BACAS wants to rezone the Sacred Heart Church in Waterville, and its land in our neighborhood, from residential to commercial, to bring an events center, despite having “The Elm” events center that recently opened up on already commercially zoned College Avenue.

Their proposal is contrary to the goals stated in Waterville’s City Comprehensive Plan for healthy, vibrant and safe neighborhoods. It is the wrong fit for our long-established, historical, quiet, and calm residential neighborhood. The City Council should do what is right, and say, “No.”

It’s disheartening that we neighbors have to deal with the negative baggage the proposal brings. We don’t want to degrade the quality of life we are accustomed to, nor devalue the investment of our homes. BACAS wants to come in and disrupt our peace for their financial gain, yet they haven’t had the decency to look us in the eye, and talk with us.

It isn’t forward thinking to despoil our neighborhood’s integrity. Neighbors don’t want to invite on a daily basis, potentially 300 strangers, 100 automobiles, hours of operation from 7 a.m. till midnight, weekend concerts, and the selling of alcohol near the sanctuary of our homes. People drinking late at night, then driving away, is not safe for all involved.

This business will degrade the ecology of our neighborhood; bringing noise pollution from a hundred cars coming and going. Tailpipe emissions will tarnish the air quality and increase our neighborhood’s carbon footprint.

It would be disrespectful to impose that neighbors have to hear car engines firing up at midnight, long after they have gone to bed. I am against this proposal even if its hours were 9 to 5.  It is wrong for the soul of our residential neighborhood.

Linda DerSimonian

Waterville

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