The Windhamization of Gray
I want to be excited about Hannaford coming to town, I really do.
But the more I look at this deal the more its beginning to look like a pig in a poke.
First question I have is why do we have to zone yet another area of strip commercial development in Gray? Do we not have strip commercial extending the entire length of Rte 100. First step in the Windhamization of Gray. In the rush to chase commercial tax dollars, we are selling ourselves short. Remember that Hannaford is a big prefab box that does not have a high taxable value, with most of the value in inventory that escapes the personal property tax. So where's the big payoff?
Second consideration: Hannaford does not wish to build on 26 to capture the Gray-New Gloucester market, the intent is to snag dollars from the touristas and the Oxford County commuters who have long plagued our town with choking traffic. After suffering for so long and paying so much to get the bypass in, now we'll shoot it in the foot by welcoming in a new logjam…yes there will be traffic lights and traffic at the very throat of the bypass Shaker Road intersection.
Why did we spend all that money to install a water line down Portland Road, if we are not going to funnel new business in that area? If we encourage business to locate anywhere but in the TIF district then, 1) tax dollars will have to be used to pay off the bonds rather than captured value, and 2) any resulting tax revenue will NOT be sheltered from the school funding formula for ten years. Talk about an uncoordinated and costly plan.
Why did we also spend all that money and time to do a Comprehensive Plan that specifically discouraged strip commercial from that portion of the Route 26 corridor, only to ignore the contractual wishes of the townspeople 2 years later. Did we not have over a year of Town meetings to solicit the wishes of the people? To blatantly override these wishes after pummeling everyone incessantly to participate negates the creditability of the Town government..dare I say it borders on tyranny. Tea anyone?
Afraid that we'll never get a date for the prom, Gray is willing to promise its virtue to the first bozo who asks. Is this the way we want our town to be?
I don't and that is why I am voting a resounding NO on July 31st.
Labels: By-Pass, Hannaford, Taxes, TIF District, Traffic
posted by Publicus at 12:10 PM
3 Comments:
I was really looking forward to having a decent supermarket in Gray. But I reluctantly have to agree - this isn't the right deal.
I don't buy that we're creating jobs. Sure, maybe a net gain of a few part time, non-benefited cashier/stocker/bagger positions for teens, after the Gray market closes. Big whoop.
Likewise, I don't buy that our taxes will go down. Even assuming there's a tax windfall big enough to split across all the households in Gray from 1 mini Hannaford, nobody is writing the tax cut into the zoning plan. If there isn't a concrete plan in place beforehand, any extra money will just expand the budget.
So with the smoke & mirrors out of the way, for me, the question is: Is having a decent supermarket in town worth the large area being rezoned, and the traffic slow downs from a light on 26?
A good local supermarket isn't just a convenience, its a real community asset, health-wise.
Initially, I was picturing the Hannaford in Windham, or Falmouth. Huge variety, wide aisles, nice place. But that's not what Gray would get. We'd get a mini, Bridgton sized Hannaford.
Ok, that might be nice too. Better even. Picture a small stand-alone building, not too intrusive, enclosed by trees, but still stocking 10 times the produce variety of Gray market. Sounds good. But that's not what we'd get either. They're rezoning 60 acres. 60 acres for a mini Hannaford.
There was an opinion piece in the paper that described 60 acres as bigger than the Maine Mall, including Borders and the entire parking lot.
Yeah that does it. I'm voting no. I don't care what else might go onto that 60 acres - its way too much for that area, that road.
I'm not giving up on getting a supermarket. But I do think we should send Hannaford & our zoning board back to the drawing board.
Did you see the results????
Looks like you are not very convincing to your audience.If you have an audience.
Good comments alastminutedecision.
Like you, I have not dimissed the concept of siting another grocery store in Gray, but without question, Area 8 is NOT the location.
Nothing about the site has ever made sense, except to Hannaford.
Unfortunately, a narrow majority of our fellow citizens are in favor of compromising the character of their Town for the one dimensional benefit of convenience.
Hannaford never exists within a vacuum. More retailers and banks will come to feed off Hannaford's traffic, creating a congestion that will end up being anything but convenient.
Post a Comment
<< Home