Welcome to another contributor under the publius byline
Publius, could you please consider posting this as a new article on the front page?
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ATKINSON GETS A MINI-MALL?
Would you believe that someone is considering putting a mini-mall in Atkinson? Here it is, from the November minutes of the Conservation Commission:
http://www.atkinsonconservation.org/
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"The house at Map 13, Lot 15, south of Pages Lane and West of Main Street burned down by the Fire Department: a preplanning presentation was given to get the opinion of the Planning Board on putting a minimall in that location."
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Maybe I'm alone in this, but is a mini-mall really appropriate for an essentially residential section of Atkinson? My hope here is just to get word of this potentially innappropriate development in Atkinson out as early as possible so that people can have their say; God knows that the interests of developers, builders, and the real estate industry have enough represtentation all throughout our government...
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ATKINSON's Vietnam HONOR ROLL as VOTED and PASSED by 2005 Town Meeting and re-approved at Special Town Meeting Sept. 12
EDITORIAL-
A voice of compassion, an example of fairness and reasonable government.
One who believes in the strength and comfort you, your children and your family can draw from good government leadership.
A person who knows Atkinson is our home -- our most important possession that must be preserved and protected through fair taxes and sound community planning and where our children must be safe to grow to become a new generation of leaders.
One who knows that the citizens of Atkinson are all neighbors with her leadership to be dedicated and responsive to all.
One who believes that when those from Atkinson have served our nation and honors are deserved, those honors must be given.
In Valerie Tobin, we now have a leader we know we can entrust with these responsibilities because they are part of her character.
It is our honor to endorse Valerie for election to Atkinson’s Board of Selectmen.
Just a note for those who wish to count the deer.
In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
EDITORIAL-
"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." [TP, 1776]
We take no small measure of umbrage at such a hostile official act against this BLOG’s patron. Therefore, a timely Editorial comment is both appropriate and necessary.
Discussion of Atkinson’s financial direction, from any viewpoint, is fundamental and encouraged and we will always attempt to limit and correct errors.
However, Righteous indignation towards purported error of such inconsequential nature is not appropriate.
The ENTIRE car deal is problematic. If it was caused by poor judgement, improper exercise of authority, neglect or mistake or even specious reasoning, this will never trump the facts that the entire questionable transaction started and ended within a very small circle of confidants.
We find the entire circumstances surrounding the disposition of the police Cruiser highly irregular at the least and the "explanations" somewhat trifling and exhaustive of our intellect.
Mr. Consentino: It’s time to go. Being Chief of Atkinson’s Police Department is NOT a birthright. That is a fabled legend of yesteryear.
Historically in Atkinson, police chief appointments were made "under the hand of the selectmen" for terms of one year at a time, as was also the case in the beginning of Mr. Consentino’s assorted and discontinuous stream of appointments to this position.
Your only remaining credential established on a claim of indispensability has faded.
So time is neigh. Plan a graceful exit, Clean out your desk, Accept the gratitude and tearful sentiments from some. We plan no editorial recriminations. It is time. Thank you for your service, We wish you a long and happy retirement. Bon Voyage.
LETTER
"To All Atkinson Residents,
I am writing to ask for your help. A member of the Atkinson Police Department needs our help. I am here to ask for your help in Corporal John Lapham's fight for his life. As you are aware, John has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He has been once again hospitalized with an infection that is threatening his life. He is one of the bravest people that I have ever met. He has never asked of anything from the residents of the town. Now is our chance to step up and help both him and his family out. As everyone is aware John has been out of work for a few months. His family has been busy helping John to get better. He needs our help, and I am hoping that this town can step up to the plate and help. From the moment that I met John, I have admired him. He does alot, but never asks for anything in return. He has helped so many people in this town. I for one am one of those people. Please help him.
There is a fund set-up in his name at TDBanknorth in Plaistow. Any amount will help John, while he is out of work. It would be great if this town could help ease a burden off his wife.
Thank You
Also if anyone would like to send a card, please address it to:
John Lapham
c/o Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Ctr.
Inpatient mail
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States
Please show Corporal John Lapham, that this community can stand up and show our support to those in need. I for one, miss John and can not wait until he can get better and return to work. Please show him that we support him. "
16 comments:
I don't think there's a shot we'll have a mini-mall on that lot. It's 2.10 acres, for openers so it would really have to be a MINI-mini mall. I'm not sure where the boundaries are for Town Center, so it may not qualify anyway. If not, they'd need a variance/exception from the ZBA. I'd be inclined to think they'd find some legal way to refuse. If it is in town center, they'd have to meet tons of regulations for a business, and I'd guess they don't have enough land to even think about it. Nonetheless, keep us posted. PB meetings are televised.
