The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received October 3, 2023.
The Haddam Planning & Zoning Commission is meant to be the backbone of our community’s development and prosperity: planning for our future and creating regulations that reflect the wishes of our townspeople and the best interests of our town in the pursuit of a family friendly and economically viable community.
After the first Dollar General went in on Bridge Road, our current P&Z failed to proactively create regulations that would protect Haddam from further big box development. Five years later, Haddam’s second Dollar General is now open a few miles away on Killingworth Road. They had the chance to act, and our current commission chose to do nothing.
Because of their inaction, small business will suffer, traffic and safety issues will arise – particularly during school hours – and home values will be affected, especially those in the surrounding neighborhoods. We need to elect commission members who understand and care about “planning,” not just reacting to whatever zoning application comes their way.
Out of the last 15 scheduled P&Z meetings this year, 9 have been canceled. That’s a shocking 60%, and the consequences are painfully evident. These meetings are not only meant to serve as a platform for community input, they are supposed to serve as the arena for planning for Haddam’s future. These failures are just some of the reasons why I’m running for P&Z this November. I plan on putting the planning back in Planning & Zoning. Please vote Mike Karam for Planning & Zoning this November.
Thank you.
Mike Karam, Haddam
