11/01/2006 PLANNING BOARD Minutes

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f # affected that the Planning Board has attempted to show f le ibi l i t y, neut ra l i t y and a concerned- demeanor. We, the abutters, do not want anyone in this room to loose sight of what is at stake here...open space. It does not matter if it is one square foot or 10, 000 square feet of land (which is what we are being asked to sacrifice) . At inception of the Stratford Ponds development, it was agreed that the area being a'sled to accommodate the current proposal' s leaching field or open cesspool., would be designated as open space in perpetuity. There -should be no discussion. we also understand that our appointed committees have an obligation to all to listen, consider and offer an equitable solution r recommendation to all requests put before it through the public hearing process. We commend you on the professionalism you have shown thus far. However, we want you to keep in mind the bigger picture and our concerns . As you may be aware, former selectman Gottlieb stated in a recent article ""Wastewater is the single greatest threat to Cape Cod as a viable economic region even more so than traffic and affordability". Make mote that wastewater is a threat to all of us in the long run. Mashpee residents of the Summerwood Condominium development, which ks Located less than a quarter of a mile from Stratford Ponds can no longer meet its current nitrate levels as. required and needs a more- comprehensive and costly plan for its residents . The issue of nitrates is of Major concern t-o our Town with the current growth rates. These levels are further complicated by the natural runoff from impervious surfaces like roads, driveways and roofs . Needless to say, the erosion of the environment around sumerwood and pollution because of this problem will only continue to grow. We already have a water quality issue with Mashpee storm drainage facilities. This coupled with large nitrogen loading in general. The Planning Board' s engineer has already identified and expressed concern publicly that the roads that cross- the Ma-spee and Santuit Rivers are posing an issue. He has also expressed much oncern about the elevation levels in the area of the proposed leaching field as not being adequate . There is also an issue of a breach to the historic old bogs that this field will effect. In add.itioft, we have Stratford Ponds, by their own admission, stating that their plant is currently unable to accommodate its nitrate elimination loads; it is not meeting the Town' s current requested nitrate levels, and they are only functioning at about 0 efficiency. The issue here is purely financial there is not an eminent need. The-re was a need to cut corners when the plant ra�s 1