Any property developer who becomes Chair of the Sterling Planning Board is, by definition, a self-serving, self-dealing Weasel’s Weasel, and Carl Corrinne is IT. He’s a smoke-blowing walking Conflict of Interest. Sterling developers are accustomed to getting unwarranted Special Permits and Variances, undermining the letter and intent of the Town of Sterling Protective (Zoning) By-Laws, from their pro-developer buddy hacks on the Sterling Zoning Board of Appeals a/k/a The Developers’ Doormat, so Corrinne decided that he may as well feed, figurately speaking, at that slop chute too.

Over the last two years or so Corrinne contributed to drafting and/or getting passed at Annual Town Meetings the atrocious new pro-developer Earth Removal/Mining general by-law, and pro-developer Zoning By-Law amendments shrinking the North Sterling Wekepeke Aquifer Wellhead Protection Zone; loosening restrictions on ‘accessory dwelling unit’ construction; and determining not to re-authorize limits on building permits issued annually, all of that despite Sterling’s chronic municipal well-water shortages/limitations. He’s beneath contempt.

So it should surprise no one that Corrinne filed recently a Petition for a Special Permit (to, in essence, subvert certain Sterling Zoning By-Laws restrictions), with the Sterling Zoning Board of Appeals a/k/a The Developers’ Doormat, in order to build a Multi-Family Development consisting of 19 duplexes (38 dwelling units) on the parcel known as 100 Clinton Road, Sterling.  You can check out that parcel using Sterling GIS– https://www.axisgis.com/SterlingMA/   Use various “layers” to examine land features. Zoom in on that parcel to see the New England Power Company/National Grid transmission line easement.

Corrinne’s engineering site plan for that proposed development JUST HAPPENED to leave out ALL the high voltage line transmission towers, so I signed and mailed out the letter dated 4 March 2023 reproduced below (all text is justified to the left margin so this thing works–somewhat):

P.O. Box 1149, Sterling, MA 01564-1149

3 March 2023

Sterling Zoning Board of Appeals, Municipal Building, 1 Park Street, Sterling, MA 01564

RE:  100 Clinton Road, Sterling, Massachusetts– Corrinne’s Petition for a Special Permit to Build a Multi-Family Development

Dear Sterling Zoning Board of Appeals Members,

CD Corrinne Builders, Inc.’s Petition for a Special Permit to build a Multi-Family Development on the parcel known as 100 Clinton Road, Sterling, Massachusetts, is defective as a matter of fact and controlling law (the Town of Sterling Protective By-Laws) and must be rejected in its entirety.

CLAIMED “OPEN SPACE” — MISREPRESENTATION BY OMISSION

The engineering design plan submitted by Corrinne with his Petition for a Special Permit, prepared by Haley Ward Engineers, Leominster, Massachusetts, shows only “Overhead Wires” within the New England Power Company/National Grid easement that runs through almost the entire length of that 100 Clinton Road parcel. Corrinne is claiming that easement as “Open Space” to satisfy the “Open Space” requirements set forth in Town of Sterling Protective (Zoning) By-Laws Section 301- 4.2.3.4. as follows:

“a.  At least sixty percent (60%) of the parcel shall be maintained as open space, and at least forty percent (40%) of the parcel shall be contiguous open space, excluding required yards and buffer areas.

b.  The required open space shall be used for conservation, recreation, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or a combination of these uses, and shall be served by suitable access for such purpose.

c.  Underground utilities to serve the development may be located within the required open space (emphasis added).”

The Haley Ward plan indicates that the New England Power Company/National Grid “Overhead Wires” within its easement traverse the length of Corrinne’s property by “Immaculate Suspension”— without supporting towers. We can assume that Haley Ward’s failure to show the location of any tower within that easement was deliberate and constitutes misrepresentation by omission because Corrinne had a motive to leave out the towers.

As a matter of fact, there are three (3) parallel sets of high voltage lines traversing that easement supported by three (3) parallel sets of towers, amounting to MULTIPLE TOWERS within that easement. Those towers take the ENTIRE power line easement outside the definition of “Open Space” set forth in the Town of Sterling Protective (Zoning) By-Laws, in pertinent part, as follows:

“Open Space shall mean ground space other than that occupied by structures, walkways, drives, parking or other surfaces.”

The Town of Sterling Protective (Zoning) By-Laws define structure in pertinent part as follows:

“Structure shall mean a combination of materials to form a construction including among others…platforms, stagings, observation towers…play tower…trestles…flagpoles, masts for radio antenna….”

It is clear then that the multitude of high voltage transmission towers within that New England Power Company/National Grid easement take the easement completely outside the definition of “Open Space” set forth in those Protective By-Laws. This fact is bolstered by sub-section 4.2.3.4.c., set forth above, that allows “underground utilities…within the required open space” but not above-ground utilities.

