On Development of the Walsh Property
To the editor:
I read with interest the front-page article in the March 28 Independent on the two additional candidates for the Truro Select Board. I was pleased that both candidates say they support housing on the Walsh property. It was also encouraging that they supported the Walsh Property Committee’s recommendation for a phased approach to development. The committee recommended that the first phase include 50 to 80 units of housing. It is unfortunate that this central aspect of the committee’s recommendations — phased development — has received so little attention.
The Walsh Property Committee’s decision on phasing was based on the knowledge that the strategy achieves important planning objectives including absorption of housing units into the local market and responds to community concerns about the size of the development and the availability of funding. The committee agreed that, after the first phase of housing is completed and before additional housing is built, there should be community input, a market study, traffic study, and consideration of any environmental concerns.
Another important fact that has also not received much attention is that any development of the Walsh property that needs funding from Truro taxpayers must be voted on at town meeting.
I thank the Independent for its excellent coverage of the housing crisis on the Outer Cape.
Betty Gallo
North Truro
The writer served on the Walsh Property Committee and is vice chair of the Truro Housing Authority but does not speak for either committee.
