Tread Lightly Town of West Monroe

West Monroe is in a state of expansion and development. We need help planning for the future. The Master Plan Committee has developed a specific plan for you. They have a diversified group but are requesting additional input. Their projected view of the town may not match yours. You’re welcome but not responding! Zoning is quietly wriggling itself into place. The master plan divides up the town for zoning. Do we already have zoning? We have a zoning Board of Appeals. There have been Town Board meetings to place a moratorium on commercial site plan reviews. That means months without any new building. If the Master plan has no teeth, why the moratorium and why the zoning board of appeals? They are all tied together. So what’s the beef? Were you notified, and can you vote on this issue? We already have a Town Planning Board. The planning board certainly can limit the use of property, with current regulations and also by occasionally adding retroactive regulation. We are required to have site plans reviewed before any construction begins and an inspector also checks our progress. Common sense is also applied to each decision. Example, placing a trucking company on a restricted weight road is understandably unacceptable. The same company doesn’t belong in the midst of multiple housing, but if it does fit with the neighborhood, maybe a natural screen would be in order. This seems to be the common sense that the planning board uses, along with health and safety requirements. We need modern thinkers who can lead us to more advanced ways of doing things to minimally regulate our life. Bring your talent to Master plan committee Public town Board Meeting. Doing this will help you appreciate your new Town. Remember, it’s your town too. What do you want urban expansion or metropolitan design? Be cautious, too many regulations only make the regulator and the Tax Assessor happy. Public Master Plan meeting June16, 2009 7:00 pm Town Hall Your input absolutely needed John Messere Life resident, landowner, businessman John Messere 51 Luther Rd West Monroe NY 315 6763406 Please do not print address or phone number