6/30 3:13pm
I've been reading the book ``Suburban Nation'' by Duany/Plater-Zyberk (the
planners who helped design Seaside, FL, the town in ``The Truman Show''),
and the authors make wonderful points about constructing liveable
communities. One of the observations they make about existing
small-town life is that older commercial areas were developed with
apartments above businesses, e.g. a corner store with the owner's
apartment or a tenant on the second floor. Commercial development such
as this is feasible next to a residentially-zoned area and has the added
advantage of discouraging excessively loud or obtrusive businesses
(after all, the building's owner wouldn't be able to rent out the
apartment if it were too unpleasant to live there). It also prevents
the "deserted downtown" effect after hours and provides affordable
housing. To me, this seems like a good solution for downtown Norfolk,
but it doesn't look like it will happen at the old package store.
Incidentally, I called the Planning Board to find out what's going in
that lot, and they couldn't tell me but did mention the meeting that's
been posted here (July 12th at 8:50 p.m.). I'll be there, and I hope
lots of residents will be there too!
6/30 10:05am
I don't speak legalese, so if anyone can decipher this, feel free. It looks
to this untrained eye, to be just a simple road improvement. Or maybe just
maybe, it's the secret blueprint to a Wendy's going up on this little corner
of my world.
- JW
6/29 2:08pm
To PA and NS: In regards to your comment about the roadways - you
need to look at the reasons why the roads are in such poor condition.
If you look at the housing developments in the areas where the roadways
are in such poor condition you can come to a simple conclusion, the
heavy truck traffic is a significant contributing factor to the
deteriorating roads. You really need to ask why the Town doesn't
require bonds for infrastructure repairs and maintenance when these
developments are planned. These developers come into Town and get away
with a lot of things that the Towns surrounding Norfolk get compensated
for. The bottom line is that the tax payers in Town get saddled with
the roadway repairs. This situation is a continued lack of foresight on
the Selectmen's part. They are the permit issuing body for earth
removal permits. The fees required under the current bylaw don't
compensate the Town for anything except maybe ``a pencil or two.''
6/29 2:05pm
I have some questions about companies setting up in Norfolk:
first I assume the individual available sites are marketed by the site owner
6/29 10:58am
I think a better location would be on 1A and still in Norfolk.
- PR
6/29 8:42am
Okay, summer has arrived and my three school aged boys are already whining
``I'm bored!'' Does anyone have any inexpensive (remember there are 3!)
suggestions of what I can do, where I can bring them, locally preferred.
Thanks!
- SB
6/28 5:19pm
Where are the Planning Board members on this? Didn't they get appointed to
their positions in order to plan. Plopping a fast food franchise into
our town is not planning. And anyone who has studied economics should know
that sprawl (which is exactly what seems to be happening) rarely brings
about a net increase in economic growth. If there is not real growth, there
is simply displacement of economic activity. This triggers a whole cycle of
deterioration in older communities like ours.
6/28 4:55pm
Just a thought . . . If Wendy's does go in, will the taxes they pay cover
the expenses that the town may be need to spend to support them. You can
almost guarentee that the H. Olive day and Broadman playgrounds will get
more trash. Perhaps even the MBTA lots. Who is going to fund the cost of
picking up the added trash? I honestly can't see a Wendy's being
profitable but if traffic were to pickup, who pays for the traffic lights
at the intersection? And lets say we have one or two accidents each year
at the site, hopefully not serious, but who covers the cost of police and
fire response?
6/28 4:13pm
If you use the Dunkin Donuts project as a gauge for how long a fast food
project takes to get permitted, we will not be seeing a Wendy's any time
soon. Is it true that a prominent member of the BOH is or was affiliated
with that property?
- MA
6/28 3:19pm
Wendy's . . .
6/28 3:19pm
July 15th marks the deadline for Registration for Norfolk Lions' Soccer.
Please submit registrations before this date to ensure your child is
placed on a team. Registration forms can be found at the town library
or
downloaded in PDF format.
