All residents of Newtown Square are cordially invited to attend a Public Hearing on the evening of Wednesday July 31st at 7PM at the Newtown Township building. I assume this will be a convenient time for you since it is in the middle of your summer? What else would you be doing on a steamy July evening? At any rate, we will be expecting you. No drinks or food will be served and our hosts, the Newtown Square Board of Supervisors can be expected to be indifferent, rude and not too concerned with our existence in any relevant way. We are still expecting you to come.
The reason for your attendance is to let the powers that be know that you are against replacing Residential zoning with Commercial zoning. I know it sounds so simple that you may think we do not need your help. You would be wrong. It appears that some merit has been given to this backward thinking idea. Many meetings have been held, tears have been shed and stories have been told. Still the proposed CR zoning change lives on. I have been told that the board can be swayed by public opinion and massive attendance at the Hearing, which probably explains scheduling it during prime vacation time. Business as usual in the open, informative environment that defines politics in Newtown Square.
As a landscaper and tree worker I am certain that I am qualified to explain the nuances of the proposed Commercial Residential zoning change. At some point in history prior to today, an urban planner, or it may have been a landscaper I am not sure, came up with the brilliant concept of commercial residential zoning. At the heart of the zoning plan is a requirement that the developer incorporate residential housing in his development. This is a very good idea. It creates neighborhoods where otherwise it might only be a commercial environment. However, never in his wildest dreams did our wise planner imagine that his plan would be used as a tool to eliminate residential zoning and replace it with commercial zoning. Welcome to Newtown Square. Hello, neighborhoods have been here for many years. They do not require protection. They have the preferred status of Residential zoning. Why should we sacrifice our current status and accept the change to commercial zoning? The only thing we need protection from is misguided local officials who think they know what is best for us.
Our town is the people. It is me and you, our children and our parents. It is not 5 men dictating what they think is best for us. Even if you feel that this is not your fight, we need you to be there to support us. The next time it may be your fight and we will be there to support you. Whether it is your sewers, your walking trail, or what may come, we are in this together. If you would like more information regarding the proposed zoning change or would like to be kept updated on current issues in Newtown Square please e mail us at ourtownsq@aol.com. Our town, our neighborhoods, our story. We will see you on July 31st. We want to hear your story. You will see me when you see a man walking his dog, or a father with his son at the baseball field, or a son pushing his mother in a wheelchair down a quiet, tree lined street. We are the people of our town.
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Michael Wozniak
Public Hearing to consider CR Zoning AmendmentWednesday, July 31st, 7PM
Newtown Township Building
209 Bishop Hollow Road
Online Petition asking Supervisors to
VOTE NO TO CR ZONING
