On Proposed Zoning Changes
Concerning the recent proposals by the planning commission in the Town of Weathersfield to relax zoning restrictions and encourage development: While I understand the necessity of enhancing low-to-middle income housing availability throughout the state, it’s naive at best to assume that any new parcels created by these changes would be priced on the lower end of the affordability spectrum. Developers/landowners will as usual, be looking to cash in on the current market of inflated prices. The town assumes it will increase its tax base while disregarding the accompanying increase in pressure on town services and infrastructure. Furthermore, the planning commission has completely neglected the other half of the stated town goal — protection of Weathersfield’s rural character and environmental integrity. While you go on at some length about how less stringent zoning will encourage development and increase housing opportunities (truly only for those with deeper pockets rather than shallower ones) you make no mention of the corresponding and equally binding mandate to preserve and protect the land itself. I wonder what research of plausibility and outcome has taken place, beyond what it ‘seems like’ is reasonable, to the people who have decided to go backwards rather than forward.
Kathryn King
Perkinsville, Vt
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