- CS
6/28 1:19pm
Wendy's?!
Umm, Biggie Fries!
- PR
6/28 10:36am
To NS: I agree with you. My teeth and bones sometimes hurt when I'm
riding through the streets of our town. On another note, I saw some
maintenance people from Wendy's Restaurants at the corner of Main and
Boardman doing some work, so I'd imagine that's what headed there. They
were trying to figure out where the drive-through would go . . .
- PA
6/27 10:52pm
Does anyone know if the Highway Department has any plans on replacing
(NOT fixing or patching) any of the very poor roads that we all travel
on? I did notice and can't figure out why the Town would pay to put new
trees in an established neighborhood on Main street. Can anyone shed
any light on this. - NS
6/27 2:11pm
On June 28 at 9:00 p.m. the Norfolk Conservation Commission will hold a
public hearing in room 214 in the Norfolk Municipal Building. The hearing is
to consider the ANORAD filed to confirm the wetland boundaries on 61.12
acres off Rockwood Road (Rt. 115) and Holbrook Street. The proposed use of
the land on file with the town is by my count 75 age restricted homes that
on the plan looked very much like Town Houses and something called a
Services and Facility structure, which looked an awful lot like a strip
mall.
- ESL
6/26 11:27pm
Norfolk Community Television (NCTV) is nearly completely moved from its old
location at the Freeman Centennial school to its new location at 227 Dedham
Street, across from Tylers restaurant. Even though we are in the midst of
moving we have new programming airing this week. The King Phiip High School
Graduation and the Freeman Centennial 6th grade graduations are some of the
great programming on this week and next. The highlights of the Lion's
Community Day plus Liz Davey's Garden Show and the Norfolk Garden Club are
also being aired. However, due to some disrupting factors due to the move, we
don't have a fixed schedule for these programs. We hope that you will scan
Channel 8 and 22 everyday and evening because we know you will find something
that you will want to see. We will be totally up and running by the end of
next week and we are looking forward to an open house in early September to
show off to all of you our new quarters. Thank you for your patience while we
finish this somewhat tedious time of moving. We hope that you will find
programming to your liking. BY the way, you can still catch the entire
Special Town Meeting and June 25th Selectmen's meeting on channel 22. Thank
you all again.
6/25 11:29pm
The Norfolk Men's Softball League and the King Philip Men's Softball
League are now organizing the 5th Annual Tom Daley Memorial Softball
Tournament to be held on Sunday, July 15 at the Sweatt Fields in
Wrentham. This is a 1-pitch, double elimination tournament. All teams
will receive trophies. Cost is $175 per team. Registration deadline is
July 10, 2001. For more information contact Craig K. at 508-520-0163.
- KC
6/25 11:16pm
Fresh baked goods in Norfolk, with home delivery! For details,
see the Bulletin Board.
6/25 10:37am
There was an item by Mr. Byrne that appeared in the Sun Chronicle
relating that he went into a shop for a bagel and people laughed at him
and reportedly said ``People in Norfolk aren't smart enough to vote a
course in.'' I submit that this type of anecdotal info is disturbing.
I would like to know the name of the bagel shop so I can express my
feelings about such an expression.
- JO
6/24 1:08am
Welcome to summer! Saw two fireflies this evening, one high up at tree-top
level, the other up at roof-top height. Bright, quick flicker on both.
This makes it summer even by my reckoning.
6/22 8:42pm
To J.W. -
Mom, is that what we were eating on those Sunday nights, Rats?
You said they were game hens!
[JW's son]
6/22 3:20pm
PCA, I'm not the fellow who got up and quoted the 5 years, but I happen to
know the answer to your question. The majority of all new American
businesses fail within the first five years, according to studies by the
Small Business Administration (SBA), Coopers and Lybrand, and the National
Business Incubation Association. 40 percent of all business fail within the
first year! Another 40 percent will fail within the first 5 years.
