Letter to the Editor: Response to M. Burke
Dear Editor,
Transparent and Responsible Government.
Megan Burke is correct that zoning is a bi-partisan issue. But primaries are strictly partisan so that voters may choose candidates representing the values of their party. I won’t dwell on the ethics of the Caroline party switching, other than to verify that Burke and her peers are on the Democratic primary ballot to challenge the Democratic incumbents, including myself, only because longstanding conservative Republicans switched parties and themselves gathered enough signatures (including most of the party switchers) to qualify an anti-zoning slate for the Democratic primary.
What gives me pause is why the opponents of Mark Witmer, Kate Kelley-Mackenzie, and Tim Murray are now walking away for their anti-zoning cloth: not one mention of zoning on their campaign website or their statements circulated this week in the TCDC Newsletter. Is this the sort of transparency that can be expected of these candidates were they elected to represent the Democratic ticket in the fall election?
To her credit, Ms. Burke stands for her principles in her May 30 letter. Ironically she coopts Governor Hochul’s progressive efforts to reform urban zoning to facilitate housing. To this end, the Caroline Zoning Commission worked carefully for two years to integrate principles of zoning reform into their recommended law. Permitted by right in all proposed districts are: two-family dwellings and townhouses, accessory apartments, multifamily dwellings with four units or less, residential secondary businesses, and agricultural structures. Multi-family dwellings are permitted in numerous districts with adequate permitting. These reforms are baked into the proposed law.
In considering responsible zoning, the Council and Zoning Commission have held 11 public sessions regarding zoning in the past eighteen months from which the Zoning Commission incorporated most suggestions into the proposed law. The Town Council is now reviewing recommendations of the Zoning Commission and welcomes receiving further public input.
In the spirit of reforming town law to improve housing stock and the availability of housing for family members, the Caroline Council recently granted tax exemptions for Capital Improvements to Residential Buildings, Capital Improvements for the Disabled, and Living Quarters for Parents or Grandparents. To improve the quality of life across Caroline, Council also has won over $1 million in grants toward expanded broadband, safe roads, farmland protection, and renewable energy.
Mark Witmer, Kate Kelley-Mackenzie, and Tim Murray are running for reelection as committed Democrats to continue this thoughtful process of transparent and responsive government.
Yours,
Tim Murray
Deputy Supervisor
Caroline Town Councilperson
Town of Caroline
