Snuffy didn’t need to enter harsh criticism of Ms. Fey. it was cowardly and serves no good purpose . . nor does making analogies to third graders.
Woodstock has regs but PZC can ignore them all if they have a quorum of members who approve on any application for Special permit. PZC can also approve any application adding stern modifications. And, of course, they can deny this application.
Atty. Bates and engineer Marc Goodin presented plenty of hard evidence that Woodstock regs for special permit are NOT being met in this plan. A report has been turned in and is a matter of public record. The report is extensive in its delineation of non-compliance regarding environmental and water drainage issues. A copy can be obtained from the Planning office.
We in Woodstock, who voted last fall, elected this group of PZC members, if it is approved and you don’t like it, we have no one but ourselves to blame for not getting out the voters who think like us.
Any group of laypersons would be over their heads with a proposal plan like this one. The real crime is that this astonishingly flawed plan has all but final approval by Inlands and Wetlands Commission. That is where it should have been stopped. For good. It didn’t matter at all that the Wdstk Conservation Commission turned in a report (for no cost) to Inlands and Wetlands that mirrored what the expert engineer told us last Thursday evening. No one listened or paid any attention to that.
If this plan is approved, we can expect anything of any size or type to be built anywhere in Woodstock for it will signal to all developers (not just the ones in Woodstock) that Woodstock has officially opened its doors to ALL and any development. It this plan is approved — all plans after it will have to be approved or the town of Woodstock will be a constant state of litigation. As many are fond of saying — “you can’t tell a man what to do with his property.”
We all know what communities look like and what happens to property values when there is no effective planning or zoning and all those men do whatever they want with their properties.
Get involved. Get on a committee. Work in a group toward ideals you promote. Do that instead of taking pot shots from the comfort of your computer chair.
Snuffy’s criticism of Ms. Fey was neither cowardly or unproductive. In fact I think that it was quite honest and quite constructive. He even added that Ms. Fey is not to blame. Sounds like she just needs some experience and some mentoring. The people who moved me most in my career were the one’s who didn’t beat around the bush or offer false praise, but the one’s who made me cringe a little with their sharp, yet correct, opinions of me. I think we could all use a little bit of this sometimes.
Boots –
First, you say “Any group of laypersons would be over their heads with a proposed plan like this one”. That is precisely my point – that is why the town funded a professional town planner position, who would be trained and capable of doing a thorough review of the application, pulling together all engineering, storm water, wetlands, survey, landscape design, and other issues with an executive summary (“Planner’s Report”) with options assessment and recommendation for the PZC consistent with the town’s regulations. …(See Snuffy’s new article. Admin).