Our Story
Our Story
Our group, Citizens Against Reckless Development in Dracut (C.A.R.D.D.) was formed in response to
Murphy's Farm Development.
Murphy's Farm is a monstrosity of a development to nestle in between two cul -de- sac neighborhoods here in East Dracut, MA.
https://www.dracutma.gov/651/Murphys-Farm
We recognize that development in our town is inevitable as it grows and that there is affordable housing need. We are for reasonable development, not reckless. The sheer size of this development, 300 4 bedroom rental units - over 47 buildings, will not only impact our neighborhoods but the entire Dracut community. The impacts will be far reaching and will be felt on our schools, on our town services (fire/safety) and on infrastructure needs. Dracut will need to raise taxes - affecting us all!
With the town's hands tied, we felt it was in our best interest to seek our own counsel and retained the services of Hill Law out of Boston, MA.
Help us - save our neighborhoods and save Dracut! There is strength in numbers!
Financial support is always welcomed and gifts of all size matter!
Please consider mailing a check made out to :
Michelle Boermeester (CARDD )
PO Box 333
Dracut, MA 01826
or
Click on the donate button below.
Many thanks and we appreciate your support!
There is still much work to be done!
Through the work of our CARDD group - we were able to smoke out Parcel X from the site plan as the sale of this to parcel to Brox Industries was exposed. Parcel X was removed by the developer - and although acreage was eliminated and there is now a proposed mix of bedroom counts, the site footprint became even more dense! A total of 268 units - on land that is not sustainable for that level of density and the developer is looking to waive all conservation and wetland regulations! There is still much work to be done!
CARDD Meets at the Boston State House w/ Secretary Augustus
Had to keep this one under wraps until after this meeting took place. But we had a great meeting yesterday! We met with Secretary Edward Augustus and his Deputy Legislative Director, Seth Nadeau in Boston at the State House - a huge thank you goes out to our State Representative Colleen Garry for facilitating this meeting!
We came prepared, put in hours of work and created a takeaway binder for them. It included supportive letters, a financial infeasibility synopsis, a chronological timeline of events and all back up documentation. We were anything but the "Nimbys" they may have been expecting, we made an impression.
Our CARDD group expert in the affordable housing financing industry, Renée, spoke to the infeasibility of the project - with facts and figures, asking the question how did MassHousing approve the eligibility of this project in the first place with so many voids. Colleen and I spoke to the gaming of the system - Developer O’Brien trying to have both his subdivision and comprehensive 40b permit working at the same time. Brought up about the removal of Parcel X - a substantial change and all his actions that show the sale of Parcel X to Brox and losing site control. We asked for the PEL to be rescinded.
We did not feel that we were under any time pressure - no checking of watches or phones. Secretary Augustus was present, understood and we had his attention. We walked away with his commitment to us that he would look into the issues we addressed. We look forward to his response.
It was a great day for the good guys! It isn't every day that you have the opportunity to meet and have the ear of the top decision maker. Again, a big thank you goes out to Colleen Garry for climbing down the rabbit holes with us, putting in her time and caring for Dracut as we do.
Reach out to get your lawn sign!
They're popping up all around town!
As we've had many requests, we've ordered more signs in! We're hoping for a donation - a gift of any size matters - to help offset our expenses and counsel fees.
