In 2014 the Town Council gave away all public review of projects in the new Ephesus – Fordham District and gave sole final approval to the Town Manager. Under present rules, only one public advisory board, the Community Design Commission, is allowed to make design recommendations to the Manager and the future development is a free for all developer’s dream – few standards and a fast review.
The newly elected Town Council, however, can modify the Ephesus-Fordham code to deliver the kind of redevelopment called for in the plan the community endorsed by the citizens and the Council back in 2011: a walkable and bike friendly community, excellent public transit, parks and other community amenities, strong schools, less flooding, housing we can afford, and a healthy natural environment. The alternative is grim: congested highways, an even higher cost of town services, and environmental degradation.
If the Ephesus-Fordham building code stays as it is, we can anticipate 4 -5 developments as large or larger than the already completed Alexan/Berkshire project or like the one proposed above, will be built overwhelming our roads and town services.