The above shows the gate put in place approximately four years ago to keep all but cabin lessees from access to a very pleasant path through the woods that accesses other land donated by Ms. Falby, including a beach and great places to fish from the shore. There has been lack of clarity from the New England Forestry Foundation on whether it negotiated the right for people to enjoy this beautiful place to walk -- and which is now, as in this photo, being turned into a suburban road.
If one looks beyond the gate here is what one sees. Devastation everywhere.
Here is a view of road construction from Rocky Pond itself.
Follow the path and one finds considerable clear cutting in the forest. Note that virtually all of this devastation took place after the New England Forestry Foundation communicated to the developer that it wanted to buy back his land. Especially distressing is the fact that absolutely no efforts have been made to keep the septic clearances sheltered from cabin sites and the road -- in my town of Northboro virually all such construction, including on my street, includes a line of trees or bushes. In fact, construction seems to have picked up. And why not? The more 'investment' the more it is going to cost to buy the land back. The stakes are increasing daily.
July 3, 2002. A line of
telephone poles is now being placed on the suburban roadway being constructed
along the side of Rocky Pond.
July 12 began with a parade of heavy equipment moving down Boulder Way and onto Rocky Pond (photo courtesy of local resident). Their purpose this week seems to be further widening of the road in preparation for the digging of septics. The bottom photo shows them working their way along the existing road, cutting deeper into the forest. The noise was overwhelming. One result visible already is that we've seen no herons on Rocky Pond since construction began.
July 25. We're beginning
to get a much better sense of what 'Sydow Acres' is going to look like. Above
is a clear cutting scene and what appears to be the digging of septics.
One can see easily that a row of magnificent trees near the road
were cut, unnecessarily in terms of earlier developer intent, which you can
learn more about by clicking here. It should
be noted that this cutting leaves several cabins utterly vulnerable to hot
sun. And much of this is actually quite close to the water. It is true devastation.
And it is being done at a time when NEFF and the local residents are actively
engaged in trying to get a resolution. Clearly, negotiation is failing.
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Fast forward to September 17, 2002. We can see more clearing, the beginnings of a road to permit a subdivision and tattered protective barriers. But what is truly disturbing is the fact that the trees near this once shaded cabin have been removed, even though they are very far from the NEFF right of way and what appears to be the new road. Why would these trees be removed? Of course, they were large and healthy and the wood would bring a pretty penny. But we are also thinking of the cabin owner who most certainly will not look forward to summer without shade and protection from the elements. Might this owner want to abandon his cabin, choosing not to renew his property lease, thereby leaving the property available for the impending suburbanization? This is a cyncial view, but in light of what we are learning, not an unreasonable one.
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Now it's 2003. The forest is gone, replaced by a huge suburban
patch of lawn. The photo on the left is from October. The one on the right
suggests how the lawn got so nice and green -- one of several pumps probably
used to provide water to a sprinker (not seen easily in the small photo).
An issue: Did the developer have a proper permit to use pumps when the photo
was taken in August? An investigation of town records suggest none existed
at that time. Another bit of slipping and sliding to meet development
-- not legal or, in terms Gertrude Falby's wishes, ethical????????? Stay
tuned as we see where additional trees are cut and the shores of one of Central
Massachusetts' remaining beautfy spots defamed.
