Sterling’s out-of-town blow-in payroll patriot ‘Town Planner,’ together with the Sterling Planning Board Chaired by self-serving, self-dealing developer weasel Carl Corrinne, among other proposed zoning changes to be discussed during the Sterling 8 December 2025 ‘Zoning Forum,’ propose a “Compact Development Overlay District” comprised of two parcels, totaling 181 acres, near the Sterling Airport. Both are owned by “Fields at Greenmeadow, LLC” of Westford, Massachusetts. The purported rationale for that proposed “Compact Development Overlay District” is the supposed need of cheaper housing for “young families just starting out and for senior citizens looking to downsize and stay in town.” Under that proposal minimum lot sizes would be reduced to 30,000 square feet; minimum street frontage for a buildable lot would be reduced to 60 feet; and front, rear, and side yard setbacks would be reduced to 20 feet. Those parcels are now zoned “Rural Residential and Farming.” HOWEVER, “[a]ll of the uses permitted in the underlying zoning district (Rural-Residence) would still be allowed in [this] overlay district with the addition of multi-family development as a By-Right use” (emphasis original and added).
NOTE THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT SUCH AS LIMITING THE UNITS TO ONE OR TWO BEDROOMS OR LIMITING THE SQUARE-FOOT-SIZE OF ANY HOMES THAT COULD BE BUILT IN THAT “OVERLAY DISTRICT.”
THAT MEANS THAT DEVELOPERS COULD HAVE A FIELD DAY CRAMMING IN 100% ‘McMANSIONS’ ON 30,000 SQUARE FOOT LOTS WITH 60 FEET OF STREET FRONTAGE INSTEAD OF ON 2 ACRE LOTS WITH 225 FEET OF STREET FRONTAGE NOW REQUIRED IN ‘RURAL RESIDENTIAL AND FARMING’-ZONED AREAS OF TOWN.
SEE:
§ 301-2.5Table of Dimensional Controls.
Single-family and nonresidential buildings.
[Amended 6-14-2021 ATM by Art. 32, approved 12-10-2021]
| Zoning District | Minimum Lot Size | Minimum Lot Frontage | Front Yard | Each Side | Rear Yard | Floor Area Ratio | Minimum Lot Width |
| Rural Residence & Farming | 2.00 acres | 225 feet | 40 feet | 25 feet | 40 feet | — | 100 feet |
| Neighborhood Residence | 0.50 acre | 125 feet | 40 feet | 20 feet | 25 feet | — | 50 feet |
| Commercial1 | — | — | 40 feet | 20 feet | 25 feet | 0.5 | — |
| Town Center | — | — | 0 feet2 | 5 feet2 | 5 feet2 | — | — |
| Light Industrial | — | — | 40 feet | 35 feet | 40 feet | 0.4 | — |
THIS IS PURE PRO-DEVELOPER BULLSHIT.
IF YOU HAD ANY DOUBT THAT STERLING IS NOW RUN BY DECEPTIVE, DISHONEST, AND/OR SELF-DEALING MORONS, THIS PROPOSAL SHOULD ELIMINATE ANY SUCH DOUBT.
Here is the proposal:
https://www.sterling-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5783/Compact-Development–District—Draft-3?bidId=
Here is the proposed ‘Overlay District’ map:
https://www.sterling-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5784/CDD-overlay-map?bidId=
See you at the 8 December 2025 Zoning Forum—
J.G.
STERLING, MASSACHUSETTS, OVERWATCH 