A mini-mall in the middle of the most historic street in Atkinson???
There could be nothing more harmful and destructive to the special character that is our Main Street. I hope this is nothing but an un-founded, terrible rumor.
Main Street is a microcasm of Atkinson's history--from the four historic homes on it which were built before Atkinson was even incorporated as a town, to the colonial pound, colonial-period Old Cemetery, to the colonial militia drilling ground, the the Town Common, colonial Atkinson Congregational Church and to all of the well-preserved and maintained old homes built before, during and after the Revolutionary War and Civil War.
I don't live on Main Street, but as a former history teacher, I have nothing but admiration and pride that Atkinson has such a historic street. It captures not only Atkinson's history, but also the history of N.H.
In the spring, the plantings along the street are pure beauty. In the fall, the autumn colors are so pleasurable.
A mini-mall would forever destroy something special that Atkinson has and can be proud of -- and which should be preserved so that future generations can experience that same pride. Our town and its people would be the losers if we lost the special character of
Main Street.
A variance from the ZBA? Isn't that just authorization by Frank Polito. He's the one that so cavalierly sued the town! Shows whose side he's on. Might be worth monitoring ZBA as well as PB so that something like this doesn't get pushed through under the radar.
In October 2007, our ZBA led by Mr. Polito authorized a commercial sign on Town Conservation land that the Atkinson Community Center sits on. This violates the deed restriction on that property which was approved against the warnings by Society for Protection of NH Forests (SPNHF). The deed restriction has a "right of re-entry for condition broken" which permits the SPNHF to take title of the premises back if the deed restrictions are violated. Houston, we have a problem.
The documented facts on this are located at:
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
pdf/ConservationLetter10-22-07.pdf
Given the bad judgement displayed by our ZBA with the above, I am concerned ZBA leadership will fail to do what is in the best interest of the town on future decisions.
I find the meeting minutes from that decision to be disturbing.
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
pdf/ZBAMinutes10-10-07.pdf
Where was the conservation commission when Ms. McCormick stood up to the town??
anon 6:40 If you are talking about the lots (there are 2 - original was divided) on main and pages, i believe it is around 7 acres total, unless the two lots that were for sale have been sold. still not an area for a mini mall or any business for that matter. and who's looking out for the best interest of the RESIDENTS here?
I'm concerned about the fact that developers/builders and real estate folk have so many positions of power in this town. Who's going to protect the town from overdevelopment? They certainly aren't, it's a conflict of interest. You don't put a fox in charge of protecting a chicken coop, and you don't put a board made up largely of builders and developers in charge of how far development goes in a small rural NH town. It's kind of ridiculous when you think of it, isn't it?
The Planning Board is loaded with conflict of interests; how are people who will lose money on restrictions to development supposed to enforce restrictions to development on other companies? I've always thought this was one of the "big secrets" of Atkinson government.
If I'm wrong, or off here, someone please set me straight, because I'd rather have the right information than for this argument to be right. But I've been watching this from afar (meaning that I'm not plugged into the 'inside' town information like many of you), but am I wrong here?
Sue Killiam, Brian Boyle (former selectman and current "ghost" around town), the son of the largest builder in town on the planning board (can't remember his name), other people on the planning board have been involved in real estate, and even current selectman Paul Sullivan is in real estate.
I'm not indicting these people for making a living; I just want people to try to realize what a cumulative effect this could have on Atkinson in the next 20 years.
Will these people work to preserve our local farms, and the rural character they give us, or will they gladly develop them to make money? Again, I don't know as much as others, but I think these questions have to be asked...
I thought things were bad with our selectmen and all the crap they are pulling. now we are hearing about a mini mall...give me a break. mini malls belong on rt 125 in plaistow. Frank and his cronnies need to be stopped.I have previously had faith in mr. polito but given his recent "middle age" crisis that he seems to be going through with his own family I no more trust him as far as I can through him .
Well, lets see, as you may know Conflict of interest is a pet peeve of mine;
I watched Brian Boyle as a selectman for three years, and served with him on the budget committee for a couple more, and I never saw a time when there was an issue that had anything to do with him or his business that he didn't formally recuse himself and step aside, without having to be told, which is FAR more than the Chief ever did! Hell, even when the Court ORDERED him to recuse himself, he STILL ignored the order and spent OUR money to appeal it to the Supreme Court, where even that august body told him to go away.
