Borough needs to plan

First off, I understand and sympathize with the idea that my property is mine and I should be able to whatever I please with it and not encumbered by anything the government may do, and if it causes me to be hurt financially it needs to pay.

On the surface this sounds great, and in a perfect world might be a good position to start from. But we

are in the real world which, at best, causes Prop. 1 to be an ominous item on which to vote. At several levels this proposition is deficient and defective.

1. This is poor way to legislate.

2. The community of lawyers will be the largest beneficiary.

3. The already overburdened court system will be completely inundated with lawsuits challenging nearly every property action of the Borough.

4. More Borough staff will be required to make sure that all actions are appropriate or to keep track of all the litigation involved.

5. Taxes will need to be increased significantly to handle new staff and to cover the cost of all the litigation.

To me, this proposition screams out for two things: A resounding “no” vote and a sincere effort to devise a truly fair, farsighted Borough-wide comprehensive plan that grows by full input from the community and is positive and fair to the largest majority of the population. It must be couched in positive terms that supports orderly, proper, appropriate development, not in the extremely negative approach of zoning.

Without proper planning, development can be haphazard and costly to all. Also, without a true comprehensive plan in place, I predict that this type of piece-meal action will continue to be put forward with the same chant of: “My land is my land, you can't pass any legislation that ‘may’ hurt me — ever!”

As a community, we should support and welcome the organized development that people desire, but residents of the Borough nor the assembly should be held hostage, which Prop. 1 would do. The sad part of this proposition is it will ultimately do just the opposite of what is intended. By each individual being allowed to dictate what can happen that may cause the value of my property to be impacted, may impact the value of my neighbor’s property in a different way, thereby causing my neighbor to be "harmed.” In other words, one person may be helped, one harmed.

Prop. 1 is bad. Vote “no” and develop a plan!

Dean Mandrell

Palmer