Wrentham CVS

[CitizenforWrenth am]

This post is to let the people of Wrentham know that their zoning board of appeals approved the Wrentham CVS in spite of the fact that there is no bylaw allowing them to do so. An appeal has been filed by a couple of residents, and a website www.protectwrentham.com has been started. Many people are onboard with defeating this, with more joining daily.

[Wrenthamite]

"This post is to let the people of Wrentham know that their zoning board of appeals approved the Wrentham CVS in spite of the fact that there is no bylaw allowing them to do so."
Perhaps the poster should learn what a zoning district is. S/he might also bother to read MGL c. 40A, especially the part pertaining to variances.

[citizenforWrenth am]

Which part of zoning district or MGL c. 40A would you like to educate me on?

The fact that this is a B-1 district in an aquifer protection district, within the Blackstone River Watershed having an maximum GFA of 10000 sq ft., or would you like to start within the General Laws pertaining to hardship requirements for a variance and how they pertain to the subject lot?

Perhaps Wrenthamite is unaware that this is a single lot Shopping Center as defined in the Zoning Bylaws.

In any case, Wrenthamite, can you point me to the bylaw allowing the razing of a nonconforming commercial structure and the rebuilding of new noncomfroming commercial structure?

I do not mean to snap back at you Wrenthamite, as you have every right to your opinion on the project, however my understanding of zoning districts and variance requirements is thorough, to say the least.

[MyTownToo]

Who really is the opposition to the CVS and why are they opposed?
The residents and downtown merchants I talk to want the new CVS. Where is the downside? It will clean up an eyesore, add to tax revenue,bring jobs to the downtown and add a traffic light to an intersection that needs improvement.
The opposition has all the markings of a scam. Who are the Citizens for the Protection of Wrentham's Character.Tell us how many members and who are the officers. Is this group registered with the town or state? Is it tax exempt or just a shell to collect the money they want you to send them? Who is making money off this?
Look at the links on their web site. They are related to Change to Win, a radical anti business group with no interest in or concern for Wrentham.
Can they make their case without the personal smears of the members of the zoning board?
Paul Ross and his attorney have led the opposition from the beginning. Is Paul Ross just a front man for Change to Win and what is he getting out of it. Who gains if this project is stopped, Paul Ross personally or the town of Wrentham.

[Paul Ross]

Scam? Radical anti-business group? Wow, I guess Wrentham needs a new consipiracy theory now that the elections are over.

I am Paul Ross, webmaster for www.protectwrentham.com , an informational site.

I am part of a group of citizens against the construction of the CVS, in what we feel is a direct affront to our zoning bylaws, and the character of Wrentham. No secret there.

1. The group is not yet registered, as it is in it's infancy.

2. Nobody is making money off of this, unless of
course you consider the payment of a like minded groups of people's pooled funds directly to legal counsel insiduous.

3. Linking to articles does not make you related to those that wrote or published them. Are we also related to the State of Massachusetts, or the Boston Globe because we linked to and/or referenced them?

I, Paul Ross, am the furthest thing you could find
on this earth to anti-business. Smart growth is
another thing altogether. Find someone in town who knows me personally, I have been here 40 years or so, and ask them if I am anti-business.

In addition, should Wrentham go the way of Franklin, and commercialize the center, I actually stand to make a great deal of money with the 2 parcels of land I own. Think before you accuse someone of being in a cause for purely selfish reasons.

Lastly regarding the personal smears of the zoning board, I re-read what was written, and you are right, it goes against the site's purpose of providing information. I apologize and appreciate the feedback and will remove the potentially offensive material.

[lived in town til 18]

Well i just want to put it out there that people are sick of traveling all the way to Franklin for a drug store.. I wish they would have put one there while I was going to high school.

[My Town Too]

Curious what's happening with the CVS? Nobody I talk to in town is opposed to the CVS. Is the opposition still just two people? No update from the protect wrentham website. Two months and no registration for the donations. No accounting of how much you've collected, and from whom. Is it because there have been no contributions,and thus no significant opposition, or are you hiding behind your attorney to disguise who is really funding this? The CVS will be good for the town, is it still being stopped because of a hidden agenda?

[What a Shame]

Word is the CVS project is dead. Ross and Verderber were able to kill the project, so the ugly old Mobil stays, the pollution stays and probably gets worse, Wrentham loses out on a nice improvement to the downtown, increased taxes, jobs for our residents, and major traffic improvements to a dangerous intersection. We all now will have to still drive to Franklin or Foxboro for our drug store needs and the downtown area will continue to see stores closing up. Why would anyone else want to take a chance on a new project in Wrentham when you will face selfish opposition who evidently want to stop any development no matter what the benefits to the town. I cannot understand why anyone who cares about Wrentham would rent an office from Ross who obviously doesn't care about our town. And we will have Ross and Verderber to thank every time there is an accident at that intersection and someone is seriously hurt or killed.

[In the Business]

The gas station is not only ugly, it has been identified as a contaminated site. CVS agreed to clean it up as part of the project. CVS has withdrawn its application. The two abutters may be happy now, but doubt they will be when they try to sell their properties. Been there.

[A relieved Citizen]

Thank God this is dead. What do you people want, Franklin?

I cannot even imagine the traffic if this mini Walmart were to be built.

Take you blinders off people.

[In the Business]

A relieved Citizen wrote:

Thank God this is dead. What do you people want, Franklin?
I cannot even imagine the traffic if this mini Walmart were to be built.
Take you blinders off people.

If Wrentham doesn't want it, that's totally Wrentham's call, but it seems a lot of pretty upscale towns have no problem with a CVS near the business center. Can't help but notice that there are a lot of dumpy properties near the Mobil. Are they being "protected" too?

[My Town Too]

So its done as reported by the Globe. Ross wins and everyone else loses. All our seniors want the CVS because "they need it so badly", but they don't count. Evidently we don't need to have elections anymore in Wrentham because the people we elect aren't going to be able to use their judgement based on what's best for the entire town. Paul Ross is the new self appointed Czar of Wrentham and he's going to stop all development and insure the downtown and its merchants continue to deteriorate unless its what he alone decides is acceptable. What are Ross and Verderber planning to do that is a positive improvement for the town? Or will the vendetta continue against the next project, if there is any? Ross still hasn't said who's in his group, who's funding it, etc as he said he would do months ago.And the comment about the traffic backing up 900 feet, that's three football fields, I cannot believe that is true. Ross and Verderber have basically killed the economic viability of the shopping center, hurt the owner and all the existing tenants, and will make anyone thinking of investing in the downtown think long and hard before going through what the CVS group did. If I owned the center I would give Ross and Verderber exactly what thay want and cut down all the trees om the boundary of the property so they have a completly unobstructed view of the polluting Mobil station. Thanks again Paul for deciding what's best for Wrentham.We will be reminded again when the next override comes up.

[K Phil]

Cut the trees down. Serves them right.