Griffin's Dairy Opposition

Facts about Griffin's Farm.

We have all heard that the parcel of land known as Griffin's Farm is 64 acres and
that the Town of Abington purchased it for $750,000.00. Have you ever listened
to the radio personality Paul Harvey? "and now the rest of the story".

Did you know that only 33 1/3 acres of land lies in Abington! Based on Town of
Abington Assessors maps there are 4 parcels of land that make up Griffin's Dairy.
Parcel #1 off Pattison Street consists of 1.45 acres. Parcel #2 is 7.80 acres. Parcel
#3 is 16.83 acres (the original farm) and parcel #4 is 7.23 acres which is off
Bellows Circle. The rest of the land lies in Rockland and is classified as wetlands
and or floodplain.
The Middle School Site Selection Committee says it doesn't flood in Abington's
portion of the farm based on the FEMA Floodplain maps but acknowledges that
Bellows Circle has seasonal flooding issues. See the responses to Questions
and Comments which a copy is attached. The NFIP map is already listed.

The Abington School Department and the Middle School Site Selection
Committee say they need 25 acres of land for a school. They stated that they
need 6 to 8 acres just for the school and parking plus bus areas and then they
need play areas on top of that.

Lets's take the 33 1/3 acres in Abington and deduct the land off Bellows Circle.
Why? Because you can't build on 7.23 acres of land that is classified as wetlands
and floods. We now have 26.07 acres left.

As we look over the rest of the land we find more wetlands and streams. It is
clearly the desire of the Middle School Site Selection Committee and the School
Committee to build a better school environment and create play space. I
disagree that Griffin's Dairy holds the amount of land they desire as it would
require vast amounts of wetlands areas to be altered.

As we start to deduct those areas classified as wetlands and streams, more land
gets deducted from that 26.07 acre number. I had once stated that I challenged
the wetlands delineation that was performed and approved by the Conservation
Commission. I will stand by that challenge. At a recent meeting on Griffin's
Farm, 2/2/07, with the group named Save Griffin's Farm, we met with a
professional wetlands scientist. That we hired! There is something very wrong
with the wetlands delineation that has been approved. A copy of the Town of
Abington's approved Bordering Vegetated Wetlands plan is attached and a copy
of the 2001 plan is attached for comparison. The areas I question, based on the
wetlands vegetation that is present is also attached.

Now perhaps you could build a school on Griffin's Farm. I estimate that you might
have about 6 acres to do that on. You won't be able to alter in excess of 5,000
square feet of wetlands without the project being DENIED! Why? Because the
Wetlands Protection Act will NOT allow it! How did I come to the 6 acre figure?
Look at the picture that shows the dairy with the various parcels shown. Look
very carefully at the parcel that is 16.83 acres. What you see running thru the
middle, in my humble opinion, is an unnamed stream. This same area is reflected
as being bordering vegetated wetlands of French's Stream and it has associated
vegetated wetlands. Look at what has been referred to as "the ditches". They
also contain wetlands vegetation, but I disagree on what is reflected on the
approved plan and the area of wetlands vegetation is a lot greater.

The public comment about the school being able to use the Limited Project
status, which would allow for over the 5000 square foot threshold limits to be
exceeded to reach usable upland just will not apply to this site and if someone
thinks it does, someone better review what gets approved! IT AIN'T GONNA
HAPPEN IT WILL BE APPEALED! There is "reasonable access" to that upland.

Now if you could just see this parcel of land from overhead you could see what I
see and walking the land it even gets smaller. Go to
http://www.mass.gov/mgis/mapping.htm click on DEP Wetlands and see some
great views.Make sure you zoom in on the area around the farm. If you walk the
area read up on wetlands plants and be able to recognize plants like soft
rushes, purple loosestrife and a few other wetland plant indicators. I guarantee
you will see a lot of it.

If the Board of Selectmen really wants to make the right decision, hire a
professional wetlands scientist of your own and review Griffin's Farm.

Stay tuned! This can't go on forever! I do forecast an end.

Save Griffin's Farm
Jim Dombrowski
28 Temple Street Abington, Mass 02351
1-781-878-1921