OAK HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION (OHNO!)
W O R K I N G H A R D O N Y O U R B E H A L F T O K E E P Y O U I N F O R M E D
Neighborhood requests
The residents in Ward 8 (Oak Hill) asked the City Planning Department’s consideration of their requests related to the Church of LDS’ plans in the neighborhood. The page of ‘signatures’ attached to the letter listed 146+ residents who specifically opted to endorse this letter.
Oak Hill Neighborhood Organization
C/O Pamela Burton
149 Wiswall Road
Newton, MA. 02459
(617) 630-1540
Email:pdburton@comcast.net
Email:ohnonewtonma@gmail.com
June 6, 2019
Mr. Barney Heath
Director of Planning & Development
Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA. 02459
Via email: bheath@newtonma.gov
Dear Mr. Heath,
On behalf of the neighbors who have signed this letter and all the residents of Oak Hill (Ward 8) in Newton, MA., we have read the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ application for a Site Plan Review submitted to the Planning Department and respectfully submit this letter and the requests listed herein.
We have grave concerns about these plans and their effect on our homes specifically, and the neighborhood, generally. In order to alleviate our anxieties, we respectfully ask you to incorporate our requests into the Planning Department Recommendation to the applicant upon completion of the Administrative Site Plan Review process. Our requests below:
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Increase the proposed rear and side setbacks by an additional 20’
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Install additional vegetative screening (conifers and broadleaf evergreens)
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Gate the property when not in use by the Church
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Position on-site lighting ‘away’ from neighbors’ properties
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Design entry/exit so car headlights are not directed at neighbors’ properties
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Reduce the number of parking spaces
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Commit to one-hour turnover between staggered Sunday services
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Commit to a traffic analysis before and after for at least one year
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Pay for a police detail at the intersection of Dedham and Carlson for six months
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Join us, UMass and the Nahanton Woods Condo Association in a discussion to open Nahanton Road to public traffic on Sundays.
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Allow our representative to review the Church’s insurance policy (in the event of unforeseen neighbor flooding/damage)
Requests 1-6 alleviate residents’ concerns about privacy between the Church and neighboring properties, destruction of existing trees and wildlife habitat, and an increase in air pollution; requests 7-10 address traffic concerns, and request 11 concerns flooding.
We will be prepared to discuss these requests on June 13th with you and the Church.
Yours sincerely,
(see attached signature page)
Cc: David Kalis, Councilor at Large
Cheryl Lappin, Ward 8 Councilor
Rick Lipof, Councilor at Large
Holly Ryan
John Bezzant, Church of Jesus Christ of LDS
Frank Stearns, Holland & Knight LLP
Rep. Ruth Balser
Sen. Cynthia Creem
The residents in Ward 8 (Oak Hill) asked the City Planning Department’s consideration of their requests related to the Church of LDS’ plans in the neighborhood. The page of ‘signatures’ attached to the letter listed 146+ residents who specifically opted to endorse this letter.
The LDS Church Response
At tthe publci hearing on June 13 the Church confirmed that they have received the residents requests .
The summary of the LDS Church response so far:
1. Increase the proposed rear and side setbacks by an additional 20’
The Church will respond in writing to the Planning Department
2. Install additional vegetative screening (conifers and broadleaf evergreens)
The Church will cut down 300 mature trees and unspecified number of younger trees and plant 160 young trees; they will pay the city for destroyed trees as required by the city ordinance
3. Gate the property when not in use by the Church
The Church will respond in writing to the Planning Department
4. Position on-site lighting ‘away’ from neighbors’ properties
The Church is willing to reduce intensity of the lightning even below the city ordinance requirements if allowed by the city
5. Design entry/exit so car headlights are not directed at neighbors’ properties
There will be a fence along the rear setback across the parking lot to protect abutting properties from the cars' headlights.
6. Reduce the number of parking spaces
The Church will not reduce the number of parking spaces because they do not want to be inconvenienced when many congregations get together for events like weddings. This is a regular event that happens several times per year which will need up to 210 parking spaces.
Per Ken Rollins, a regular Sunday service will attract only 50-60 cars per service, 2 services every Sunday
7. Commit to one-hour turnover between staggered Sunday services
The Church will overlap the services by half-an-hour or an hour, in order to reduce maximum traffic, but will not to stagger the services.
8. Commit to a traffic analysis before and after for at least one year
The Church did not give a clear answer to this question
9. Pay for a police detail at the intersection of Dedham and Carlson for six months
The Church did not give a clear answer to this question
10. Join us, UMass and the Nahanton Woods Condo Association in a discussion to open Nahanton Road to public traffic on Sundays.
The Church will follow the UMass lead on the issue
11. Allow our representative to review the Church’s insurance policy (in the event of unforeseen neighbor flooding/damage)
The Church will respond in writing to the Planning Department