6/22 2:04pm
In response to PCA regarding businesses failing within the first five
years . . .
6/22 11:05am
At the Town Meeting the other night, I heard a gentlemen reference the
fact that ``most businesses fail within the first five years.'' While
there was no source attributed to the comment, I found it interesting
and was wondering if anyone knows anything further about that statement.
6/21 8:58pm
I got a kick out of hearing the ``Transfer Station'' called the Town Dump. I
remember when I first came to town, from the city, in 1965, it was called
the Town Dump and it was located on the Dump Road. My husband and I used to
go there on Sundays and shoot rats. Then they called it the ``Sanitary Land
Fill.'' Then they paved it, filled it and now it's the Transfer Station and
it's located on Medway Branch. My, we've come a long way.
- JW
6/21 6:08pm
An update on Main and Boardman . . . I was walking my dog by there earlier
and saw some trees being cut. I asked the worker what was going on and
he said that a fast food restaurant had purchased the property, but he
wouldn't specify which one. He did tell me that it would feature a 24
hour drive-through window.
- PA
6/21 6:06pm
To those of you who came to the town meetings on Monday and Tuesday, thank
you for listening to
the positive constructive conversations that were held during the golf
course discussion. As the Chairperson over the last
2 years we have spent a significant amount of time on this project. The
people that worked with me
have extensive relevant backgrounds on various areas related to what it
takes to build a course as well as
finances and land issues. As a financial adviser to people working in
Franklin one of my motto's is to ``preserve and protect'', which worked out
for me pretty good last year.
We can preserve, protect and produce revenue off this project.
This project is a town project which I hope all boards will get behind and
try to make happen,
a year ago the selectmen made a commitment to the comm. that if we got the
vote they would coordinate a meeting with all boards
to discuss issues to make this happen smoothly. Having served on the rec.
comm over the last couple of years regarding the rec complex
I have seen what can happen to delay things and learned from this. We have
truly dedicated alot of time to this project and believe this can
happen and be a valuable revenue producing asset to the town for years to
come. I plan on living in this great town forever and have supported
projects in
the past like the Lind Property purchase (which I got up at town meeting and
sang my version of God Bless America) and also spoke highly
in favor of the senior center (which I supported from the get go). Someone
overheard somebody saying these yuppies like Myself are over taking the town
for no good.
I am not a yuppie I was raised a hard working individual with a cop as a dad
with a big family who taught me the value of hard work and good ethics.
Anyone who wants to get involved contact me at 18775418141.
Let's make this happen and be proud we made a difference to serve Norfolk.
6/21 1:49pm
The CPA has three purposes: open space, historic preservation, and low
income housing. Recreation is not a purpose according to the legislation
enabling the CPA, both by intent, and now according to state regulation. No
matter the intent of those who tout golf courses as open space, CPA cannot
be used. And to the fellow who saw the heron, two points. The largest
heron rookery in the state is here in Norfolk in the swampy lands between
the state prison and 115 (Pond Street). You might find it interesting that
not too many years ago a golf course was proposed on this very same site.
The current golf committee also looked at it, but instead settled on the
Lawrence Street site. Look at it, it is largely what most folks mean by
open space - trees, squirrels, foxes, plants, wildflowers. Say bye-bye.
Once the property is clear cut of trees, it won't be open space, just ``more
open, space.'' - RIP
6/21 1:00pm
Happy Summer Solstice! Today is the longest day of the year, which
also marks the beginning of summer, although for me personally, summer
begins the evening that I first see fireflies.
6/21 11:25am
As far as the corner of Main and Boardman, Honey Dew Donuts is in the
permitting process, according to two business people in town.
- PA
6/21 10:42am
To MF:
Sorry if I offended you with my ``cookie cutter'' statement. I actually live
in an older subdivision myself.