Moreover, Corrinne cannot satisfy the sub-section 4.2.3.4.b. requirement that that power line easement “be used for conservation, recreation, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or a combination of these uses” because Corrinne does not have exclusive control over uses permitted on that power line easement. On the contrary, New England Power Company/National Grid has the legal right to prohibit uses of that property interfering with its easement and has the right to construct additional towers or other appropriate electrical transmission infrastructure on that easement now or in the future.

CONCLUSION

Other particulars concerning Corrinne’s Petition for a Special Permit to construct a Multi-Family Development on the parcel known as 100 Clinton Road, Sterling, Massachusetts, need not be addressed at this time because it is clear that Corrinne’s Petition is defective and must be rejected in its entirety since his proposed project does not include sufficient “Open Space.”

So do your duty by the letter and intent of the Town of Sterling Protective (Zoning) By-Laws –for a change– and reject Corrinne’s Petition.

Sincerely,

 James F. Gettens, Esq.

cc:

Clerk, Town of Sterling

Town Planner, Town of Sterling

Conservation Commission, Town of Sterling

Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118

The Item, Newspaper

After doing that I mused about potential conflicts of interest involving Sterling Zoning Board of Appeals a/k/a The Developers’ Doormat’s Vice Chair, Joseph Curtin, who just happens to be the registered professional engineer employed by Sterling’s Pandolf-Perkins Quarry/Crushed Stone business– http://www.ehperkins.com/plant_locations.html

You gotta wonder how many local developers maintain crushed stone purchasing accounts with Pandolf-Perkins, thereby remunerating, directly or indirectly, good ol’ Joe Curtin himself. Here is the COMPLETE Massachusetts Conflict of Interest Statute– https://www.mass.gov/info-details/gl-c-268a-the-conflict-of-interest-law-as-amended-by-c-194-acts-of-2011

What odds are you layin’ that Corrinne has a contractor’s crushed stone purchasing account with Pandolf-Perkins, Sterling?

Oh well, another day, another fat conflict of interest target or two in Sterling, Massachusetts. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel…except that the fish keep proliferating.

J.G.

Unbeknownst to almost everyone in Sterling, the Sterling Board of Health slid through, recently, a completely arbitrary and capricious septic system “Deep Observation Hole” evaluation regulation for real estate transfers involving subject properties that have not had a septic system “Deep Observation Hole” evaluation performed any time after April 1995. So, for all practical purposes, every home or business in Sterling constructed before April 1995, intended to be sold or otherwise transferred, is subject to this uncalled-for, asinine local regulation.

Scroll down to Part V., sub-section d., “SYSTEM INSPECTIONS AT TIME OF TRANSFER”– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1266/f/uploads/2022-12-08_boh_sds_regs_attested_copy.pdf

This specious new local regulation is in outright derogation of 310 CMR 15.101, 102 and 310 CMR 15.301, 302. In other words it is Ultra Vires, promulgated by the Sterling Board of Health without legal authority and contrary to applicable state regulations.

SEE https://www.mass.gov/doc/310-cmr-15000-title-5-of-the-state-environmental-code/download

For an applicable definition of “derogation” in the legal sphere see:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/derogation

The Sterling Board of Health’s December 2022 Meeting Minutes have this entry: “Discuss revisions to Local Subsurface Disposal Regulation.” There are a few similar entries in the Board of Health’s Meeting Minutes going back through 2022 BUT NOT ONE REFERS TO ANY NEW “DEEP OBSERVATION HOLE” evaluation requirement OR MENTIONS WHO PROPOSED THAT NEW REGULATION. WHY? Because the BOH are slippery cowards.

SEE  https://www.sterling-ma.gov/node/2376/agenda/2022

SO, who stands to PROFIT from the new Sterling Board of Health’s “Deep Observation Hole” evaluation regulation? Well, none other than the Sterling Board of Health’s ‘full-time’ [wink, wink] Agent, David “Nowhere Man” Favreau himself!

“Nowhere Man” runs “David Favreau Construction & Septic Services” right here in Sterling– https://www.favreausepticservices.com/

He can be hired and paid by Sterling homeowners and businesses to dig those newly-required “Deep Observation Hole[s]” and have the Sterling Board of Health’s “alternate Inspector,” Robert Moore, certify the results, or bring in a neighboring Town’s Board of Health Agent or Inspector to do it.

Yet another Sterling Board of Health/“Nowhere Man” conflict of interest. How convenient! What a potential racket!

J.G.

Yeah, so check out my immediately-preceding Blog post dated 7 February 2023. WHAT A CO-INCIDENCE!!! DemocRAT State Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne, daughter of none other than self-serving, self-perpetuating Sterling Select Board member John “Bent Buffoon” Kilcoyne himself, purportedly filed the Bill to expand the Sterling Select Board from three (3) to five (5) members, in accordance with the wishes/votes of 2022 Sterling Annual Town Meeting voters, on —you guessed it— 8 February 2023. She could have filed it in June 2022, but in the One-Party Commie Republic of Massachusetts fulfilling the wishes of voters exercising their God-given rights and prerogatives is an alien concept.

