By Julie McCay Turner
In a telephone interview on Friday afternoon, Selectmen Chair Mark Siegenthaler said that the Selectmen will decide on whether to support the Article on Monday evening, just before the start of Special Town Meeting. Finance Committee chair Stephen Steele noted that his board did not come up with a recommendation and so will also make their decision on Monday.
Bedford’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) voted unanimously on Thursday evening to not recommend support for Article 3. Citing the “checks and balances” that the ZBA’s review capacity affords in zoning matters that come before them, the seven members present cast their votes after a robust discussion.
The Planning Board voted on Tuesday to support Article 3, and has provided a PDF of their Special Town Meeting handout (Article 3 – Bedford Marketplace Rezoning Proposal) so that voters can come to Special Town Meeting with the fullest understanding of the Planing Board’s decision.
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NO on Article 3! Why should we bail out the developer who should have identified his concern about a 2,000 sf limit years ago. The developer should take the hit and ease rental rates for these spaces so they are affordable for small shops or professional offices. Moreover, before making the petitioned limited to general business “map change” the present zoning bylaw should be revised to disallow further construction of 25 foot tall store fronts only 10 feet from the curb without provision for curb side plantings and trees to soften the visual impact of a wall of glass — especially directly opposite public areas such as Memorial Park. Further, when zoning bylaw changes are proposed to Bedford citizens in the Town Meeting warrant dense narrative descriptions should be accompanied by illustrations of structures that might be allowed.