State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky: ALERT- PUBLIC HEARING ON LOCAL ZONING

This coming Monday, March 15 the Connecticut General Assembly’s Planning & Development Committee will be having a Public Hearing on several bills which seek to set statewide parameters on local zoning rules.

Do you believe that Newtown’s local character should be decided with reasonable, fair and equitable local determination that includes consideration of our town’s residents and leaders? Or, do you believe the state knows what’s best for Newtown from the top of a hill, 52-miles away in Hartford?

Regardless of your position on local determination versus state mandates in zoning and character, this is an important time to offer testimony, on the public record. Here’s how:

Check out the agenda here and on it, you can into each bill’s description for a full text version of the proposals. Jot down some notes on those that you support or oppose.

How to participate:

• Write your respectful testimony; include your full name, address and date;
• Open with a salutation to the committee, like; “Chairs Cassano and McCarthy-Vahey, Ranking Members Hwang and Zullo and distinguished members of the Planning and Development Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today in regard to…”
• Address the bill or bills you’d like to comment about by bill number and title, for clarity and express your thoughts.
• Email testimony to pdtestimony@cga.ct.gov, with a copy to me at Mitch.Bolinsky@housegop.ct.gov .
• Register to testify, live on Zoom during the Hearing.
• Registration closes Sunday, March 14 at 3:00pm.

Remember, the overall theme of this legislation is to supersede any local zoning regulations; and would render such regulations null and void until they are brought into compliance with the new law. In other words, Newtown would get no say in any of this.

Be well. Stay safe. Spread only Hope.

As always, feel free to contact me with your questions, ideas and concerns related to state government.