WESTFIELD – Residents of East Silver and Gold streets requested the City Council to take action to protect their privacy and the use of their properties last night during public participation.
The residents, whose properties are contiguous with the Columbia Greenway and the ramp down to East Silver Street, voiced their concerns about the project and asked the council to consider another location for the ramp.
Sabrina Avezzie and Rosemond Moccia, both of 21 East Silver Street and Tanya Norseth of 2 Gold Street described the impact of the rail trail project on the families.
“My house is closest to the rail trail,” Avezzie said. “With the access way (ramp) so close to my home, my grandchildren cannot play in the backyard anymore.”
Avezzie said that removal of the trees along the east side of the rail trail has resulted in a “total loss of privacy” for her family.
“Why couldn’t the access (ramp) go on the opposite side, the west side, where all of the businesses are located?” Avezzie asked. “That access is not more than 10 feet from my home. All of the trees were removed. Vibrations from the bulldozers and truck have cracked my walls and windows.
“I hope you would move the access to the west side of the bike path,” she said.
Norseth said that her second-floor bedrooms are on the same level as the elevated bike path.
“I’m not comfortable with having no sense of privacy,” Norseth said. “I can see people on the trail and they can see me, my children and dogs. People on the trail can see right into the bedrooms,.
“We’re all nervous wrecks. This is a safety issue,” Norseth said.
Moccia said that the clearing of the trees and opening of the access brings “strangers into my back yard.
“My son is having nightmares about people coming into my back yard,” Moccia said. “We did have privacy with the trees, but the trees are gone, so now bums are coming down Gold Street.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph Figy said he and city officials are working to address the residents’ concerns.
“I want to thank you residents for coming in to state your situation,” Figy said. “We have been trying to work with residents. We are very concerned about what’s been going on the east side of the trail.”
Figy said that possible solutions include planting seven-foot high bushes and installing a fence to provide privacy for the residents.
Ironically, the council declined to act on an appropriation to purchase land to construct an access on the west side of the trail, down to Coleman Avenue and Bliss Street, which would substantially reduce the bike traffic on the East Silver Street access ramp.
Ward 1 Councilor Christopher Keefe, chairman of the Finance Committee, attempted to get a vote for immediate consideration that was blocked by several other councilors.
The appropriation of $19,600 was sent to the Finance Committee and the order for taking two parcels of land was sent to the Legislative & Ordinance Committee.
