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Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation help win a MEPA review for "Langwood Commons"!
Fells project to get environmental review
Development's impact a concern
By Stephanie Ebbert Boston Globe
July 4, 2008Under fire from parks advocates, state environmental officials reversed earlier pronouncements and said yesterday that a full environmental review will be required for a major development in the Middlesex Fells Reservation.
The decision comes six months after the Gutierrez Co., the developer, asserted that it had already reduced its plans so dramatically that the Langwood Commons project should no longer be subject to review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.
The reversal was a victory for parks advocates, who had charged that the developer was unfairly skirting environmental scrutiny with the help of the Patrick administration, which has committed to accelerating permits for businesses.
A leading advocate for the Fells said yesterday that he was pleased that the administration reconsidered the potential impact after hearing from thousands of concerned residents and park users.
"There is a learning curve; we have a new governor, a new secretary, a new commissioner," said Mike Ryan, executive director of the Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation.
"I think it maybe took a little bit of time for this new administration to analyze the situation and come to the right conclusion that this is a project that's going to have some real, serious impacts, just like the previous environmental secretaries and DCR commissioners had."
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Parkways Caucus letter supported by 56 legislators sways Governor!
March 31, 2008
Parkways advocacy organizations, including environmental and friends groups, professional employees at DCR and legislators, have been working together for nearly a year to defeat proposals to shift management of DCR historic parkways to the Massachusetts Highway Department. Thus it was gratifying to see that on March 31, 2008 the legislative Parks Caucus sent a letter signed by 56 house and senate members to Governor Patrick upholding the integral nature of parkways to the functioning of our urban and state parks and urging greater support for DCR's mission of maintaining these special roads. In a press release Representative Michael Rush, Chairman of the Parks Caucus, said, “Parkways are not highways, and they should not be treated as such, the transfer of parkways to MassHighway would have a negative impact on our parkways and our parks.”
In a response letter to the Parks Caucus, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles affirmed the importance of protecting parkways to the Commonwealth, and indicated that he supported removing parkways transfer language found in the transportation bond bill.
Park advocates will continue efforts to ensure that parkways management and enhancement remain part of DCR's core mission.
The Parks Caucus letter and Parkways Protection Campaign is a good way to illustrate the strength of collective action - the cornerstone principle of the Friends Network!