Developer should pay for raising stink

RE "ODOR threat jeopardizes Dorchester condo plan" (Page A1, Nov. 21): Developer Corcoran Jennison is raising concerns about a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority sewer-tunnel project that, over the last 10 years, has been vetted with the community and Corcoran Jennison, been fully permitted, and received a two-thirds vote of the state Legislature. When completed, this project will cost ratepayers $300 million, and will transform South Boston's public beaches. Just before bidding, Corcoran Jennison decided it would prefer a different location for an odor-control facility, and expects ratepayers to pick up the tab for $3 million to $4 million to move it underground. The MWRA would like the developer to share that cost, and a Corcoran Jennison spokeswoman calls that "blackmail"?

Corcoran hired an engineer, who distorted the impact of this facility after the regulatory agencies approved it, and is threatening lawsuits as the MWRA faces court-ordered milestones.

It is hardly blackmail to ask abutters to share costs of a project, especially if they are sole beneficiaries. There is precedent for developers paying costs of infrastructure changes that conflict with their projects. Examples are found in the MWRA collaboration with the Harvard-Allston project, the Shops at Saugus, and the Meadow Walk at Lynnfield.

The truth is that Corcoran Jennison would prefer to have this facility out of its sight. Ratepayers should not pay for major changes to this facility to better suit the developer's view.

Joseph Favaloro
Executive director
MWRA Advisory Board
Boston