The Numbers Do Not Add Up for the Town Green District

I AM DORI WOLLEN OF 8 CEDAR HILL LANE.   WE MOVED TO EASTON 37 YRS AGO AND CHOSE EASTON BECAUSE OF ITS RURAL CHARACTER, STRICT ZONING, GOOD SCHOOLS  AND LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.    I  ASSUME THAT ALL OF US WERE ATTRACTED TO EASTON FOR THE SAME REASONS AND THOSE   WHO WERE LOOKING FOR CONVENIENCE MOVED TO SURROUNDING TOWNS INSTEAD.   

WHAT CHANGED?   TO MOST OF US VERY LITTLE.  PERIODICALLY SOMEONE COMES FORWARD WITH A BRIGHT IDEA, HOW ABOUT CHANGING OUR ZONING AND CREATE A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT OR ENHANCE ONE.  WHY DO WE NEED A BANK?  MOST OF US BANK ON-LINE OR USE AN ATM.  GREISER STORE HAS AN ATM MACHINE AND SO DO ALL SUPERMARKETS.  NOT SURE ABOUT THE VILLAGE STORE.  WHY DO WE NEED A BAKERY?  SILVERMAN’S, THE VILLAGE STORE AND GREISER STORE (ALL GRANDFATHERED ESTABLISHMENTS) CARRY BAKERY GOODS.   WHY DO WE NEED A CLEANERS?   THERE ARE CLEANERS ON OUR WAY TO THE SUPERMARKETS,  LESS THAN 20 MIN FOR MOST OF US.  IN FACT HAVING A CLEANERS IN TOWN WOULD BE AN EXTRA, UNNECESSARY TRIP FOR MANY OF US.  A REAL ESTATE OFFICE AT BLUEBIRD LASTED  FOR LESS THAN A YEAR, IF I REMEMBER IT CORRECTLY.

WOULD A SMALL COMMERCIAL ZONE HELP OUR TAXES?   NO.  USING THE NEW MILL RATE FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, WE WOULD NEED ABOUT 25 VILLAGE STORES TO MAKE A 1% DENT IN OUR TAXES, AND 247 VILLAGE STORES FOR A 10% DENT.    AND THESE NUMBERS DO NOT INCLUDE ADDED INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS OF POLICE, FIRE AND EMS.  DOES IT MAKE SENSE BREAKING ZONING WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT TAX  BENEFITS?  THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS ARE A RESOUNDING NO. FURTHER, NOW AS A MEMBER OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION,  I NEED TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT PART OF THE LAND IN QUESTION ABUTS WETLAND AND WHETHER IT IS A CONFORMING OR NON-CONFORMING LOT,  WE HAVE STRICT REGULATIONS THAT NEED TO BE FOLLOWED.  

 ALSO, I  WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EXISTING ZONING VIOLATION ON 450 SPORT HILL ROAD ISSUED  ON MARCH 21, 2013 AND CONTINUES TO BE OUTSTANDING,  IS DULY NOTED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION. 

IN CLOSING , I AM AGAINST GRANTING A SPECIAL PERMIT FOR THIS AND ANY OTHER SIMILAR COMMERCIAL, NON-FARMING RELATED  ACTIVITY.