However, it was a well designed development where a lot of trees were left,
houses were not spaced
exactly 25 feet from each other and various styles of houses were built, not
just colonials. There are a few
developers in this town that find it more cost efficient to clear cut a
section of woods, build 25 houses that look
exactly alike and plant a few trees that will take 30 years to grow. Also,
they destroy the landscape by making
the terrain fit the houses vs the other way around. Personally, I don't
find this attractive. However,
I must be in the minority because of the speed at which houses turn over in
this town, regardless of where they are
located. My neighborhhood has enough green open areas where we have red
foxes, deer, turtles and other
wildlife living happily. In some of these newer developments there is no
place to hide for these and other
animals. My comment was mostly directed to those few developers who only
care about how much profit they
can squeeze out of a house vs caring about the look and feel of a community.
- JP
6/20 10:45pm
I looked up during the game Wednesday evening, and was startled
to see a heron fly past slowly overhead. Large, shy birds with a tremendous
wingspan, it surprises me that they they tolerate so many people about.
I suppose I should enjoy it, while I still can -
habitat loss and human encroachment
will eventually lead to the disappearance of marvels like a heron
flying low over the soccer field.
6/20 10:24pm
I noticed on the way to the Town Dump last weekend that there looks to be
an abandoned gas station on the corner of Main Street and the road that
brings you to the Town Dump street [Boardman St. - Wm.]
and was wondering if anyone knew of any store plans being built
there? I think it would be a great location for an ice-cream stand!
- JBH
6/20 10:23pm
Here's how to finance the new golf course:
With the town taking in $300,000 plus each year and the state matching
it in the first couple of years wouldn't this be a great use of the CPA
money and minimize the perceived monetary risks to the town. Even if the
state only matched one time, this would make up to 80% ($550K-600K) of
the CPA funds since this is a recreational project.
Something to think about . . . . makes paying those extra taxes a little
more worthwhile doesn't it.
Also, some ideas to speed up town meetings:
6/20 1:23pm
The $10.7 million bond for the municipal golf course passed at the town
meeting last night. Needing a two-thirds vote, the tally was 265-105.
The warrant gives the Board of Selectmen all final decision making
authority. The golf committee will proceed with the permitting process.
Being a wetlands area and a former (?) hazardous waste site, various
town, state and federal agencies are required to sign off on the
project. It is essential that the permits be obtained expeditiously.
Once the bond is obtained, interest will start accruing, even though the
town will not need to begin payments until 2005. I voted against this
bond for a variety of reasons which are now irrelevant. I must now
support the golf committee, Advisory Board and Board of Selectmen
because failure to complete this project by 2005 will be too costly to
the town.
- RN
6/20 1:21pm
To JP who said ``I'd rather have a golf course on the land than another
cookie cutter housing development'' - I live in one of those, as you so
eloquently put it, ``cookie cutter housing developments'' and I am rather
offended by your statement. What is so wrong with people wanting to live in
a nice community and have a new home?? I also was raised in what you call a
cookie cutter housing development. Over the years, our neighborhood became
a beautiful, friendly place to live - each house developed its own unique
style due to each of the families that lived in them. I believe that the
same will happen here. Just give it a chance . . .
we all can't find completely
different and unique looking homes in this real estate market.
- MF
6/19 9:35pm
I agree with PA: let's get our priorities straight, schools are more
important than the golf course. Sell King Philip High School to Wrentham,
and let's start fresh with our own Junior High and High School for
Norfolk! It will be a smaller school, but at least we would have control
over the quality of the school and the physical facility.
6/19 4:16pm
I am a golfer so having a course in town would be great. I'd rather have a
golf course on the land than another cookie cutter housing development.
However, I've seen the golf committee's presentation and thought it lacked
any depth of research. The site cleanup could be extremely expensive and
delay the project for a long time (increasing the cost of the project).
Remember, the Big Dig project was only supposed to cost $2 billion, not the
$12 billion or so now. I think it worth spending a few thousand more to
completely flush out any potential problems instead of hundreds of thousands
more once they're found. I say let's delay it for another 6 months, get all
the issues on the table and have an educated vote.
