Patch Candidate Profile: Diane S. Ryan, Bethel P & Z Board Alt

BETHEL, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Bethel and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Bethel Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Diane S. Ryan, 63, is running for election as Bethel Planning & Zoning Board alternate on the Republican ticket, cross endorsed by the Independent Party.

Education.

Cornell University Bachelor of Science (BS) Design & Environmental Analysis: Interior Design & Space Planning and UConn Extension Certified Advanced Master Gardener with over 700 volunteer hours since 2015

What is your occupation?

I worked at two major IBM facilities as the Endicott, NY site Interior Designer and as the Fishkill, NY site Facilities Space Planner for Semi Conductor Manufacturing before staying home to raise our family. I became a church, school & community volunteer, and worked as an assistant preschool and substitute teacher.

In 2017 I became a Certified UConn Extension Advanced Master Gardener after going through the UConn Master Gardener Program in 2015. I still am an active volunteer and am currently retired from employment.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

My husband Jim and I have been married for 40 years, and have been living in Bethel for the past 38 years. Our three grown children, two daughters and a son, graduated from Bethel High School and their respective Universities. Each are working in the fields in which they studied. Our daughter is a Psych Nurse Practitioner, our son is a licensed Architect, and our daughter is a Veterinary Technician. Our two oldest children are married, and we have been blessed with 4 grandchildren.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

I was appointed to and served on the Bethel Youth Commission.

Why are you seeking this office?

Seeing our small town change especially over the past few years, I am very concerned about maintaining the history and quaintness of our town in size, density, scope and architecture. I am for sensible growth and not overbuilding Bethel. Sensible planned growth can be positive, but unplanned reactionary growth without the planning and infrastructure in place can be negative and increase our taxes as well. We need to decide with each proposal before the board, “What do we want our town to look like? How will this affect our town and its citizens?”

Over the past few years, I’ve attended many meetings and been vocal as a citizen bringing up concerns and asking questions of applicants. I feel I can be an asset on the board with my environmental analytical, interior design, and facilities space planning background.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The expansive over building in Bethel over the past few years affecting the historic quaint small town atmosphere and stressing the infrastructure.

Some of this is caused by a marked increase of 8-30G proposals which allow sidestepping of zoning regulations increasing density. There’s also been a climate of developers requesting many zoning changes, special permits and map amendments.

We need our state representatives to support our small towns to not allow the misuse of 8-30G making our towns into cities and taking away our zoning autonomy through their bills and regulations. I’d ask for their support. We need to review and revise the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zoning downtown against the current train use, train schedule and work climate since Covid. The results and thoroughness of a parking and traffic study done by the Economic Development Commission which is asking for residents’ input also needs to be reviewed. We also need to review and upgrade our Master Plan of Development to meet the current town needs into the future. While these are all necessary, if on the board I will objectively scrutinize plans, ask questions, and encourage transparency, discussion and debate. We need to not only listen to the developers, but the citizens as well.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have been prepared well through my Design & Environmental Analysis education at Cornell. My jobs at IBM Endicott as the site interior designer and at IBM Fishkill as the facilities space planner for semi conductor manufacturing along with designing, planning and overseeing our own home construction have given me training in the field.

I have volunteered, worked with, and often been a leader in a variety of environments for close to 40 years from community to church to school with many types and ages of people. Listening to and working well with others helps accomplish our goals. My personal qualities of being detail oriented, thorough, thinking outside the box, asking the tough questions, and being a good communicator would be a good addition on the board. In addition I’ve attended and been vocal at a majority of the P & Z meetings over the past several years.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and for others and for what is right.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have lived in Bethel for 38 years in January and enjoyed raising our 3 children here. I love the history and quaintness of our small town and the people who live here. As Bethel grows, it needs to be planned, protected and preserved for future generations. I hope my being on the board can help accomplish that.