Letters: Landfill contrary to Milton's goals

To the editor:

The Milton Conservation Commission, of which I am a member, is dedicated to preserving and enhancing Milton's unique environment, its natural resources and related quality of life.

We follow state RSA directives regarding sound local land use planning and the Milton Master Plan and accompanying ordinances, whose stated purposes are to guide the town in achieving and maintaining principles of "smart growth, sound planning and wise resource protection".

Based on these criteria, we are committed to carefully weigh any proposal which has the potential to adversely impact the town's long-range water, air, land and wildlife resources.

We advise that a proposed petition warrant article to amend Milton's zoning to allow Solid Waste Management Facilities and/or Recycling in any or all zoning districts of Milton, as stated in the article, whether under the name of an "environmental park" or any other name which would in fact conduct the intended activities of a landfill - is capricious and contrary to the goals and principles set forth in our Master Plan, goals and principles which have been thoughtfully developed and adopted by Milton citizens as the guiding vision for the town.

Milton's Master Plan describes the town's unique environment, its topography,soils and aquifer systems, via a natural resource inventory which defines its natural capacities for appropriate growth. The proposed warrant article, instead of providing the security of such appropriate growth, would only serve to negatively and irrevocably impact Milton's fragile and precious resource systems, the health of which makes our very quality of life possible.

A master plan is a significant planning tool for a community and a region. Those who would disregard it for their own gain have already shown that the real value of our town is of little interest to them.

As we take part in updating Milton's Master Plan, we invite our fellow citizens to renew our commitment together to a vision of sound, proactive resource protection and management, with goals of attracting sustainable green development and minimizing waste, ensuring our fragile resources will remain intact and flourish for coming generations.

- Barbara Berry

Member, Milton Conservation Commission