Maple Lane Farm

We had our realtor take us through this home about a year ago.  I had been watching it for a few years, and hoped one day to see it for sale.  Well, it did sell, when our realtor was away on vacation.  Up till that time it had been on, and off the market a few times, then suddenly it was back on, and sold.  Of course, we were disappointed, but the sellers realtor did give a us a tour of the old home, and we found it amazing.  The interior has changed little since the late 18th century when it was built, and in one room the old "Indian Shutters", heavy wooden window shutters, were still in place on the interior of the house ready to be slid into place in case of an attack.

The photo below is how the farm looked around 1905.  Do you know where it is?

Army Corps Of Engineers Improve An Already Wonderful View

The Westville Recreation Area that straddles the Quinebaug River from Sturbridge to Southbridge is a local treasure.  The river, and the trails alongside, and around the river, offer  wonderful excuses to wander, and enjoy.  There is a large open grassy area beside the water that is perfect for pick up games of touch football, softball, dog walking, and kite flying. Until recently, that grassy area had stopped far from the rivers bank, and the view of the river was blocked by large, overgrown brush.  Now, that has all changed.  The brush has been totally, and completely removed, and the rivers edge has returned to much how it was 100 years ago; it's beautiful.

This is one of our favorite walking places that we try to hike a couple of times each month, but the past six months, or so, we have been a bit busy, and had not seen the current  changes along the river.

A view of Shuttleville from around 1900 to 1910.

The view of the Quinebaug River today.  The area in the center of the
of the photo to the green grass was once tall brush blocking the
view of the river.

The LItchfield Shuttle Works on the Southbridge side of the river
looking toward what still is a grassy area in Sturbridge.  The
remnants of the factory can still be seen along the river.

Of Course, This Would Work, Too; Even Better

And, then of course, there is this way to stop the solar "farm" from destroying a forest.

I read the article below, and a smile sprung to my face immediately.  They got it.  Not only did the selectmen get it, they got it en masse, and acted in public for an immediate moratorium on "non-municipal solar voltaic installations".

They then took it further, and are seeking the help of our state senator, our state representative, and the Governor, to enact "special moratorium legislation" for solar voltaic installations.

The words that made me smile the most were these:

“The Sturbridge board of selectmen believes that ‘as of right’ locating of solar photovoltaic installations in heavily forested residential districts presents a clear and present danger to the health, safety and welfare of our residents, our environment and the future of our residential neighborhoods.”


The selectman made it clear that the idea of removing a forest in order to put in a "green energy" project was not only wrong in this instance, but would be wrong at any time.

The selectman worked together for one purpose.  The cause was one that all felt passionate about, and that sealed the deal.    

Keep the passion flowing.

Moratorium on solar farms moves forward

By Craig S. Semon TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

STURBRIDGE —  Selectmen last night made major strides in keeping solar farms out of forested residential districts by moving a moratorium article forward and soliciting support from key politicians for special legislation.

In a 5-0 vote, the board moved forward a special town meeting article to put an “immediate” moratorium on all non-municipal solar photovoltaic installations.

The article, which will be voted on Jan. 7, is asking for an 18-month moratorium until a solar farm bylaw is approved at town meeting by June 2014.

The solar farm bylaw would prohibit farms in forested residential districts and forested commercial/industrial districts.

Saying solar farms in residential districts are “in direct conflict with the principles of smart growth and smart energy,” and present “a potential threat to the health and safety,” selectmen, in a 4-1 vote, agreed to seek help from Gov. Deval Patrick, state Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, and state Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren,, for special moratorium legislation.

In their letter to the three, selectmen say the current, rapid move toward solar development has placed large tracts of heavily forested lands in jeopardy of significant clear-cutting.

The letter also says the ability of proponents and developers to leverage the state’s exemption of solar farms installation from local zoning restrictions is contrary to nearly all smart growth and smart energy principles championed by the state.

“The Sturbridge board of selectmen believes that ‘as of right’ locating of solar photovoltaic installations in heavily forested residential districts presents a clear and present danger to the health, safety and welfare of our residents, our environment and the future of our residential neighborhoods,” the letter says.

In another 5-0 vote, selectmen authorized town counsel to try to block proposed, non-municipal solar farms in forested residential districts.
 

