(An open letter to Fair Haven mayor and Borough Council)
My wife and I are writing to urge you to give favorable consideration to the proposed Ordinance 3-27-06 B. Thusly, we do not consider this a complaint.
First, though, we wish to commend all of you for your commitment and service to your Fair Haven constituents. The volunteering of your time and talent, the sacrifices you make and the mental gymnastics required to faithfully undertake your civic responsibilities are all virtues to be admired. Thank you.
Please give thoughtful consideration and credence to the following:
How many priceless, irreplaceable, timeless, towering trees have we already lost with the current onslaught of residential developer (not owner) clear cutting?
The New York Times (March 26, 2006) Fair Haven article on gentrification quoted town records that10 existing homes were torn down and 13 new homes “developed” during 2005! Can any of us estimate how many irreplaceable 150-year-old trees were removed because of clear cutting?
A diminished change in allowable floor-area ratio (building square feet divided by square feet of land) would not be a compromise but an imposition on established citizens’ rights.
How long would a consensus referendum take? Let us not do that. To quote others, “Fair Haven is running out of time.”
We agree a citizen’s rights must always be foremost in your planning, but we also believe a developer driven primarily by the bottom line has proven to every (at least a majority) Fair Haven citizen and hopefully our governing body, that some improvement in the regulatory approval process is required immediately.
If otherwise, by rejecting the proposed ordinance, we repeat, we are truly running out of time.
Fair Haven’s destiny will be devolved as a very prosaic community, lacking a lot of its charm, shade trees, historic small-town appeal and quite possibly our distinctive camaraderie.
We all believe that Fair Haven is special; please expedite approving this proposed ordinance in some acceptable form for all of us.
And now, lastly, please speak louder during your (our) meetings and investigate improving the sound system.
Sam and Libby Nowell
Fair Haven