To The Editor:

Whether it’s a good or bad thing, I’ve been involved in land use issues for more than 50 years — as a legislative aide, an attorney and a zoning commissioner. For 37 of those years, I represented the Borough of Newtown as its attorney — a period where it never lost in court.

From what I’ve seen, I believe that Newtown needs a better vision, greater transparency and more robust and consistent enforcement. Perhaps most of all, it needs greater public participation. Planning and Zoning are democratic institutions. They don’t sustain themselves. If they’re not supported by our residents and taxpayers, they will wither.

In our zoning hearings, we hear from developers and their friends in support of proposals and from those living nearby who oppose them. Developers come prepared with their arguments and facts and experts. Those opposed, if they appear at all, often bring their general feelings relating to traffic, over-crowding, environmental protection and protection of their street — but they seldom bring hard facts or meaningful analysis. We need robust participation for a balanced system. Change will happen whether we like it or not. Municipal growth has been the norm despite near-constant opposition.

Second, we, as a town, need a future vision. What do we want Newtown to be in 25 years — in 50 years? What do you think and do you want that? If we can articulate a future now, it can help us make future growth decisions easier and more predictable.

This won’t work without your help. We need the public to do some work — to educate itself on land use matters so we can have the benefit of its collective wisdom. People have to speak up. When we hear only from near-term economic interests, the entire system gets skewed and that’s a disservice to Newtown.

It’s not enough that land use officials familiarize themselves with planning and zoning principles. For meaningful public input, it must also educate itself. It takes time out of our lives to do that. It takes work and individual commitment if you want to have a real voice in how Newtown develops. It takes your time to write letters, review development proposals and attend hearings. It takes courage to get up and let your views be known publicly. But it’s worth it. Without your input, only the developers will be heard — only the developers will shape Newtown’s future.

Third, we need enforcement of our zoning regulations — by both our zoning enforcement officers and by the zoning commission, itself, when it acts on development applications. If the rules don’t work in the field, they should be amended rather than bent just to allow a preferred development. Without enforcement, there is no regulation and without regulation, development will be uncontrolled.

Your assistance is vital to the future we’ve worked so hard to protect. Go out and vote. Go out and make a difference — for yourself and your neighbors and your town. It’s your right and your privilege.

Don Mitchell

Newtown