To the Editor,
If you haven't been following the specifics of the MBTA zoning, I would ask you, "Who's advice should you follow? That of a large team of professionals who have worked hard on this issue for almost two years recommending a YES vote, or a group of individuals who seem to simply have opinions in spite of the facts? People who hired the same reckless attorney that directly led to the ruin of the Manchester Community Center?
I think the answer is clear, vote YES for the proposed law.
Simply put, the MBTA Zoning Law is a state law that we are meant to comply with. We cannot pick and choose which laws we want to abide by. Voting YES will seriously avoid huge tax burdens for us. Our town has long been against paying any more taxes than necessary, yet saying “No” to this law would place a huge tax burden on us.
Voting YES avoids the State stepping in and creating their own zoning districts for us and imposing their own zoning criteria without using any of the carefully crafted laws and guidelines that we have developed.
The "No" people in our town have left us vulnerable to hostile 40B housing developments, like the Shingle Hill project. The MBTA zoning districts will, in fact, have very little impact on our town because the restrictions we are putting in place make most lots barely usable at all. Voting YES will position us well for needed state funds and allow us, in a small way, to contribute to the worthwhile housing goals of our greater Commonwealth.
We need to embrace wisely crafted laws that chart our way to a better future. Please vote YES at Town Meeting.
Gary Gilbert
Manchester
