Ludicrous. It is just ludicrous to think that six-, seven- and eight-year old children a short walk away from two schools will have to take a bus ride to school 10 miles away. That will happen when Norstar Development USA completes construction of 200 units of new housing on the city of Watertown's north side.
The Creek Wood development bordering Mill and E. Division streets is mostly in the city but spans the border between the city and General Brown school districts. Students in the latter district will board buses in the early morning hours for an extended bus ride to Brownville or other schools in that district. Yet they will live within sight of North elementary school, a short walk from the development. Watertown's Starbuck elementary is five minutes down the block.
Buses from the two districts will probably pass one another — who knows, maybe even stop in the same block — to pick up Creek Wood children in a needless waste of taxpayer money for duplicated services. Children in one district may find themselves going to school while their friends stay home for a snow day.
Something similar is happening across the city, where Norstar is building the 200-unit Summit Woods complex along Washington Street that straddles the line dividing the city and town of Watertown.
Norstar's plans have been complicated by the need to pass through two separate reviews. Residents in the two municipalities will pay different water rates. They will abide by different laws and zoning regulations set by the city and town governments. When they need police, some residents will dial the city police; others will turn to state police or sheriff's deputies, although city officers may be closer and more convenient. The city and town fire departments will answer calls in separate sections of the complex.
The water and sewer infrastructure for the entire project, though, will be served by city sources.
This foolishness results from adhering to arbitrary lines drawn on a map a few decades or even a couple of centuries ago. The boundaries have been superseded by the demands of a changing world, and they, too, need to be adjusted.
It is not about protecting turf. It is not about holding onto taxes. It is about putting the safety and interests of children first. It is about what is the best way to serve the public. It is about changing outmoded boundary lines to reflect the reality of 2008.
