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June 7th, 2005 Fellow citizens, are you unhappy at the thought of continuing tax increases but scared that economic development would erode our cherished rural atmosphere? Well folks, there is a way to tackle this problem if we follow the planning process put forward by Jim Gibbons -- U. Conn. Educator at the Extension Center in Haddam. He was speaking at the fourth meeting of the NEMO series coordinated by Conservation Commission Chairman Dave Gumbart on how today's citizens can address the inevitable growth in Killingworth. Jim Gibbon's prescription: Plan for Economic Development. He was talking PLANNING in capital letters. First step: take out the town map and study it. Become familiar with it; find the roads, then see where the developed areas are such as residential, town buildings, commercial areas, committed open space and regulated wetlands. Lands available for development are based on soil data, i.e.: the limitations and the suitability -- which lands are fragile, even where the public utilities are. In following this Resource Based Planning process we must study our Open Space Plan, the Economic Development Plan and review and possibly change land use plans, zoning regulations and town policies. Taking stock of schools and education was also included. Gibbons noted that studies have shown that single-family homes cost towns more in services than they pay in taxes. In contrast, commercial/industrial -- and, surprisingly, open space/agricultural -- parcels add almost sixty cents of every tax dollar to the town's bottom line. Thus a brief outline of a well illustrated two-hour talk. We are challenged to get started NOW to keep our beautiful town of Killingworth growing the way we want it. Gibbons' message about the importance of planning was well received by the many members of the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee who attended the presentation. In fact, a committee member had requested the Economic Development module, in large part because the KDTC believes informed, intelligent, proactive planning is essential for effective government. The issues facing Killingworth are simply too complex, and the pressures exerted from many different directions too strong, for us to react to events as they arise. The only way we can take control of our future is to plan for it. We must decide what kind of town we want to live in and develop a practical, workable plan that will make our goal a reality. Implementing some of the ideas put forward by Gibbons will help take us a step closer. (To learn more about the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee, visit http://www.killingworth.dems.info or join us at out next meeting at the Library on Sunday, July 17, at 7 p.m. ) Patricia Smulders has contributed countless hours of her time to Killingworth in a variety of capacities since she arrived here in 1949. She currently serves on the Conservation Commission and the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee, and is Selectman's Representative to the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Estuary Regional Planning Agency. |
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