Milltown residents urged to just say no to variance

I am writing in response to the article in the Sentinel regarding the Forney Clinic and the current discussion of starting an historic preservation commission. While I appreciate there is a need for some kind of historic preservation commission, I want to address the specific issue of the Forney Clinic and the potential harm that could befall the residents of Milltown if we do not act swiftly.

The article covered the rich 150-year history of the Forney Clinic and mentioned some of the older residents in town were born there. In the interest of full disclosure, I am definitely in favor of preserving the clinic. With that said, whether it stays or goes, I am more concerned with what will happen if the Zoning Board of Adjustment permits the requested variance that would allow yet another bank to be built with 38 parking spaces, one in and out lane, and four out lanes. I have been told the bank's traffic study does not even consider the traffic coming from the existing bank across the street. If that is true, then they are not considering what we can all imagine will happen if the new bank is built: Main Street will be as crowded as Route 18. There will likely be traffic jams, more accidents, and it will be mayhem for the children going to and from school.

Aside from the nightmare scenario one can imagine with the two banks causing traffic problems, it will probably be worse once the rest of the newly established businesses on Main Street are set up and Ford Avenue is developed. Do we really need to accommodate yet another bank in town? We already have eight banks in and on the outskirts of town. Why do we need another one?

The mayor expressed concerns about who will fund the preservation of the clinic. I am happy she is concerned about that, as I am too. It remains to be seen whether we can realistically do it. What is clear, though, is that allowing this bank to be built is a big mistake.

Personally, I am a fan of least-restrictive government, so I am not typically in favor of the government telling someone what to do with their property. With that said, what is at issue here is a variance from the already permissible use of this property. If the variance is not granted, the current owner is still able to sell the property to someone to use it as it is currently being used. If other medical facilities are not interested in it, he will be forced to do what the rest of us have to do when our properties are not selling: spruce it up or sell to [the next-highest] bidder. My point is, by not granting this variance, the Zoning Board of Adjustment will be fulfilling its duty to do what is best for Milltown without taking away any existing property rights of the owner.

Please, if you are able to take time from your busy schedules to attend the July 12 Zoning Board meeting at 8 p.m., please do so and tell them to "just say no" to the variance.

Liz Peter

Milltown