[CPEO-MEF] Abutters wonder what lies beneath

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Massachusetts
SCITUATE MARINER
Abutters wonder what lies beneath
By Matthew J. Gill
Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Goulston property development raising environmental concerns

The Oceanside Village Chapter 40B development planned for the Goulston
Property is raising many concerns and nearly as many questions about the
parcel known around town as "The Proving Grounds."

At a neighborhood meeting last week, Shore Acres neighbors united in
their concern about the large development proposed for the 50-acre site,
have raised a variety of issues ranging from impacts to wildlife and the
environment to the added burden on the towns water supplies and school
system.

The property itself is situated between Hatherly and Tilden Road, and is
owned by two brothers, Arnold Goulston who lives next to the property at
177 Tilden Road, and George A. Goulston, who lives outside Scituate.

The brothers have a purchase and sale agreement with developer Oceanside
Village, LLC - a subsidiary of Pulte Homes of Southboro - which has
proposed to construct a 250-unit townhouse development on the property

The development would consist of 169 two-story townhouses and three
additional four-story buildings which would hold the remaining 81 units.

The project has garnered initial approval from the Massachusetts Housing
Finance Agency, and the first public hearing on the development is
scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Scituate High School
auditorium.

Longley Road resident Don Field is one of the organizers of The Proving
Grounds Group, a grassroots campaign of neighbors and abutters who have
voiced their concerns about the development coming to their
neighborhood.

In addition to the toll 250 units' would take on the town's water
supply, sewer system, schools, and traffic, Field and other members of
the group are also concerned with environmental issues on site.

"There are a lot o f the comments and concerns around the previous uses
of the property," Field said.

Included in the developer's application package submitted to the ZBA Oct
27, is a history of the property and its uses.

In 1999, the US Army and Support Center - a group that reviews former
military use sites - prepared a report on The Scituate Proving Grounds.

In 1998, the group traveled to The Proving Grounds, but according to
their report, the property owner refused them an on-site inspection, and
they were allowed "limited access."

According to the report, some of the buildings and pillboxes - a low
roofed, concrete gun implacement, remain on site, in addition to
building remnants and underground storage tanks.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.townonline.com/scituate/news/local_regional/sci_newsmgoulstonproperty11262003.htm

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