Milford Selectmen Meet with Residents of Neighborhoods Closest to Casino Site

Milford Selectmen met with residents who live closest to the proposed casino site on Thursday, assuring them the review process will take their concerns about property values, traffic and other impacts into account.

The selectmen were invited to view the neighborhoods that either border the site or are near a proposed access point on Route 16. Stops included Wildwood Drive, Zain Circle and Whispering Pine Drive. All are on the eastern side of I-495, the only neighborhoods in town near the site.

Selectmen all said their concerns mattered, despite the geographic isolation.

"You're no less Milfordians, because you live on the other side of I-495," said Selectman Bill Buckley, chairman of the three-member board.

The discussions were informal, taking place in driveways of property owners and on sidewalks of the affected neighborhoods. Several residents said they felt discouraged by the casino review process, and frustrated that their largest, single investment — a home — could lose value if the development is approved.

On Wildwood Drive, Roz Seale said many homeowners had lived there for decades, in modest homes that were built in the 1950s. They are concerned about traffic and construction related impacts, she said, as well as any reduction in property values.

"If I lose 20 percent of my property value right now, that would be a disaster," said Seale, who bought her house 27 years ago and hopes to retire soon.

On Whispering Pine Drive, where the houses were built in the last 15 years, and are valued now in the high $300s and up, homeowners said they felt blindsided by the proposed development, which they said would visible from their street.

When asked by Selectman Brian Murray what kind of development of that site they could accept, several owners said they expected residential homes — not a casino.

Tom Russ, who lives off Route 109, said he's already retired, and is worried about what the casino will mean to his residential values. He told selectmen he hopes the financial clout of the casino developer doesn't overshadow the voice of homeowners.

"My home is my nest egg," he said. "We're worried about Foxwoods having a bigger voice in all of this because of money."

At one point, a resident asked selectmen what they considered were the positives of a casino. Murray responded, saying that while this part of Milford does not see an advantage in a casino, residents in other areas do. And when other potential host cities, including Everett, are getting tens of millions of dollars from casino developments, "as a selectman, you have to [consider] that," Murray said.

Selectman Dino DeBartolomeis said revenues and jobs are something the town needs to consider, but it also must weigh those with water, traffic and other concerns.

"For me to tell you jobs and revenue is not important, I'd be lying to you," DeBartolomeis said.

Buckley, who has already said he does not support a casino application for Milford, told residents that he shared their concerns about aspects of the development, including the potential for hotel or restaurant jobs to attract illegal immigrants. A resident on Wildwood Drive had asked specifically about whether the casino would worsen the illegal immigration problem in Milford.

Buckley said restaurants and hotels, if you ask, will say they hire only documented workers. But the "back of the house" style jobs are often secured by illegal immigrants. "Hotels and restaurants have been a draw for illegal immigration and the underground economy," he said. "We know that."

State Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) also attended, listening to the residents' concerns.

Foxwoods Massachusetts representatives also attended, occasionally offering clarification on issues about the development. Kevin O'Reilly, president of Creative Strategies and Communications of Plymouth, who is handling public relations for the casino development, and Allan Kronberg, who will become the general manager of Foxwoods Massachusetts should the application gain approval, both attended.

Kronberg said the development team is interested in meeting with the residents, as well, and will be reaching out to them.