Concerned Belmont citizens request one-year demolition moratorium

Residents that claim the razing of older homes in Belmont has become too common, particularly in precincts 3 and 4, have signed a petition to restrict demolition, which will be acted upon at special Town Meeting May 29.

The demolition moratorium would impose a one-year delay on the demolition of detached single-family dwelling units in the general residence zoning districts, where such detached units are replaced with any residential structure other than a single-family dwelling on the same lot.

They are asking the town to engage in planning studies to address the affects of such demolition and construction and recommend long-term regulations consistent with sound land use planning goals and objectives.

At the May 14 Planning Board meeting, the citizens gave a presentation showing how single-family homes are being torn down and replaced with over-sized multi-family dwellings. One example in their presentation was a historic home at 111 Waverley St., which was built by the late Robert J. Pelletier, who was instrumental in developing the MIT Solar House. It was torn down and replaced with a two-family home with a six-car garage. The home was advertised as a huge townhouse that looks and feels like a singlefamily home. It is 2,600-square-feet on two floors, has a three-car garage and has a list price of $849,000.

We are simply asking for time to study the impacts of what weve been observing in our neighborhoods, said Judith Sarno, Precinct 3, a co-sponsor of the demolition moratorium.

We want to work with planning, not to prevent development but to help guide development to preserve open space, breathable space and the character of our neighborhoods and town, said Sarno.

Planning Board member Joseph DeStefano, principal of Desco Associates, Inc., a landscape, real estate development and management company, said he believes some developers remove value from properties if what they build is disproportionate with the neighborhood.

I think there needs to be some kind of review process, said DeStefano, adding developers need to be sensitive to a neighborhood.

His company recently demolished single-family homes on Washington and Common streets and is in the process of rebuilding new single-family homes in those locations.

Sami Baghdady, chairman of the Planning Board, said whatever the outcome is at special Town Meeting his board will address this issue.

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Concerned Belmont citizens request one-year demolition moratorium