Board of Health Wants to Hear About MWRA Pier and Lot

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

The Winthrop Board of Health is inviting the MWRA in to its next meeting to discuss the proposed new fishing pier and parking lot and the impact on the town.

After its meeting on Monday the board sent a letter to Dave Duest, the director of the Deer Island facility, to discuss the project.

Board of Health member Bill Schmidt touched base with Duest about concerns over the proposed parking lot.

Chairman Nick LoConte said those concerns center around the impact of the parking lot and all that brings, such as additional people, cars, the traffic on Winthrop streets, increased trash on the island, and possible increase in crime.

“But we are not hearing about any additional mitigation or resources that will be allocated by the MWRA to combat these ills,” LoConte said. “Once the parking lot has been paved, that is green space we will never get back and even less for out residents to enjoy.”

LoConte said the town has both an international airport and a regional sewerage treatment plant. He noted that one of the Deer Island benefits are the walking paths around the island.

“Taking away more green space and asking us to deal with more pollution, traffic, and crime is a tough pill to swallow,” LoConte said. “There simply isn’t much green space left for us to enjoy.”

The board would like to have the MWRA come to its April 11 meeting at 5 p.m. in town hall.

“The board sees this as an important issue that impacts Winthrop residents health through a possible increase of trash, traffic and crime from out-of-towners on the island at any given time,” LoConte said. “It’s also out police and firefighters who are obligated to respond to any incident on the island. We are asking the MWRA to join us as a good neighbor to hear their plans.”