Here is a copy of an email from her State House office to a Sterling constituent whose last name I shall retain in confidence—

On Wed, Feb 8, 2023 at 3:06 PM Duhamel, Joshua (HOU) <Joshua.Duhamel@mahouse.gov> wrote:

Dan,

Good afternoon my name is Dewey and I work with State Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne. We receive your email regarding the Sterling select board expansion. We filed the bill earlier today. The docket # is HD.4150. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Best,

Joshua “Dewey” Duhamel

Legislative Aide

Office of Representative Meghan Kilcoyne

State Representative, 12th Worcester District

C: 978-660-0920

O: 617-722-2460 x8963

It is now incumbent upon intrepid and dogged Sterling citizens to keep pushing for passage of this Bill in the House and Senate because Rep. Kilcoyne would, obviously, prefer to have it languish and die in some useless (but I repeat myself) House Committee. HAVE AT IT, GOOD PEOPLE OF STERLING!!!

J.G.

Self-serving and self-perpetuating Select Board Chair Maureen “Our Lady of Perpetual Bullshit” Cranson, Sterling’s WEASEL DI TUTTI WEASEL, and John “Bent Buffoon” Kilcoyne, her fellow ArchWeasel on the Sterling Select Board, effectively tanked/subverted the will of Sterling’s 2022 Annual Town Meeting voters who approved expanding the Sterling Select Board from three (3) members to five (5). Such expansion would, of course, dilute Cranson’s and Kilcoyne’s malign influence upon the Town and its citizens. That expansion requires passage of a legislative Act. Cranson and Kilcoyne, of course, wish to continue their malign influence by keeping the Select Board at three seats and controlling it.

SO, by the language employed in the letters sent to Senator Gobi and Representative Kilcoyne, the latter being daughter of the “Bent Buffoon” himself (the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree), signed by Cranson as Select Board Chair, both of which letters I screen-shotted below (they were sent to me in “Read Only” Pdf. format) but which may not display in this medium, Cranson and Kilcoyne effectively prevented filing of the Bill/Act needed to effect that Select Board expansion.

In response to my latest Public Records Request the Select Board FAILED to produce that Bill/Act with a Senate Bill Number or a House Bill Number on it, meaning that it HAS NOT BEEN FILED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

Cranson and Kilcoyne are dishonest and disreputable game-players who subvert, OUTRIGHT, the will of Sterling voters. REMEMBER THAT WHEN THE 2023 AND 2024 SELECT BOARD ELECTIONS ROLL AROUND. STERLING VOTERS SHOULD BITCH-SLAP THEM BOTH INTO POLITICAL OBLIVION.

J.G.

The Packards have bought up most parcels in Sterling’ “Performance Zone 1” straddling Route 140 southeasterly from its intersection with Dana Hill Road. They, together with the Sterling Economic Development Committee (the Committee that can’t tell the difference between downtown beautification, among other irrelevancies, and actual economic development), and the Sterling Planning Board, failed at BOTH the 2021 and 2022 Sterling Annual Town Meetings to get that area crony-zoned to “Commercial.” Re-zoning requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote.

BUT never fear! The Town of Sterling’s newest useless appendage, Town Planner Stephen Wallace, having replaced in that job slot former useless appendage and Select Board ‘Gofer’ Domenica Tatasciore, told the Planning Board on 17 November 2022 that he wants to “totally revamp[ ] the zoning standards for the Town’s Performance Zone.” To make himself look useful he has other zoning changes in mind, too.

SEE  https://www.sterling-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1266/f/minutes/11-17-2022_minutes_-_approved.pdf

We need to watch this guy, the Economic Development Committee, the Planning Board, and the Zoning Board of Appeals CLOSELY in the months and years ahead.

J.G.

In case you didn’t know it, the bent hacks constituting the Sterling Select Board appoint the bent hacks constituting the Sterling Zoning Board of Appeals, and they are ALL up developer James Simpson’s A$$.

So I am sure that all of you will be SHOCKED, SHOCKED–

— to learn that the Sterling Select Board will vote to approve Flagg RV operations at Simpson’s 141-149 Greenland Road property 6 DAYS BEFORE the Zoning Board of Appeals votes on Flagg RV’s Special Permit Modification Application to conduct RV storage operations there.

WHEN IT COMES TO SIMPSON THE FIX IS IN, AS USUAL.

SEE:

Click to access 2023_1_4_agenda1.pdf

https://www.sterling-ma.gov/zoning-board-of-appeals/events/113956

https://corp.sec.state.ma.us/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSummary.aspx?sysvalue=KzQxiMGW5VmRF4oMdPfo5qAkio88U0Iy6BRmy5UYGSA-

WELCOME TO 2023 IN THE STERLING HACK-O-RAMA!!!

J.G.