(Feb. 25, 2016) An attempt to reach a compromise between Cannery Village developer Osprey Properties and residents on Flower Street who want their properties shielded from the new townhome complex by a fence produced no agreement.
Andrew Hanson, from Osprey Properties, met with Barry Jarmon and DJ Lockwood last week to discuss the situation, but the latter came away discouraged.
“The meeting was really uncomfortable [and] it was very apparent that it was ‘us against them,’ Lockwood said. “That’s not we want as taxpayers.”
Lockwood said he felt pressed to make a decision on behalf of all the residents who signed a petition to build a fence around the area of Cannery that borders existing homes on Flower Street. At least one Berlin Councilmember, Elroy Brittingham, signed the petition.
“We weren’t going for [it],” Lockwood said, adding that the discussion, at times, became “heated and somewhat embarrassing.”
Because the project passed through the Berlin Planning Commission more than a year ago, the town is powerless to intervene. Still, officials had been trying to facilitate an agreement.
During a council meeting on Feb. 8, Mayor Gee Williams said he had already spoken to the Worcester County Board of Education, who agreed to put an additional bus stop at Cannery Village. Lockwood had told the council his property was just 25 feet from Cannery Village, and that he was concerned that children from the 44-home complex would take shortcuts through residents’ yards.
Hanson was also present on Feb. 8, and said as far back as 2013 he agreed to put vegetative screening around the property, which, at the time, the residents seemed to accept.
“We want to be good neighbors,” Hanson said at the time. “I’m happy to sit down and listen and talk about some possibilities.”
Both sides, with help from town officials, will try again to reach an accord during a meeting on Tuesday, March 1 at town hall.
Andrew Hanson, from Osprey Properties, met with Barry Jarmon and DJ Lockwood last week to discuss the situation, but the latter came away discouraged.
“The meeting was really uncomfortable [and] it was very apparent that it was ‘us against them,’ Lockwood said. “That’s not we want as taxpayers.”
Lockwood said he felt pressed to make a decision on behalf of all the residents who signed a petition to build a fence around the area of Cannery that borders existing homes on Flower Street. At least one Berlin Councilmember, Elroy Brittingham, signed the petition.
“We weren’t going for [it],” Lockwood said, adding that the discussion, at times, became “heated and somewhat embarrassing.”
Because the project passed through the Berlin Planning Commission more than a year ago, the town is powerless to intervene. Still, officials had been trying to facilitate an agreement.
During a council meeting on Feb. 8, Mayor Gee Williams said he had already spoken to the Worcester County Board of Education, who agreed to put an additional bus stop at Cannery Village. Lockwood had told the council his property was just 25 feet from Cannery Village, and that he was concerned that children from the 44-home complex would take shortcuts through residents’ yards.
Hanson was also present on Feb. 8, and said as far back as 2013 he agreed to put vegetative screening around the property, which, at the time, the residents seemed to accept.
“We want to be good neighbors,” Hanson said at the time. “I’m happy to sit down and listen and talk about some possibilities.”
Both sides, with help from town officials, will try again to reach an accord during a meeting on Tuesday, March 1 at town hall.