Developers that want to open up marginal lands in Milton would have you believe that Milton’s Choice is binary:  So-called “conservation” subdivisions or AG-1 subdivisions.  However, the choice is really between “conservation” subdivisions and delayed/no development.

The proposed Ebenezer subdivision is a case in point.  The tract in question has been owned by developers/investors for over a decade.  So why haven’t they developed it?  Answer:  It is uneconomic to develop.  The same is true of many of the larger undeveloped tracts in Milton.  They are undevelopable for a number of reasons:  a high proportion of the land is unbuildable (e.g., lies in flood plain); some part of the land will not perc (will not support septic systems); the land is uneconomic to develop (i.e., too expensive to develop).  The Ebenezer property certainly has unbuildable land and uneconomic land.  The unbuildable land lies in a flood plain.  And we know that Brightwater does not want to build a bridge across a creek on the property because of the cost.  We also question whether some of the steeper parts of the property are economic to develop.

The truth is that the Ebenezer tract is only economic to develop if homes on crammed onto the more hospitable parts of the property.  The unbuildable or uneconomic (to develop) parts are claimed as “green space.”  Brightwater maximizes its profits while Milton citizens are left holding the bag:  cluster homes, higher density and dodgy community septic systems.  And don’t be fooled into thinking Brightwater is not going to clear cut the property.  With 50% lot coverage, it is a sure bet that nearly all the trees in the buildable area will come down.

It is our belief that Ebenezer would likely remain undeveloped for a time if Brightwater’s application is denied.  When it is finally developed, given the tract’s topography and natural features, we doubt it will support anywhere near 50 homes.

So the choice really is between high density cluster housing with community septic or delayed/no development.  It seems an easy choice to us.