This is a letter to the editor from Chris Bryant, Sippican Lands Trust president, and David Croll, a concerned citizen.

Ten years ago, Marion received an application for the largest housing development in the town’s history: 192 multi-family units to be located off Front Street behind the Wave restaurant.  At that time the town approved 96 units as being more appropriately scaled and more capable of being rationally absorbed.  Subsequently, the State overruled Marion and approved the full 192 units.  The town then litigated with the developer for eight years, leading to Marion’s Zoning Board of Appeals approval of 168 units approximately two years ago.

However, when the 168-unit project went to Marion’s Conservation Commission for approval, it was vigorously opposed by a group of concerned citizens and abutters of which the undersigned are a part.  This opposition led to a compromise with the developer to return to the original 96 units and to provide other community enhancements as outlined below:

The advantages of downsizing the project to 96 units are that a greater portion of it can be absorbed by Marion residents and their families (who will get preference) and that there will be more sewer capacity left for other Marion property owners, many of whom have been waiting for a long time.

It is true that the larger project could have gotten Marion closer to meeting the State requirement that 10% of its housing stock be affordable, but with Littleneck recently completed, the smaller 96-unit project would result in sufficient progress that Marion would not be susceptible to another “unfriendly” 40B for 3 or more years (approx 20 units are required per year).

During this time, a “friendly” project could hopefully be lined up that would better spread out the remainder of the required 10% and enable it to be absorbed more gradually.

Additional advantages of the downsized project would be:

First, the prevention of a major change in the design of Front Street. By reducing the number of cars, the development’s entrance on Front Street would no longer require a “third lane” so the arrival experience as one comes down from Route I95 into Marion would be less urban looking and less congested.

Second, a pathway would be donated by abutters that would provide the missing link to complete the bike path and enable Marion to apply for approximately $1.5 million of Federal bike path funding.

Third, the developer not only will set aside 12 of its total of 34 acres as conservation land but they will also accept $300,000 for this land which is a fraction of its value and which Marion’s Community Preservation Commission has approved for funding with Community Preservation Aact funds (already in hand and partially state-matched) subject to approval by Town Meeting.

For the above reasons we believe the project as restructured is a much better
result for Marion. We encourage everyone to come to the Town Meeting at 6:45 p.m. on Oct 25 at Sippican School, hear the presentations and then decide if you will vote to approve the CPC’s recommendation, which would then result in the downsizing of the project.

Without Marion voter approval, the developer would proceed with the larger 168-unit project and all the benefits described above would be lost.

Sincerely,

David Croll                                                Chris Bryant

Concerned Citizen                                     Sippican Lands Trust