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Letter
to Forest Park Neighbors about the Crystal
Avenue Dear Neighbor and Friend: Just
over a year ago we asked for your help to mount a legal challenge to the
Crystal Avenue zone change. The fight continues. First a recap of the
facts. Last winter, Belmont Laundry sought a zone change for three pieces of residential property in order to build a garage for their fleet of trucks. Despite strong opposition from Crystal Avenue residents and from the FPCA, the City Council granted the zone change thus creating an industrial zone on an otherwise residential street Committed to protecting residential areas from industrial encroachment, the FPCA challenged the zone change in Superior Court, After months of delay, on August 30, the Court ruled against the FPCA thus allowing for the demolition of three houses to be replaced by a garage and water treatment facility. The only option now available to stop this assault on our neighborhood is to appeal this decision to the Massachusetts Appeals Court. After thorough review of the issues and legal options, the FPCA Board voted to move ahead with the appeal. This decision was not taken lightly for it will challenge the neighborhood to raise the funds necessary to cover the cost of this litigation. It has been many years since the FPCA has expended substantial financial resources on litigation. But, looking back, these were dollars well spent for they protected Sumner Avenue west of the X from becoming a strip of gas stations and fast food stops. The Board felt that the Crystal Avenue zone change is a neighborhood threat of equal proportion. If an industrial zone can be permitted on Crystal A venue what is to stop the same thing on Garfield St., Beechwood Ave., Firglade Ave., Forest Skeet, Forest Park Ave., or even your street? The appeal will cost up to $5,000. Each of us who has an investment in the neighborhood must do what we can. An anonymous donor has agreed to match each dollar raised up to $2,500.. So your financial commitment of $100, $50, $25 or whatever you can give will be doubled with this matching money. Because the FPCA must proceed immediately with the legal appeal, this is an urgent request. Please do what you can and write you check today and send it to the FPCA at Box 8084, Springfield, MA 01108. For your continued commitment to the Forest Park neighborhood, thank you.
Signed:
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