Palumbo commentsCarolyn Misch <cmisch@northamptonma.gov>
Bratton Court/ Keiter Builders Thursday’s meeting 530 PM
Lisa <lpalumbo@verizon.net>Sun, Aug 22, 2021 at 10:52 AM
To: Carolyn Misch <cmisch@northamptonma.gov>
Cc: David Bloomberg <david@fierstbloomberg.com>
Hi Carolyn and David,
I was just taking to my neighbors,
Chris Kennedy ( 4 Bratton ) and Julie Rosenshein ( 3 Bratton ) They are going to try to attend the Thursday evening meeting at 530
PM.
Our collective main concerns about Keiter’s plans to renovate and expand 2 Bratton Court is how the new build will impact the parking
and number of cars on what is already a very narrow, tight street to begin with. If the house at 2 Bratton Court becomes a two family,
that could potentially mean four more cars pulling in and out of the street. 2 Bratton Court has been vacant for some time and there is
little parking for that house already. When the house has been occupied in the past, tenants would very often park right on the street
in front of the house and block entry and exit to the street.
In addition, our street is sometimes blocked because of Starrs pizza delivery in and out and oil truck delivery. John Geryk’s vans
have been really great about not blocking the street but the extra vans often parked on John’s property in front of his garages further
narrow the street during business hours. Add to that, four more cars and it could be a very difficult situation.
Bratton Court is already one of the narrowest streets in town. There is the safety concern about fire trucks being able to easily get
down the street.
The beautiful tree in front of 2 Bratton Court is lovely and provides shade and atmosphere to our street. None of us are in favor of that
tree coming down as part of a new build.
Just an as FYI - the prior decision to add an extra parking spot in front of Starrs Pizza and change the driveway for Cumberland Farms
has made turning left out of Bratton Court dangerous. There is no visibility when turning left out of Bratton Court if three cars are
parked in front of Starr ’s. We already have to edge our way out slowly and hope that no one is zipping by or trying to make a turn into
the street. There is always the possibility that a driver is coming out of Cumberland Farms and making a right towards the center of
town and this adds to an already dangerous and congested situation. And , this is before potentially adding four more cars.
All of us work from home and need to be able to get in and out of our street easily.
These issues which I have described above are only known to the residents here at Bratton Court. We all agree about the above
points. Until you have lived on the street and all of us have lived here for approximately 20 years, you wouldn’t know what it is like with
the vehicles which already block the street as well as the many pedestrians who use our street all day long to access the bike path.
Chris Kennedy suggested that I write to you today to give folks at the town time to consider these issues. Julie Rosenshein pointed out
that only ten minutes is being allocated for discussion.
Many thanks.
Lisa Palumbo
5 Bratton Court.
Sent from my iPhone