Image From Our Past

"Henry Haynes began making and repairing carriages and wagons in Sturbridge center in 1834. The business became H & M Haynes when he and brother Melvin became partners. In the photograph, from left to right, Henry D. Haynes, William Booker, Jack Wright, Melvin Haynes, Henry M. Carpenter, John P. Haynes, Henry Haynes, William Perry, ? Trask, Harrison Craig, Lotson Harnant. The shop closed about 1910 under the name H. Haynes & Son."-- Digital Treasures: A Central & Western Digital Library Project

Stupidity, Or Brilliance?

Being far removed from something often gives one the unique ability to see it as it truly is, and not how it is being presented.  If one is paying attention.

I pay attention. I also have an enormous imagination, which also can be quite helpful at times.

Case in point: the recent decision of Sturbridge land owner to take 40 acres of forested hillside on Shepard Road, clear cut the trees, and then erect 27,000 solar panels. Obviously, the decision to construct an eco-friendly power source was not born out of a desire to better our world, eliminate carbon foot prints, or anything else ecologically beneficial. The decision was born out of what the heck to do with land that could no longer be used for its original purpose, a housing development, because of the economy, and the max benefit per acre had to be found.  This doesn't take any imagination to figure out.

Clear cutting 40 acres on a hillside for solar energy is beyond oxymoronism, it is a desperate move to recoup an investment.

Now, here is where being "far removed from something" comes in to give one some a better view. It could also be viewed as stupid.

Destroying a wildlife habitat, disturbing the ecosystem of a hillside that would eventually subside into residents back yards, the destruction of 40 acres of trees, and the benefits they give us, all to supply the electric grid with 6 megawatts of solar power.

What is wrong with picture?  No imagination needed here, either.

But, wait, there's more.

Now, the land owner has decided to cut back his initial project from 40 acres to 25 acres, and to downsize the power production from 6 megawatts to 4 mw in order to avoid the input of the Conservation Commission. Another action that is more financially driven since the denial, and/or restrictions the Conservation Commission would make would most likely shut down the project.

"...Glenn E. Krevosky, owner and manager of EBT Environmental Consultants of Oxford, said Ariana has decided to “downsize” its original proposal so it can take it outside the commission's jurisdiction. 

Mr. Krevosky said the concept now is in “the 4 megawatts range” and would involve fewer than 25 acres. 

“There will be a reduction in the size of the project. That is a definite,” Mr. Krevosky said. “Now the discussion is to … move the project 200 feet away from wetland boundaries and, if that is done, it will take it out of the Conservation Commission's jurisdiction.”  --Worcester Telegram November 26, 2012


Hmm. Blatant admissions of just how one wants to circumvent the powers that be in order to have their way is not usually done with this much forethought; unless there is another motive.

Imagine this: a developer desperate to use the land he purchased, and can no longer make money on. Selling it to another land developer won't happen for the same reasons he is stuck with it, but maybe, just maybe, if a really ludicrous plan is announced it might work in their favor.   How about a plan to remove a forest in order to make electricity from the sun?   Once it is made public it will stir up the town folk to stop it, ad the town would feel reasonably safe since the Conservation Commission would be there to stop it, too.

Then, comes part 2. 

 
The owner then backs off on the original projects size, and openly states that the reason he has done this is to take the Conservation Commission out of the equation. This gives the impression that they are still going forward with the project, and are willing to cut back its size in order to circumvent closer scrutiny, and possible rejection. In other words, we are still going through with this, and now there is less you can do to stop us.

Now, you don't have to be a screenplay writer, or have an overactive imagination, to see what comes next. The town runs out of options, or money to fight the project, and the developer doesn't really want to build a solar power plant. All they want to do is unload the land. How much does this land, the hillside, the forest, and the happiness of the abutters really mean to the town?  Enough to buy it?  Preserve it forever from developers.  That would eliminate the threat of development, save the land, and send the developer  happily away.  Sound familiar?  We've been down this road a few times.  Our past actions speaks volumes.

Silly scenario? Maybe, but destroying a forest to offer eco-friendly power is pretty silly, too.  I've seen sillier things get accomplished, but from here, this may not be so stupid.  In fact, the plan is actually brilliant, but I think the developer is a few years too late. Sturbridge's land buying days are over for awhile.

At least I hope so.

I can't wait for the third installment.