To the Editor:

As a resident of Newtown, I fervently hope, like so many other residents in our condominium community, Liberty at Newtown, that the request to re-zone property on Mt Pleasant under consideration by the Planning and Zoning Board be addressed as if this property were adjacent to the home of each board member!

Surely no one wants to look out his/her window and see a self storage unit, which is a potential fire hazard, or worse, if this re-zoning request were to be granted. One would hope that the Planning and Zoning Board wants to protect the property of Newtown residents first and foremost. Rezoning would likely increase our insurance costs, devalue our property, create a potential fire hazard like the more than 140,000 fires resulting from self-storage units in recent years (per the National Fire Protection Agency, 2022).

My understanding is that the P&Z Board exists to care for the needs and consideration of the residents of Newtown. Do not act against our best interests! Keep our zoning as it currently is!

Beth Holland

Newtown