State Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over Woburn's Ledges Project

WOBURN, MA — Three state representatives and two state senators who represent Woburn and Wilmington have weighed in on the controversial Ledges housing project at 1042 Main Street in Woburn. In a letter sent earlier this month, the lawmakers urged the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to take "urgent action" on the project. State Reps. Dave Robertson (D-Tewksbury), Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn) and Kenneth Gordon (D-Bedford), as well as State Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington) and Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), said they are worried about the release of silica dust into the air when 420,000 cubic yards of soil is removed.

"While we support accessible and affordable housing opportunities in the greater Boston area, the impact the proposed project has on the surrounding neighborhoods in terms of dust, noise and construct on an environmentally damaged plot leads us to believe that such a project’s negatives far outweigh any perceived benefits," the letter to the DEP said

Silica dust has been linked to cases of lung disease and several different cancers. The lawmakers want DEP to halt the project until the soil being removed from the site can be analyzed.

Construction on the project started last week. While the Woburn Zoning Board of Appeals denied a special permit for the 168-unit housing complex, that denial was overruled by the Massachusetts Housing Appeals Committee. The state board's ruling was upheld by an appeals court, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has declined to hear the case.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).