Dear Editor:
It’s clear from the resounding (462 to 226) defeat of Article 19 at the Westford annual Town Meeting on March 25 that the citizens of town:
- Don’t want a restaurant on the former Drew Gardens site at 66-68 Boston Road,
- Want to keep the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) protections in place, and
- Want the Board of Selectmen (BOS) to operate within the law, and not find ways to get around it.
The BOS should take advantage of this opportunity to clearly state to the developer:
- We (the BOS) have fulfilled the obligations of our agreement of January 12, 2016, and expect you to fulfill yours,
- Because of the clear result of the town meeting, we have no intention of amending or releasing any of the three APR’s in any way,
- Therefore please do not bring to us any plans that require that change, and
- Bring forward your detailed, documented plans to develop agriculture on the parcels.
- We expect to see substantial progress during this summer’s growing season.
- You were aware of the APR restrictions when you bought the site.
- If you don’t like the terms, you are free to sell the property to someone who will adhere to them.
The BOS should take up this matter as soon as possible, putting it on the agenda of one of their next two meetings. — Bill Taffel, Cold Spring Road
