[MassHistPres] Demolition Delay Bylaw Defeated

[David Temple]

I don't know how far you went in this direction already, but I'd suggest for Abington a greater outreach and preselling to builders and real estate agents before going to town meeting next time.  Very often I've seen our open town meetings packed by people who know practically nothing about an article -- the only thing they know is that they're opposed to it.  
   
  The Medfield Historic District Commission in 2004 sought to add another historic district and did a lot of outreach before town meeting.  Their meetings were well-attended.  Curiously, the most militant opponents in the proposed district were the people who had done the most to restore their houses! 
   
  The MHDC shelved the idea for that district, but it will come back in the future. But it does not have the stigma of having been rejected at town meeting.
  
Medfield (est. 1651, pop. 12,500) voted a 50/6 demo delay bylaw in 1994 and extended it to 50/12 in 2000. We've had a few wins, but the DD has been less than transformational.  It seems to be well accepted by builders, realtors, etc.
  
RobynBFernald at aol.com wrote:
  The Town of Abington defeated the Demolition Delay Bylaw at its annual 
meeting of 2007. Disappointment is a rather gentle term to describe how the AHC 
feels. The debate became rather heated and the intend and purpose of the bylaw 
was lost in translation. And it became rather clear that our reasonable 
responses to get back on tract were not heard nor considered. The AHC held 
informational meetings ,broadcast several PR shows and produced an Demolition delay 
bylaw DVD in our year long PR campaign hoping to enlighten the townspeople We 
strongly urged for feedback concerns and or any grievances concerning the 
bylaw. WE had only 5 people that responded throughout the year long campaign so 
it was extremely surprising that at the town meeting many voiced their 
strong and somewhat off course opinions against the demo delay..Our loudest 
opponents were the builders and homeowners who feared they could not sell their 
homes. The AHC realizes that other communities have faced similar defeats and 
possibly similar reasons for the defeat. The AHC will be regrouping on this 
matter but would like some advice as to how to proceed from this point on. It 
appears that one of the major flaws in the demo delay by law is the lack of 
understanding it and not what is written. A weakness in conveying? on our part 
the AHC is not sure. So if there are other communities that have found 
themselves in this same situation the AHC would love to hear from you! 

Thanks
Robyn B Fernald
Chair of the AHC
781-982-0059



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David Temple 
David F. Temple, Inc. 
300 South Street 
Medfield, MA 02052 
508-359-2915 

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