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Needs More Time

First Selectman Tom Banisch’s plan to cannibalize the fields at Academy, in our historic district, is not in our best interest and I believe it will not reduce our taxes.

Long ago, town settlers broke their backs filling in the swamp area now called the Church Green. They created their center of town around what they valved most: God, education, and government. The First Congregational Church basement was where town meetings took place. It is referred to as the “meetinghouse” on Meetinghouse Lane. A benefactor donated land for a new school. They positioned this school to the right and purchased properties behind it for open space in 1922. They chose to locate commerce to the east on the Boston Post Road.

Current Madison history is about preserving land for future generations: Surf Club, Garvan Point, Bauer Park, Rockland Preserve, Rettick Farm, and Salt Meadow.

The decision to build high-density housing on the playing fields in our historic district is wrong. Those fields are utilized by the Polson Middle School, Buddy Baseball, Men’s Over 60 Softball, Madison Soccer, Madison Little League, and the kids who run out of meetings held at the First Congregational Church and the American Legion Hall. A development there could be the highest density development in Madison’s history. Early town settlers must be rolling in their graves over at West Cemetery!

The public hearing is slated for Wednesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. at the Polson School. We need to slow the process down. The public needs more information and it needs more time. We need a fair vote and a “no development of the fields” option in the referendum. I encourage your readers to join “Academy—Save the Heart of Madison” on Facebook or email us at academyfairvote@gmail.com.

Cathy Marsh

Madison