Monroe Democrats on sustainable growth

To the editor: One of our main priorities as candidates for Supervisor and Town Board is to make sure that Monroe has sustainable growth. Anyone in Monroe can see that development in our community has increased by leaps and bounds, stressing our infrastructure to the limits. If elected, all necessary steps will be taken to insure that our remaining properties are developed in a responsible manner that is beneficial to the community. Our first step will be to insure that the Draft of the Comprehensive Master Plan is adequately revised. As a member of this committee, Alicia Vaccaro worked for 18 months with the other members to create the Draft for the public to review and critique. Commentary from the community is needed so that the final Comprehensive Master Plan truly reflects the communities’ vision for the future of Monroe. Thus far, the public comment received has been limited. To address this, we propose a series of workshops, focusing on key issues, where public participation is encouraged. Next, the adoption of a final Master Plan must be prompt. The present Town Board has ended the public comment phase, and the Draft has been sitting dormant on their desks for months. If elected, we will promptly and thoroughly review, revise and adopt a Comprehensive Master Plan. This is crucial. The Plan lays the groundwork for creating new zoning laws that will reduce density and create policies that will guide our government toward achieving responsible development. Here is only sample of the recommendations presently found in the Draft: • Create policies and regulations that protect streetscapes, viewsheds, wetlands, stream corridors, steep slopes and old growth tree stands, utilizing clustering to achieve these goals. • Connection of “Open Space” corridors from one site to another where possible to protect and maintain animal habitats. • Disassociate sewer availability with density - and finally eliminate the “Sewer Density Bonus.” • Review Land Use based on existing road traffic capabilities. • A new Town library facility. • Additional recreational facilities on existing municipal lands. • Incentives for small business in the Town. • Incentives to attract ratable businesses to the Town in the Light Industrial Zone - businesses that do not cause excess traffic impacts. We will insure the Draft is revised to be the most effective Master Plan that it can be. We will promptly adopt the Comprehensive Master Plan and we will insure that it is followed to the letter. We are committed to Sustainable Growth. Thank you, Alicia Vaccaro, candidate for Monroe Town Supervisor Audra Schwartz and John Rios, candidates for Monroe Town Board