6/19 3:28pm
To all:
I guess I failed to realize a lot of things, but I'm not alone in that
regard. Let's scrap the golf course, pass the hat tonight, buy the
land tomorrow, and start building Norfolk High School on Thursday!
- PA
6/19 3:06pm
I'm all for the golf course, but I am very concerned about the cost
involved with the permit process; especially with no guarantee of approval.
I also believe that the projected cost are low and wonder how we go about
getting more money if the project scope changes. The land costs should be
accurate but is the quote for construction valid for 3-4 years? What would
be the projected increase if the permit process delayed construction one
year?
6/19 2:37pm
To PA:
You failed to mention that most of the existing courses used for
comparison to evaluate revenue by the Golf Course Committee have a
longer operating season and are 36 hole courses compared to the proposed
course in Norfolk. One public course included in the analysis by the
Golf Committee has brought in only $250,000.00 per year over the life of
the course, obviously not near the projected 1 million in annual
revenue. The courses used for examples show clear correlation that a
longer time in the year operating equals more potentail revenue
(emphasis on potential). You failed to mention that a financial
presentation made last night disputes the revenue a forecast by the Golf
Committee. This other financial analysis showed that no positive cash
flow for at least three years and the revenue will not be anywhere near
the 1 million in revenue for the first 5 to 6 years.
- AB
6/19 2:16pm
Risky Golf Scheme - It is apparent that the Golf Committee has myopia.
They can only see their rosy financial projections but have not done any
risk analysis and the possible risks are huge and numerous. The
proposed cost is based on an estimate from one architect who has walked
the property: no site analysis, no other estimates. The proposed cost
does not account for site clean-up costs; the Conservation Commission
has not reviewed the site for wetlands issues; private wells may be
affected and require that town water be piped into the neighborhoods;
Lawrence Street needs to be widened; the permitting process will take
longer than one year (probably 3-5 years), during which the town will
incur an interest cost of at least $500,000 each year. The best
approach is to study these issues and get much firmer estimates before
asking the town to vote for funding. However, if the bond vote passes
tonight, I urge the Golf Committee, the Advisory Committee and the Board
of Selectmen to factor in these issues even if it means increasing the
bond to a more realistic $12 - 14 million.
- [Anon.]
6/19 10:34am
Congratulations to Joe Byrne and his committee for a very well organized
and informative presentation last night. Upon coming in to the meeting,
I was partial towards the golf course. After hearing our State
Representative, and our Selectmen, and our Advisory Committee, I was
absolutely in favor of it. Hopefully Article 6 gets passed tonight.
- PA
6/18 11:39am
We're in need of a new walkway. Can anyone recommend a local
professional masonry? Thanks!
- PR
6/16 10:11am
We received a letter about contamination at the proposed Municipal Golf Course.
It raises questions about additional associated costs that have not
been publicly addressed. It's long, but it's worth reading - Wm.
6/15 9:24pm
Putting the school issue aside for just a moment, we in Norfolk have
several other financial items to address at this Monday's town meeting. A
municipal golf course, the library expansion, a new fire station, sewer
lines, and budgetary issues - all of which would be wonderful additions to
the quality of life here in town and all of which will affect our tax rate
if passed. With the economy slowing and layoffs occurring by the hundreds
each week, sadly many of you reading this will be unemployed a year from
now. Just as you'll have to adjust your budgets at home, you've got to
consider how each tax dollar is to be spent in town. Please make an effort
to attend Monday's meeting and vote intelligently. It's YOUR money!
6/15 4:42pm
Does HPK really appear as a ``can do'' person? HPK appears to me to be a
``don't do'' person. Many residents of the three towns seem to be confused as
to why we need to build and reconstruct these two buildings. It is to
accommodate all the students that are being educated in all the new
elementary schools that were built.
