A state Land Court judge is directing the ZBA to reconsider the Aspen Apartments project, holding in abeyance their initial decision to approve the project without having reviewed a late revised plan. At the time, this angered many people in town, and in the neighboring town of Chelmsford As a result, Chelmsford hired an attorney to represent them in an attempt to block the project altogether.

The final vote to approve the project was 4-1, with Ralph McKenna opposed. Chairwoman Doris Pearson and members Joseph Shaw, Patricia Flemming and Ellen Sargent voted in favor.

In explaining her vote when the project was first approved, Pearson noted that Billerica has a goal of putting 95 units of affordable housing on the market each year.

“This will give us some breathing room,” she said, a sentiment echoed by Sargent.

Ms. Fleming wants our vote for her to ascend to a selectman’s seat. What justification did she use to justify such a prompt and premature approval, and does she think Aspen Apartments is truly a project that adds to the quality of life in Billerica?

I ask because it seems like there were lots of legitimate reasons to deny this project without a conflict under 40B rules. That and the addition of Chelmsford as an ally in opposition would seem to give the ZBA great ammunition to just say no.

Granted, this is only one decision, but between this decision, her silly questions during the mixed use zoning overlay and some other questionable decisions/actions lead me to question what it is that makes her feel qualified to run this town. I’ve not seen, read or heard much to feel confident about were she to be elected. So, for me, I can’t endorse her candidacy and will vote against her.

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