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Ryan won't sign for condo project

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



INDIAN ORCHARD Sue Craven said that she was "just about speechless" when she heard that Mayor Charles Ryan had announced he would not sign documents to allow for the construction of a 48-unit condominium project at Loon Pond.

Craven, the president of the Indian Orchard Citizens Council, said that she was happy for the residents because "somebody from City Hall finally listened to us."

Both the mayor and the City Council had to approve a request for a special easement for a new sewer line to cross over property owned by the Conservation Commission in order for the project to move forward. The request would then have to go for final approval to the Legislature.

The City Council approved the request with only Rosemarie Mazza Moriarty casting a vote with the neighborhood.

At a July 13 special meeting of the Council, Ryan heard how Indian Orchard residents have been in opposition of the project that was introduced two years ago. The owner of the property, Matthew Campagnari, had previously operated a bar, Jam's Beach, at the Pasco Road location. His plan was to build a series of condominiums that would sell between $175,000 to $200,000 and would be marketed to "empty nesters" couples who want to downsize from a large family home.

Craven explained to Reminder Publications that residents were concerned about the number of units on the small pond, the lack of parking and the impact of 100 extras cars a day entering and exiting from the property onto a busy section of Pasco Road.

Ryan told reporters at a Thursday press conference that not only did he have objections to the project, but also to the developers, which include Anthony Ardolino, who had been former Mayor Michael Albano's chief of staff.

Ryan said that in the fraud trial of Ardolino's brother, Chester, and Michael Hutchinson, Ardolino was "publicly identified as an unidentified co-conspirator."

"This is not the type of development team I have the confidence in to do this kind of development in the city of Springfield," Ryan said.

Ryan distributed the following reasons for his decision:

" The site is far too small for such density of use;

Many of the condominium units are literally within a stone's throw of Rick's Auto Body, the largest independently owned Auto Body shop in the area;

Rick's has been there for close to 10 years an auto body shop is incompatible with new $200K condominiums. Human nature being what it is, and in spite of the fact that Rick's was there first, it will ultimately be blamed by residents in the new units for the inevitable conditions of noise and fumes which are an integral part of any auto body shop activities;

The Glenmore Street pumping station has malfunctioned in the past and will continue to malfunction from time to time in the future.

The developers claim that they will attract 'empty nesters.' This assertion appears unduly optimistic when one realizes that each unit for these 'empty nesters' is designed to be on three levels;

I have further serious concerns about the lack of adequate parking, the absence of any on-site amenities and the difficulties for emergency vehicles, especially fire trucks, to access all of the units;

In addition, there has been a total disregard of the rights or concerns of the Glenmore Street residents or the Indian Orchard Civic Association. Even though both groups spoke unanimously in opposition to the sewage from the project being transported through Conservation Commission property and down Glenmore St. to Parker Street, only one City Councilor heard their voices. The opinions and concerns of these citizens and taxpayers were entitled to far more respect than was afforded to them;

The final significant factor leading to my decision is a complete lack of confidence in the development team. Several years ago, when Mr. Ardolino was Mayor Albano's Chief of Staff, he and Mr. Campagnari aggressively tried to have the City pay for the street and sewer construction of a private development on Lemnos Lane. Were it not for the action of the City Council, they would have been successful in arranging for the illegal expenditure of a large amount of public funds for what was clearly the private responsibility of Mr. Campagnari and his former partner.

"Frankly, I am troubled by Anthony Ardolino's participation and his close business relationship over a long period of time with Mr. Campagnari. I am significantly influenced by the fact that, in the recent trial leading to the convictions of Chester Ardolino and Michael Hutchinson, Anthony Ardolino was publicly identified as an unidentified co-conspirator. This is a very serious assertion. Furthermore, the uncontradicted evidence in that trial was that the criminal scheme for which Chester Ardolino and Michael Hutchinson were convicted was hatched and first given life in a meeting hosted by Anthony Ardolino in his Chief of Staff office in City Hall."

Ryan also wrote, "There will be those who will choose to ignore these reasons and say that my action is a mistake, that economic development, increased amounts of taxes, and other important benefits may result from this proposed condominium project at Loon Pond.

"I disagree. I believe that the most important factor we should be considering is the wishes of the people who live in our city, especially those in the neighborhood most affected. Every day they make an act of faith to stay here, to raise their families here, and to build their lives here. Our priority attention should go to them and as long as I am Mayor it will go to them to the folks who live in our neighborhoods, to the residents of our city, Springfield."

Craven said there a chance that the project might be scaled back and reintroduced. She said that the Citizens Council would like to explore purchasing the property and donating it to the city for use as a park.