11/29/1982 GROWTH STUDY COMMITTEE Minutes

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Growth Study Com. Page 3. Mr. Barber assured him noone is being asked to put up buildings now - it just says there is`bound to be commercial growth in Mashpee, more retail establishments, etc. , and we would like to see them go here. Mr. Chase asked who would bear the cost of the roads? Mr. Barber explained that they would just be 2 lane roads, and the cost would presumably be shared between the town and the developers, and maybe the state. He said he knows there is state money available for bike paths; the state is encouraging that mode of transportation. Ms. Rollins asked on whose land the bike paths would be constructed? Mr. Barber stated that they would be pretty much on the ancient way. Ms. Rollins asked if Route 151 was a state road? Response* No. Mr. Marsters asked what the land-owners thought of the general concept? Ms. Wasil ex- claimed that she "didn't like it!" Will Hanson said there is a lot of traffic on Great Neck Road; he thinks people would use the Center as a cut-through. He can see traffic problems developing. John Ferguson spoke, saying he is a property owner in town, and he feels that Mashpee has great growth potential. Now is the time to start planning; he feels it is time the town started planning for something like this. Mashpee should stop acting by crisis, he said. He feels this is a very good start! Bill Clendenin said he hates to see strip development, which is harmful to a town. He stated he agreed with everything Mr. Ferguson had said. Chm. Terry said that sometime down the road, if nothing is done and development sprawls with no planning, people will say, "why didn't those dummies do something to prevent this by some planning?" Chris Burden said he could see the merit of the plan, but people will need to be con- vinced of the value of trading off commercial land for townhouses. Buff Chase said the plan is very interesting and conceptual. He stated that he lives in Yarmouth, which is testimony to what happens without planning. He said he knows all about the horrors of strip development. In general, he thinks the concept looks good. But he wonders about the market for townhouses - which he said may or may not be there. Also, he questions whether the market for small retail establishments may be there. Chm. Terry said he could understand his doubts - but the committee just hopes this concept will make it more attractive for retail establishments to come in. Buff asked if this committee is going to have more meeting with the landowners on this? Mr. Terry responded that the committee will meet as often as the people want. He pointed out that the committee is aiming for the Annual Town Meeting next May, but if the plans aren't ready by then, it could be brought up at a later date. Earle Marsters said it is normal to hold public hearings on something like this, and the abutters are always notified. Buff Chase asked if they would be notified of future meetings? Chm. Terry said it wouldn't be practical to notify everyone of every meeting and devote the time to questions. He said the committee would work on the plan some more, and tackle some of the problems - he said it would probably be best to have the landowners in for every third or forth meeting. Ms. Rollins said the committee should perhaps have the largest landowner in alone. Earle Marsters said the thrust of the plan is to come up with something that will benefit everyone - this will make Mashpee more attractive for property to be sold here. Sel. Garland warned those present not to think that Mashpee is always going to remain the size it is now. He suggested they look at Framingham, and the astronomical growth there. If that is going to happen here, we should plan for it.