Kent residents endured stormy weather to attend the Oct. 11 Kent Planning Board meeting for a Patterson Crossing pre-submission conference. Developer Paul Camarda's engineer claimed a reduction of the retail square footage. However, as some of this project would now be converted from one to two stories, the word reduction may be the developer's version of Three Card Monte. Unfortunately, taxpayers can expect the same impacts of traffic, construction, blasting, plus Lake Carmel pollution.
The Kent Planning Board requested an initial review fee deposit of $20,000 to recover the costs of the many experts needed to adequately review a project of this scope. Patterson Pavilion, the previous developer for the same parcel, stuck Kent taxpayers for $7,900. Although Camarda's lawyer has known for some time of the required escrow deposit of $20,000, he offered a check for only $5,000. Is Mr. Camarda telling us that he doesn't want a thorough review? In a spirit of cooperation, the Kent Planning Board reduced the deposit to $12,500.
Camarda and the Town of Patterson are geographically removed and have everything to gain from this project, while the adjacent densely populated Town of Kent will absorb all negative impacts. I applaud our Planning Board's attempt to take the necessary steps to protect its taxpayers and not bullied into a less than adequate review. However, our Planning Board must remain steadfast, lest their decision be misconstrued as an opportunity for further bargaining. Money talks and thorough reviews are costly.
