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Opinion: Zoning changes made with common sense in mind, say Potsdam man

Posted 8/16/18

To the Editor: In response to “Spot Zoning Not Handled Fairly By Village Board” which appeared in the Aug. 8-14 issue of North Country This Week: Let me start off by saying I do not agree with …

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Opinion: Zoning changes made with common sense in mind, say Potsdam man

Posted

To the Editor:

In response to “Spot Zoning Not Handled Fairly By Village Board” which appeared in the Aug. 8-14 issue of North Country This Week: Let me start off by saying I do not agree with many of the decisions made by the Potsdam village government over the years.

Clearly some major mistakes have been made that have (and continue to) cost the taxpayers a lot of money. Admittedly, I do not know of all of the details surrounding every decision, but there has been an appearance of an anti-progress policy.

I have always agreed with the decision to deny Hank Robar's request to change the zoning for his property at the corner of Market Street and Pleasant Street. That area is busy enough with the volume of traffic and two commercial lots that already exist. As a matter of fact, many people are already complaining about the soon-to-open Five Guys and the traffic that will come with that business. Imagine if Dunkin’ Donuts was across the street?

Additionally, had Mr. Robar been granted the zoning change that would begin more requests to change zoning up Market Street. Eventually the residences and trees would be gone and Market Street would be commercial from downtown all the way out to Lowe's.

Dunkin Donuts is exactly where it should be.

The zoning change done for Taco Bell was an annex of an attached lot. The same is true on Maple Street next to Eben's Hearth. These make sense.

Mr. Robar's toilet garden protest is a whole other issue. It was amusing at the time and made a point. Well over a decade later, it is childish and disrespectful to the rest of the community.

You can call it art if you like (merely for his legal benefit). The fact is that these gardens are eye-sores and embarrassing.

There are many decisions that have been made by the village government that I do not agree with (lack water district expansion, Walmart location, etc.) but the fact is that these three zoning changes make sense and this is what we need; common sense.

Jared T. Carey

Potsdam