To the editor:

Monday night the Planning Board passed a new significantly revised plan for the Water Rower project.  The plan is said to have Adams Lane residents driving through a commercial parking lot to access our homes.  There was no public hearing.  Those of us affected by the plan have not seen it.  “Historic trees” are apparently to be cut down according to this plan among other changes that occurred after Technical Review and other public hearings.  The board chairman controlled the meeting fully in support of his oceanfront neighbor and friend the applicant.  Residents are now left with no option but legal action in order to defend safe access to our homes.

Last night was another repeat scenario of the residents of Adams Lane having no voice and being falsely characterized.  The applicant and chairman accused Adams Lane residents of “coercion” portraying Water Rower as a victim to financial hardship caused by the residents. Statements made about actions (or lack of) by Adams Lane were untrue and we have no space to defend ourselves, or shine light on what is / has really occurred behind the scenes toward this plan.  The residents have repeatedly requested to have our engineer (a peer consulting on professional courtesy) meet with Water Rower’s civil engineer and us.  Emails are ignored and in person requests dodged.

 We have made simple requests for more information which would allow us support of relocating Adams Lane.  These requests have been ignored.  I made requests in a letter to be read to the August Planning Board public hearing in my absence.  The letter was not read.  We simply have asked for technical sections on how the new Adams Lane will be built, a flood / washout mitigation detail, and support in the maintenance topic.  (Town maintenance of the road ceased when Water Rower filed for zone change).  None of this information was in the detailed plans submitted for approvals or technical review.  Without these details we have no certainty that Adams Lane will be built and maintained to a functional and safe standard.

Such a major change to a final plan approval, especially when affecting home owners should have been a public hearing.  Chairman Massie’s bias is clear and shameful for this town, as he yet again, reiterated fabricated statements by the applicant without ever allowing those of us he spoke of to be heard.  A town board chair should have ethical integrity to recuse when they live next door to and are close friends with the applicant of such a major development.  The chairman dwelled on how much the applicant Mr. King has had to spend, and no acknowledgement of what it has cost a neighborhood. Our houses are not even marketable in the predicament we have been thrown into.  We have spent exhaustive time and money simply fighting for safety. We are not wealthy developers like Mr. King about to profit significantly on this plan. The stress alone on us costs more than we can afford, yet we have no choice.  At a dire moment like this plan approval, we had no voice.

The boards and council continue to avoid Adams Lane, saying it is not their problem because it is a private land matter.  At no point has anyone just stood up and said this is just WRONG.  It is wrong to make residents drive through a commercial parking lot to access our homes.  Adams Lane residents have been thrown under the bus and we would greatly appreciate the support of the community to right this wrong.  Demand better for our town and ALL residents and all voices.  Insist our boards be run more fairly.

Dana K. Warren

345 Adams Lane