To the best of my knowledge, Paul Sullivan is now a salesman for a Glass Company, and not in real estate anymore, and again, I have always seen him recuse himself from any issue without having to be told.
As for Jason Lewis, if that is who you are talking about, I have always found him to be honorable as well. He is a cop, or state trooper I believe, and to the best of my knowledge, has never put himself in a compromising position either.
It is comical to see people get all worked up aabout builders, and real estate agents, when the town has not had a fraction of the problems from these people that we have had from town employees serving in elected positions as well.
once again mark says it all. I agree with him 100 percent. Mr. Boyle and Mr. Sullivian are the only ones with self respect and are trying or have tried to be honest when severing on the Board of Selectmen
Someone missed what was being said here. The point that was being made was how the long-term effects of too many developers/builders on our ZBA/PB/Selectmen could undermine a desire to have our town keep its rural character.
Regarding the person on the PB, is it the person married to Peter Lewis' daughter? The one that attacks most any move to enforce or strengthen conservation rules under the guise of homeowner rights.
People her can mock concerns about having people that PROFIT from an industry MONITOR that same industry, but I have a feeling these same people don't mind having lobbyists for oil companies write energy legislation.
Yes but I have to agree with the others, our conflicted selectmen, and our arrogant power mad chief have been far more trouble for the town than Harold Morse.
...which doesn't mean that we should ignore the influence builders and developers have on our ZBA and PB, which are the boards that are given the responsibility to regulate those industries, right?
There seems to be some leaning here that the only place we need to worry about is the "historic center of town." What about the areas the boarder on all the commercial/industrial near Rte. 111, and along Main Street? The ZBA and PB need to make sure that these areas don't turn these areas unnecessarily into tree-less parking lots that glow bright 24 hrs for the good of the neighbors that bought houses in what was recently a rural area. The "historic" district is a small piece of this town with a small minority of the population; the ZBA and PB should be working to preserve the long-term rural character of this town. The 2 and 3 acre land requirements for rural areas is often a joke to developers; they get around it through the ZBA.
I just wish that we had some long-term growth control ordinances that had been tested in court, but why would developer want to vote or enforce that on themselves?
I remember watching the Verizon folks come in to the PB for permission to expand their little switching station in the "historic" district. After getting what they wanted I happen to go out and saw the PB Chairperson and the town engineer with the same Verizon folks. It might have been a harmless get together, but it made me think; who's paying for this, and is this really appropriate for a town board chairperson to be socializing (even in a small town) with people that had official town business on the same night?
I freely acknowledge that serving on town boards is very tough work with long hours and little praise, and I realize that expertise in certain matters on town boards is beneficial to the town; but please, don't forget, it can also be beneficial to people that work on those same boards. For those that think that Harold Morse doesn't overtly defend the interests of himself and his father-in-law, who happens to be the biggest builder in town, wake up. Any conservation issue that comes up gets slammed by him under the guise of "landowner rights", but what he's really protecting are "developer rights". Thank God he didn't get voted in to Selectman, then he really could have got some work done for the "old man".
If our farms and open spaces aren't protected now, and we don't work on growth control, we're going to lose the rural character of this town pretty damned soon after the Route 93 expansion happens. We had better raise our voices now on this, because if we don't we're going to lose what we love about this place...
You can all say what you want about the development of the town but you have to take serious active concern to have the majority opinion of the towns development to take place. You younger people can scream all you want but until you pay attention to what is before the towns boards and voting in the elections for the people you want in you have no right to say anything except here is my tax payment when its due.
I agree with Mark A.
What is called for at this point is for the Selectmen to have someone other than Russ McAllister take the meeting minutes.
The Planning Board should have someone to take minutes and publish them in a timely fashion as required by law.
The Zonning Board needs help from the Rockingham Planning Commission.
They make arbitrary decisions, mostly based on the chairman's opinion.
If you haven't seen the McMansion that was allowed to be built up in the groves at the lake, you have missed the biggest assault on state law and our ordiances. Then the owner was appointed to the Zonning Board of appeals by Jack Sapia. I understand that their is another lawsuit in the works regarding the construction on that property.
Our problems are our own doing. We need to monitor what goes on at board meetings and stay invovled.
anon 3:39.... getting a bit personal aren't we? That comment had what to do with a mini-mall? Please keep your mini-mind comments to yourself.
Pulled inappropriate comment.
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