Well, the council rejected the proposal to rezone those residential properties near the corner of Low Street and Storey Ave. An approval would have paved the way (literally) for a proposed CVS and bank (although the exact businesses were never mentioned publicly) to be built in between the gas station and the entrance to Atria Merrimack.
Councillors voting against the measure cited traffic concerns, which is legitimate. The proposal supposedly would have placed the principal access on Low Street but that's still a busy intersection.
This was a tough call but I would have supported the rezoning. Putting aside the fact that the city would have been give some 25 acres of open space on the back of the property, I don't see how having those properties zoned residential benefits anyone.
The proximity to businesses and traffic has to have diminished the value of those properties, so the homeowner doesn't benefit. The city always could use a broader tax base so the city doesn't really benefit.
The only beneficiary of the rejection are the neighbors who feared the traffic that such a project - or any project - could bring.
But the Planning Board really should accept or reject a project on those issues. That's its job. City Councilors should maintain a bigger picture and recognize that smidge of residential property in a sea of commerce is an unfortunate byproduct of piecemeal zoning changes. (At least it seems to be, I don't know the history.)
Perhaps this was just another shot fired in discussions with the developer, who will further sweeten the pot enough to get a few councilors to swap sides. (The measure actually received six votes in favor, but it needed eight.) But if this is the end of this particular story someone should consider how the city wants to write the next installment. It's time to be proactive.
And I agree with the P. Preservationist. Good turnout last night.
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