexes. The planning committee should be offering the Brewster residents a choice of designs with and without housing and allow us to vote at town meeting which plans we are in favor of. The Long Pond property did have a second design indicating no housing, so why not the Bay property?

The Bay property plan does have an area for community gardens even though Brewster already has community gardens on Lower Road. Why not put the housing on Lower Road instead of the Bay property or Long Pond property? The community gardens will then be located at the Bay property.

It seems to me they may be offering us only one choice at town meeting. One choice is not a choice. Much more work needs to be done here.

Ed Wanamaker

Brewster

Thanks To Emergency Departments

Editor:

We would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Chatham Fire Department who, with the assistance of the Chatham Police Department and firefighters from Harwich, Orleans, Dennis and Brewster, responded to the fire at our house in North Chatham last week. They were not only skilled and professional, but also caring and supportive. We are truly blessed to have these wonderful people in our community.

Bruce and Kathy Everett

North Chatham

Consider Banning Noisy Blowers

Editor:

Did you know the town of Chatham has a noise ordinance?

Chapter 208 – Peace and Good Order, Article: 208-15 regulates and prohibits noise that is "plainly audible at a distance of 150 feet from a building, structure, premises, shelter, vehicle, boat or conveyance in which or from which it is produced."

After recently walking in my Chatham neighborhood, with a deafening sound of gas-powered leaf blowers, I inquired at the Chatham Police Station. I was told indeed there is a noise ordinance regulation in the town's bylaws, but it wasn't enforced.

One could argue the disturbance to the peace caused by incessant leaf blowers takes away from our quality of life. Perhaps Chatham should prohibit gas-powered leaf blowers as several other towns in Massachusetts have done. Or at least consider battery-operated leaf blowers and revise existing regulation which would be enforced.

Jon Alberts

Chatham

Another Wonderful Candlelight Stroll

Editor:

Several hundred happy families and friends of all ages, many holding glowing candles, made their way along Main Street toward the tree lighting in Depot Square. It was the scene of the annual Orleans Improvement Association annual Candlelight Stroll. A new addition this year, thanks to the Orleans Chamber of Commerce, was transport for Santa Claus in a horse and carriage. Also, the Nauset High School Band members, led by Director Dan Anthony, rode on a comfy truck behind Santa. The festively dressed band played familiar favorites, while several hundred strollers followed along the beautifully lit Main Street. The Stroll ended at Depot Square for the tree lighting after an enthusiastic countdown, led by the new Orleans Town Manager, Kim Newman.

We would like to thank the Orleans Department of Public Works, Tom Daley and his terrific staff, for making Orleans shine so perfectly and the Orleans Police for closing Main Street and directing traffic to keep us safe. TD Bank once again donated hundreds of festive Elf hats and candy canes. Thanks also to Judy Lindahl at the Orleans Chamber of Commerce for providing the jingle bells for the strollers and for much behind the scenes organization this year.

Thank you all for making this year’s Stroll a happy and magical time for many families and friends. OIA wishes everyone Happy Holidays.

Marcia Bechtold

Orleans Improvement Association

Gratitude For Brax Landing

Editor:

I want to express my deepest appreciation for Brax's Landing's incredible generosity in hosting a free Thanksgiving meal for local residents in need. Just over 1,000 people were able to enjoy a delicious meal at the restaurant or at home by delivery. Thanks to the owners, managers, staff and volunteers for spending a significant amount of time on Thanksgiving to help others. Your act of selflessness has touched the hearts of many, including mine. As a volunteer who had the privilege of delivering meals, it was a truly humbling experience. Your kindness during this season of gratitude has made a significant impact, and I am immensely thankful for your commitment to the community. Please join me in recognizing the kindness of this gift by frequenting Brax's. I know I will.

Cynthia Carey

Chatham

Want To Be In The Movies?

Editor:

Do you want to be in the movies? Protect Our Past has begun planning for our 2024 film. Currently, the creative team is calling it “If These Walls Could Talk.”

We are in search of historic homes on Cape Cod that have interesting stories embedded in their walls. Perhaps a sea captain’s secret tale? A salt works or a fisherman’s adventure? Or even a ghost who continues to hang around?

If the walls in your house could talk, what would they reveal about its history? Please share your hidden mysteries with us. Contact Ellen at ellen@protectourpast.org to see if your home’s story is titillating enough to make the cut. We look forward to hearing from you!

Ellen Briggs

Protect Our Past

Health Board Policy ‘Bait And Switch’

Editor:

An article in the Nov. 30 issue cited a “Legal Glitch” in the Chatham Board of Health’s change to the existing nitrogen loading regulation denying property owners of houses on undersized lots the right to add one more bedroom with the installation of a nitrogen reducing septic system. That glitch was a failure to adequately provide public notice of the proposed change. A more serious flaw in the amendment is that it denies equal treatment of all property owners, regardless of lot size, the incentive to install an innovative-alternative system to reduce nitrogen loading. Equal treatment of all property owners was a basis on which the wastewater management plan (WWMP) was approved and to be paid for by all real estate tax payers, regardless of their access to the sewer system. The May 10, 2005 town meeting adopting the WWMP included a “flow neutral” article II stipulating that connection to the sewer would not permit a property owner more expansion than permitted under existing BOH regulations in effect as of that date. All properties with nitrogen reducing systems (sewer or A/I) were allowed one extra bedroom. To now deny that right to property owners with small lots is not only discriminatory, nonsensical (an A/I system more than compensates in nitrogen reduction for an extra bedroom) but also revokes the promise made to gain acceptance for and have all taxpayers pay for the $300 million-plus cost of the WWMP. Bait and switch with the smaller property owners now denied the extra bedroom, reducing the value of their properties. It’s no surprise that the penalty falls harder on the less affluent parts of town, most of which are the last slated for extension of the sewer system.

John Sweeney

South Chatham