6/15 3:16pm
To HNP,
Thank you for responding to my concerns. I am glad to hear that things are
well on their way! I do honestly hope that your safety needs as well as the
animals continue to improve , as I feel we can prevent these unsafe
situations and/or injuries with these improvements. I am only sorry it took
your injury to get the ball rolling.
- SB
6/15 2:05pm
Is HPK planning on running for political office in Town? If the common
sense and ``can do'' approach presented in their post (from earlier
today - 6/15 [12:26pm]) can be channeled into results for Norfolk . . . this
person has my vote.
- AB
6/15 12:26pm
I'm very upset by the controversy over the Middle School & High School.
Given my own experience, I firmly believe that it's the teachers and
parents, NOT the building, that make a child's education effective.
During the late 1970s, I attended my grandfather's elementary school in
Franklin, where the floor tiles were popping up, the art rooms were
closet-sized, and meals were brought in by van because there was no
kitchen in the building. In 1987-1989, I attended the old Brookline
(MA) High School, where none of the clocks worked and lunches were held
in three shifts to accommodate the students. Yes, I obviously remember
the poor conditions, but I also remember that they did not impede my
learning. Many wonderful teachers encouraged me over the years and were
not afraid to try new teaching styles that enhanced understanding in
their classes. I became a successful person despite the fact that my
family did not have much money or a computer; my parents asked me to do
my best, and advocated for me when they occasionally found a teacher who
didn't believe in my abilities.
6/15 11:32am
Rather than a Norfolk Air Park, could we build a Norfolk High School, or
better yet a Norfolk Middle School/High School?
- PA
6/15 11:30am
When I saw the man carrying the ladder back to his large, bright red pickup
truck, I slowed to see what he put up - apparently, Jane and Paul's
U-pick strawberry season has started.
6/15 8:05am
In response to what is going on with animal control. We are always in this
department striving for improvements in any which way we can. To say that
there are any town departments without serious needs are ridiculous, and we
have tried here to do the best we can with what we have. We (the asst. aco
and myself), have worked in the past to find donations, and even use
personal monies, to provide the dogs/cats with the basics to keep animals
safe, secure and as comfortable as they can be due to budget restraints.
- PD
Let's face it, most residents moved here to be in a quiet community. How can
we keep it that way?
We have an opportunity to improve our town or turn it into some
typical poorly-developed area destined for failure.
6/22 10:16pm
Sometimes life goes around in great big convoluted circles,
and occasionally brings us face to face with ourselves.
The snapshot on the left was taken from the train ride during the fair,
and was included as part of the Olde Tyme Day mosaic.
The one on the right was taken by Virginia Campbell, and appeared on the
front page of the Country Life section in this Friday's Gazette.
(click on the photos for the larger versions).
6/16 3:45pm
If it seemed warm today, it was (still is, as it happens). Bright and sunny,
a few fluffy white clouds, and 98 in the sun by our kitchen window.
Neverthless, Old Tyme Day (oops, that's Norfolk Community Day now)
was fun. I'm sorry if I got carried away with the photos, but some
people really liked the last one, so I made another :-)
The article and editorial in Friday's Country Gazette about the
municipal golf course are first, real solid pieces of information made
public on this proposed project. The price tag of 10.7 million dollars
is significant, but the financial schedule of payments, as I understand
it, makes sense. However, I don't believe that all the costs for this
project are known or have been considered in the 10.7 million. At an
assumed market rate of $50,000.00 per acre and the plan calls for
acquiring 200 acres (one lot alone is 140 acres) the land alone would be
10 million. The editorial cites land acquisition alone to be 4.5
million. The question should be asked, why so cheap?
Dear SB,
6/14 10:12pm
Took this photo at the Town Hill Summer Concert on Thursday. I biked down
(on my partially overhauled bicycle) and plunked myself down for a good
half hour. The weather
was nice, and those who came enjoyed the music and the dancing,
adults and kids alike.
Question 1, schools
1061 yes / 619 no / 18 blank
Question 2, highways
941 yes / 751 no / 26 blank
Happy Easter
Sunday!
