Wakefield residents be concerned about The Commons at Weiss Farm

Are you as our neighbor concerned about what’s happening to Weiss Farm that indirectly will affect the surrounding neighborhoods of Wakefield?  Your neighboring community of Stoneham is facing serious concerns over the proposed development The Commons at Weiss Farm by M. Corcoran and Co. This development threatens neighborhoods of Stoneham, buffering neighborhoods in Melrose and Wakefield.  We understand that the proposed development will not have access from Spring St area but only from Franklin St.  Do not consider yourselves relieved by just the access issue.  There are serious issues of soil erosion and the significant or cumulative affect upon public and private water supply, ground water, flood control, erosion and sedimentation control. 

Stoneham maybe facing the onslaught of this developer’s proposed plan of placing 3 5-story buildings plus town houses and using Mass General Laws Chapter 40B to override Stoneham’s bylaws for his benefit. Wakefield and Melrose will also suffer because it will bring permanent damage to the Wetlands upon which Weiss Farm is located.

Wetlands are part of the foundation of our nation's water resources and are vital to the health of waterways and communities that are downstream. Wetlands feed downstream waters, trap floodwaters, recharge groundwater supplies, and remove pollution. Wetlands are also economic drivers because of their key role in, agriculture and recreation.

Wetlands include swamps, marshes and bogs. Wetlands vary widely because of differences in soils, topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation, and other factors.

Wetlands are often found alongside waterways and in flood plains. However, some wetlands have no apparent connection to surface water like rivers, lakes or the ocean, but have critical groundwater connections.

There is a danger to our environment.  Remember   Meeting House Swamp sits just above the proposed project site.  Intermittent Stream runs along beside it. Corocoran and Co. calls the entire site “open space,” The 26 acres of Weiss Farm has a high density of wetland.  Its history includes flooding of the farmland and the neighborhood as well. If Corcoran is allowed to skirt ecological issues and build three five-story buildings, and additional town houses displacing this wetland, we will lose all its natural benefits and run the risk of flooding plus absorb dangerous pollutants from run-off. These dangers affect not only Stoneham but also Melrose and Wakefield.  Do your city officials show any concern over this proposed development?  We have heard from the Mayor of Melrose and Ward 1 Alderman of Melrose.  They are concerned about the flooding and pollution. Our State Representative, Jason Lewis has also written to Mass Housing about the problem of a development too big for Stoneham.

Weiss Farm was formerly a dairy farm but when cows were housed on this property the Weiss family would take their cows across the street to graze and not on the existing 26 acres. Why? Was it because of the effects of years of waste and pollution on this acreage?

This site now contains landfill of unknown composition.  What is the composition of this landfill?  Are their latent pesticide dangers lurking in this land?  What is the composition of the soil? . Stoneham, Melrose and Wakefield residents need to know.

Send letters to the Stoneham Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board, and the Board of Appeal.  They need to hear your concerns.

Currently Mass Housing is reviewing for a comprehensive permit. You need to let them know of your concerns as well as your state representative.