March 29, 2024

Against the "Fish Farm" Development

Posted

My Name is Doug Metz. I am an OWNER of a townhouse in Greenbrier Village Condo complex in Seekonk have owned my townhouse since September of 2009. As you are probably aware the Developer (Mr. Charles Tapalian) has recently purchased the Showcase Cinema property and has plans to build another 109 townhouse units and a “fish farm” on the property. I am very concerned about this proposal on several fronts:

  1. Potential for foul odor: I have researched this and most of these fish farms are located in remote areas. An example of this is the hatchery located in North Attleboro which is located on 235 acres, away from any residential areas.
  2. Overtaxing of town resources: Each tank of fish requires about 70,000 gallons of water that has to be cleaned and replenished. Seekonk is on town wells and this will be an unnecessary burden on the water system
  3. Disposal of fish waste: in my research, I have found that this is a major issue that must be addressed up front or there are contamination issues and potential health problems
  4. Additional 109 units: Adjacent to the “fish farm” the new units will be built on the same parcel and will add significant pressure on the town in the school system and added traffic to an already overburdened Fall River Avenue and Cole street.

When I purchased my unit in 2009, I was told that the development was going to be "owner occupied" and that the current renters were going to have to purchase after a year. This never happened!! As the complex was built out it has become ALL rentals leaving the 4 or 5 owners left high and dry. In the beginning I was promised a Gated community (broken never fixed). Full access to the Firefly pool and gym (now closed). Maintenance (grass is hardly ever cut; the residents have purchased their own lawnmowers and weed whackers to keep up with the ticks and mosquitos). Snow removal (including driveway and walkways) now only street plowing residents are shoveling their own. There are numerous drug arrests and police activity which would be helped by gated security and better vetting of the renters.

For the above reasons, I have no confidence that this developer will take care of these issues as they have shown in the past. I am against the additional development in an already overcrowded area.

Thank You,
Doug Metz
Seekonk, MA

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