We were surprised and saddened to read the Oct. 4 front page article in The Recorder, titled “New Ordinance, New Worries.”
Worries indeed! The new detached accessory dwelling unit proposed to be built on a hillside next to Lynn Ballard and Pat Devlin’s house on Bernardston Road, which would overlook Ballard/Devlin’s swimming pool and backyard, makes one wonder if the detached ADU is really what Greenfield’s Town Council had in mind when they passed this ordinance legalizing so-called in-law apartments in town.
When homeowners have worked very hard, saved and invested in a house, planning to live there and have privacy in their backyard, how can an ordinance allow abutters to build a stand-alone house 100 feet from their main house on the side of a hill that would overlook a neighbor’s swimming pool and backyard?
An invasion of privacy?
Would the location of this proposed stand-alone ADU house overlooking the Ballard-Devlin’s pool and backyard lower Ballard-Devlin’s property value?
Why can’t this stand-alone house be built closer to the owner’s main house, so it doesn’t overlook a neighbors’ backyard and pool, invade their privacy and very well lower their property value?
There are so many questions, concerns and worries regarding this ordinance that need to be addressed!
Sandy Kosterman
Greenfield