Special Board of Aldermen 12-07-2021 Page 11
Unknown Male Speaker
| would just like to say | want to thank my neighbors for coming out. Thank you. Thank you for trying to save our
neighborhood. That's what I'm trying to say. Thank you very much.
Chairman Dowd
All right if there's no other further testimony in favor, | will now ask for testimony in opposition to this legislation.
Please come up to the microphone - name and address.
Testimony in Opposition
John Sullivan
John Sullivan, 30 Holbrook Drive, Nashua, New Hampshire, and Ward 9. Thank you for the opportunity to speak
tonight. | come before the Board to share my thoughts on why | think the city shouldn't interfere with private land
development and turn this piece of private land into government owned property. According to the housing study that
just got completed a year ago, Nashua has a housing shortage problem. Our low inventory of housing is driving up
prices. Its economics 101. We lack housing and all price ranges. The Planning Departments set a goal of 5,000
units of housing — 5,000. That's a lot. If this development on private land doesn't happen, there's 44 units towards the
5,000 that won't happen. We're no closer to our goal. | guess we'll just have to develop somewhere else. Where? If
we keep making exceptions for one reason or another, we don't hit our goal. We won't get affordable housing and
we'll make no progress.
If the city buys this land, what does the city do with it? Sell it? To whom? And now we're in the real estate business.
| like my city to focus on infrastructure, public safety, and education not private land development. If the city buys this
land, that's an estimated $600,000 dollars in taxes that we can get in revenue to pay the police, the fire department,
and our teachers. That revenue needs to come from somewhere. Either it comes from current property owners
through higher taxes or we can expand the base. If the city buys this land, our taxes will go up even more. I've
looked at the plans. I've walked the space. I've enjoyed Greeley Park with my family for many, many years. If you
stand on Concord Street and look towards the stone house, you simply cannot see it. If you're enjoying a show on the
stage or playing softball on the fields, it doesn't impact your experience. This doesn't encroach one inch onto Greeley
Park. There are setbacks in place. The city can work with the developer to make them fit the character of the
neighborhood.
Alderman O’Brien
30 seconds.
John Sullivan
This development is forward thinking. The homes don't use a lot of land. That's more homes on less land. It stops
sprawl. If you travel this country in the world, homes are closer together. It increases density. This is the way we
should be developing - smarter, more efficient. If the city buys this land, it sets a bad precedent. There was no
documented uproar when developers bought the land off of Ridge Road in my ward. That was a Boy Scout camp.
Alderman O’Brien
Time.
John Sullivan
It's private land. Let the market take care of itself and have the city provide the guardrails. Thank you.
Chairman Dowd
Anyone else that would like to speak in opposition to this legislation?
Laurie Ortolano
Hi. Yes, good evening. Laurie Orlando, 41 Berkeley Street. | do not think we should act on this bond. This is a
