Time to Reconsider Expansion of Shaw Cabin and Tag Sale Location

I write as a concerned town resident and neighbor of the Shaw Scout Cabin. If you haven't heard, the proposed new Scout cabin will grow exponentially to 9,000 square feet from 5,000 square feet! Pretty much all the trees on the property will be removed and the new building moved much closer to West Avenue. This project has been well underway for some time and we neighbors just brought into the loop as an afterthought. At a recent meeting with the Scout’s representatives we were told that the cabin would be used for other purposes for nonresidents, which is not contemplated by the trust document pursuant to which the Scout cabin exists. To be clear, no one is questioning the tremendous value of the Scouts to young people and our community or the commitment of the Scout volunteers. That said, this is a residential area and shoehorning such a huge building into a small lot and adding parking goes directly to issues of our safety and quality of life. In this regard, the biggest offender is far and away the annual tag sale. This event has grown way too big for the site and we all know too well the traffic and safety issues it causes. Moreover, the tag sale is not just a one day thing. For many months before and afterwards, the tents are an eyesore and fire hazard which sometimes attract thieves at night who have occasionally helped themselves to items in neighboring yards! The scope and duration of the tag sale far exceed the permit granted years ago and our efforts to be good neighbors have resulted in the Scouts doing whatever they want with impunity. The new building is just too big for the site and the tag sale has far outgrown its humble beginnings. There are a number of other facilities available to the Scouts. In fact, the tag sale doesn't even have to be in town as the Scouts can get the word out well enough to buyers, most of whom are not town residents, to go to whatever site is chosen. Enough is enough. The project should be scaled back and the tag sale moved to another location.