Just a few years ago Sterling’s Zoning Board of Appeals a/k/a The Developers’ Doormat granted Sterling’s Biggest Snake, Simpson, a “variance” from Sterling’s Protective (Zoning) By-Laws to build “Cider Hill Estates”– https://www.axisgis.com/Reporting/Reports/SterlingMA_91_53___6799be03-a704-4288-8980-8f3fd525262b.pdf –off Redstone Hill Road. The Zoning Board of Appeals did that despite the fact that there are THREE longstanding abutters’ driveways, not just one, within one hundred fifty (150) feet of the “Cider Hill Estates” access road. That access road violates Sterling’s Protective (Zoning) By-Law Article 4.2.3.(c)(3) BIG TIME. SEE https://ecode360.com/11816626 In other words, the Zoning Board of Appeals rolled over for Simpson.
The “Cider Hill Estates” property contains a large wetland with an outflow stream that is a Massachusetts-protected tributary to the protected Wekepeke Brook South Branch, a documented cold-water fishery. SEE 321 CMR 5:00 et seq.– https://www.mass.gov/regulations/321-CMR-500-coldwater-fish-resources
While constructing “Cider Hill Estates” Simpson, for many weeks, mechanically shattered ledge rock on the property, despite nearby abutters’ homes, violating the Massachusetts [Ambient] Noise Regulation– https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/01/31/noise-interpretation.pdf
Unsurprisingly, Sterling’s lapdog officials failed to enforce those regulations.
So it is somewhat surprising that the Sterling Conservation Commission’s 4 January 2022 Agenda lists an “Enforcement/Investigation” involving “Cider Hill Estates”– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1266/f/agendas/sterling_con_com_agenda_january_4_2022.pdf
Bear in mind that all Sterling Conservation Commission members, like all Sterling Zoning Board of Appeals members, are appointed by the Sterling Select Board, two of whose members, Cranson and Kilcoyne, are entirely up Simpson’s A$$. Stay tuned, therefore, and expect a whitewash.
UPDATE, 8 February 2022: On 7 February 2022 I received from a Cider Hill Estates neighbor or abutter, who remains anonymous, a letter about the current Conservation Commission proceedings. According to that individual, the Cider Hill Estates Condo Assoc. contracted with a tree service to fell about a dozen trees that Cider Hill Estates ‘townhouse’ owners considered potentially dangerous to some building units there. After several trees were cut neighbors told the tree service that those trees were in a ‘No Touch [Protective] Zone’ imposed by the Sterling ZBA as a condition for the ZBA’s approval to build that multi-family development. The Conservation Commission determined that those felled trees were not on abutting Town-owned land and, so, determined that it has no jurisdiction over the matter. The Cider Hill Estates Condo Assoc. now plans to seek tree-cutting relief, as to the ‘No Touch Zone,’ from the Sterling ZBA a/k/a The Developers’ Doormat. As noted, the Sterling ZBA a/k/a The Developers’ Doormat should never have granted Simpson a ‘Variance’ to build “Cider Hill Estates” in the first place. According to the Sterling Board of Assessors’ ‘property card’– https://www.axisgis.com/Reporting/Reports/SterlingMA_91_53___afcfb497-c04b-4786-8b6d-877209ffb6ad.pdf –Sterling Real Estate Development/Simpson still retains title to 20+ acres there. The Sterling ZBA a/k/a The Developers’ Doormat is entirely appointed by the Sterling Select Board, two of whose three members, Cranson and Kilcoyne, are entirely up Simpson’s A$$. So stay tuned and expect those ZBA lapdogs to roll over in exchange for little doggie treats.
NOTE: When mailing me items please put my P.O. Box Number on the envelope or the U.S. Postal Service may not deliver it.
J.G.
STERLING, MASSACHUSETTS, OVERWATCH 