Enterprise just forges ahead

Ironically, it is the Conservation Commission of all entities that gave the final blow to allow the parking lot construction to go forward via an Order of Conditions. It has the power to stop the work. It declined to do so. The Town has the power to seek an injunction to stop the construction. It also declined to do so. Residents have pleaded in every way, but no one is listening.

In last week’s Norwood Record, the Conservation Commission and several Town Officials were portrayed as standing up for green space at the new Bernie Cooper Park, which was once slated to become a parking lot. That park was saved, and Town Officials are rightfully celebrating it. But, the same officials who refuse to prevent the Pendergast Circle woods from being paved over and made into a parking lot are receiving praise for their conservation efforts.

Here, the parking lot plan was denied, through the efforts of dozens of residents, neighbors, and board members. The applicant filed an appeal with the Land Court; however, without waiting for a decision, the owner, an out-of-town developer, has gone ahead to prepare the area for construction of even more parking for the storage of vehicles at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 596 Boston Providence Highway. Why is the Town not stopping this?

This situation has always been mishandled. When the Boston Providence Highway District Zoning Bylaw was developed, COVID had arrived. Our country and town were in lockdown. Interesting, the owner purchased the property in May of 2019, just before the BPHD was developed in 2020. The previous Town Planner was approached several times to protect the Town and its residents by exempting certain parcels of land, including the woods at Pendergast Circle. Public Hearings were done via ZOOM, not in person, which made everything so difficult. No notices were sent to abutters. Town Meeting passed the BPHD Zoning Bylaw without any exemptions, including the woods and ramps, which should have been excluded from the BPHD because of its elevation, as the woods are green space, act as a buffer to separate the highway from residents’ homes on Neponset Street, and are the Gateway to Norwood Center from Route 1. Moreover, the Algonquin Gas Pipeline is located on this site.

What Town officials should have done was to take a pro-active stance and exempt Pendergast Circle, as it already owns one lot there. The Town could have offered to purchase the property, just like it did with the Bernie Cooper Park. Town Officials are supposed to protect Norwood’s residents, as they are the guardians and caretakers of our Town and should have been watching what was happening. Listening to the needs of residents is critical, always in the pursuit of excellence and always being mindful of the best interests of the Town. What is happening at the property is retaliation against the residents of Neponset Street and on all others who drive around Pendergast Circle to go north or south on Route 1. Not only because one of the Town’s few remaining paradises literally will be paved over to put in a parking lot with cars and vans at the Circle, but because the heat map of Norwood will be affected by the removal of so many trees, causing all of our electricity bills to go up and our environment to suffer.

The consequences are extremely detrimental to the appearance of the Town and the quality of life for our Town’s residents. What is happening is a loss and a travesty that easily could have been prevented. Small Towns like Norwood are worth preserving.

Advertisement

Judith Howard

TMM - 3