To the editor:
I was dismayed by two recent letters to the Edge from Stockbridge residents, continuing the relentless negative narrative on the Residential Tax Exemption
These two letters make for strange allies. Why would one writer, with second homeowner experience, want to see a small group of town residents and outside interests open a Pandora’s box of large scale development projects, fundamentally changing the town that represents Norman Rockwell’s America?
Why do people buy and build second homes here? Culture, heritage, history, scenic beauty, natural resources, classic small town life? What do they think will happen if dozens or even of hundreds of new housing units appear in a relatively short time? There will still only be two parking spaces at the post office. The impact of scale will be a tragedy that will draw national attention to a storied community.
Obviously, if developer folks want us to allow cluster housing for more second home owners, they don’t want it getting out that the units have even a slightly higher tax rate. I get that is part of making profits.
Both of the letters contain ad hominem attacks. Myself and many others easily recognize the targeted residents. I consider both of these people part of the Stockbridge family. We may disagree sometimes but we are still Stockbridge. I am not going to answer the two letter writers, especially on one writer’s version of the recent history of the Planning Board and the elections. Yikes…
The real trouble will come when some folks who call Stockbridge home begin to have trouble affording their tax bills. I did not favor the RTE, but even so I felt that it did not get much of a fair shake for real discussion in our local government meetings, or from local media who opposed it.
RTE is a state law, designed to benefit towns in our situation. Other towns have used it, or versions of it. But with all the one-sided noise, it has been hard to understand the other side of the story.
Bruce Blair
3 Glendale Rd
Stockbridge
