Disagrees with idea of using land for housing

I was dismayed to read in your most recent coverage of the Sterling selectman’s meeting ("Looking again at Community Preservation Act," Jan. 10 Item) that a statement was made by a representative of the Mass Housing Partnership indicating streamlining the process for land acquisition in the town for affordable housing. Specifically, the example given was if the town were to have a “Right of First Refusal” opportunity from the sale or change of use of Chapter 61 land that an Affordable Housing Trust would have more agility than the town to acquire the land without having to go to town meeting.

While it is true that the town can transfer the right to certain eligible conservation organizations that is hardly the point here. I don’t believe that housing would qualify as conservation, but the real issue is the conversion of use.

The Chapter 61 programs were put in place to keep the land undeveloped. This intent of the law extends to the town if they or their assigns purchase the property. Further, if loopholes exist to allow this to happen by circumventing the decision process of the people through town meeting then it is a travesty.

These are the types of actions that change a bucolic town like Sterling, once known as the agricultural gem of Worcester County, into Brookline.

Bob Nickerson

Sterling