About a year ago, residents of Bedford fought off a leftist “share-the-wealth” land grab by “neighborworks” which, instead of rehabbing blighted areas as per their federally funded mandate, was trying to build new low-income housing directly across from $300,000 condos in Bedford. In a typical liberal attempt to spread the wealth and misery, someone had even suggested in the newspaper that Bedford had to “take its share of the burden”.
Now, it looks like they’re back, and they’ve got the ear of planning director Rick Sawyer, who for some reason seems prepared to betray the town. They want to build low-income housing all over the town, including the sorts of apartment complexes that invariably become a blight of 3:00 AM police calls, drug deals and violence that spreads to home invasions of nearby houses. What they are calling for, in terms of apartment affordability is, we have learned, is simply code for Section 8 housing.
From the Union Leader:
BEDFORD – A proposed zoning amendment would open 51 percent of the town to affordable housing, but would not dramatically alter the character of the town, according to planning director Rick Sawyer.
The new amendment, which is on the ballot in the town election next Tuesday, is an effort to comply with a new state law, Sawyer said. Under the rules, affordable housing must be available in 51 percent of the residentially zoned land. And, buildings with five or more units must be allowed somewhere.
In our opinion, both the Town Council and School Board in Bedford has been plagued with the same problems for years and badly needs new blood. Unfortunately, there is no one running for school board who is not part of the problem, but there is one new person whose name is on the ballot for Town Council and that is Max Darbouze.
See Bedford’s Town Warrant, Article 2
VOTE NO ON ARTICLE #2
UPDATE: “BEDFORD — Town planners will consider construction of a four- or five-story apartment complex — the largest of its kind in Bedford — within the redeveloped Wayfarer property that now houses Whole Foods Market.
Although conceptual plans for 150 apartments were introduced about a year ago on the site at 121 S. River Road., the newly revised plans suggest 133 apartments.”
Read More…About 130 apartments proposed for former Wayfarer site in Bedford