I’m not against development. I’m against irresponsible development, the unchecked explosion of slipshod development. There’s no cohesive planning or zoning appropriateness addressing height or density of these freakishly out-of-scale development projects destroying our landscapes. Developers are constantly requesting and receiving setback variances and special-use permits, sucking up our light and air, casting permanent shadows on our city.

How is it community groups and some council members are against these projects, yet they get the green light? The system is rigged.

We’re witnessing encroachment over public right of way on city sidewalks. Under state building code (3202.3.2), the building at 249 Main St. appears in violation as portions of balconies are protruding over busy sidewalks. What happens when things fall off, or when ice/snow inevitably builds up and falls onto unsuspecting passersby? Who’s responsible: the city for allowing it or the developer for building it?

Stop overdevelopment and big real-estate giveaways at the expense of our historic and environmental qualities. Overdevelopment is crowding our streets. It’s displacing long-term residents who built this community. Nature and historic preservation are two elements that attract people and make them want to visit or put down roots. If we let rampant overdevelopment continue, our whole city is going to be homogenized and look like one big Westchester. It’s clear politicians and municipal boards have been captured by big real estate.

Beacon will continue to be a “green city” but for all the wrong reasons — no longer as a Tree City USA community with historic viewsheds and grassroots activists, but for the love of the green dollar.

Theresa Kraft, Beacon

Behind The Story

Type: Opinion

Opinion: Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.

This piece is by a contributor to The Current who is not on staff. Typically this is because it is a letter to the editor or a guest column.

3 replies on “Letter: Beacon Development”

  1. The current housing on the Main Street and toward the train station is horrific. It’s so disappointing.

  2. I wonder what the second generation of the colonial settlers said about the brick buildings erected during the industrial revolution.

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