It used to be your town, it used to be my town too. – James Taylor
Sadly, this is my last article for Southbury Neighbors magazine. I wish to thank Danielle Hawthorne for the joy it has been to be a regular contributor this past half decade. It has been a privilege to serve this wonderful community as your first economic development director. I am appreciative of my time here and the many wonderful people I have gotten to know.
I leave you with a final message: This is your town, so ask yourselves: what do I want it to be? What do you want to see here? How large do you want it to grow? (Perhaps, not at all). What stores or restaurants or services would you like to have? Do you want lower taxes (who doesn’t, right)? More parks, green space and outdoor recreation? Would you like less traffic (of course)? Maybe bicycle lanes and walking trails? Would you like there to be more community events and celebrations? What about more options for housing? Affordable housing? More young people? More families? More people that look like you? Or that are different from you? A local government that is representative of you and your views? Or perhaps your answer is not more, but less. Or perhaps you like it just-the-way-it-is. [Cue Billy Joel’s Just the Way You Are].
I ask this because, during my time here, I have heard all of these opinions and more expressed from your fellow citizens. I once received a call from a woman in town who asked if I could do something about a billboard on I-84, advertising the Southbury Plaza to those traveling along the interstate. I replied with a question: did she enjoy the convenience of having the many services, shops and restaurants in her hometown? Of course, she replied. I explained, were it not for the people who come to Southbury from outside of town, these businesses would not be here, for there simply were not enough residents who frequent these businesses to keep them in business. She, and all Southburians, can enjoy the convenience of so many local businesses in their hometown largely because of outside visitors and customers.
Now a word about zoning. The majority of Southbury, about 94%, is zoned residential. Therefore, if you are a person who wants more businesses in town, then more land must be rezoned commercial. If you want to pay lower residential property taxes, then more land needs to be rezoned commercial or, better yet, industrial. When you hear about an investor or a builder that wants to develop on a parcel of land, or redevelop or expand an existing building, be a positive voice for this growth. Be an agent-for-change. That is how you can do your part to realize that town wish list of yours. Because if you do not, there will be plenty of other voices who will speak up in protest, against development. Especially if that development is near their home. This is commonly referred to as NIMBY-ism (not-in-my-backyard.)
But maybe you are someone who doesn’t want growth and development. You have the means and don’t feel burdened by taxes. You like things just-the-way-they-are. Well, I say to you – this is your town too. You have every right to your opinion and to making that opinion be heard. That is called democracy. But know that no growth doesn’t mean all-stays-the-same. Standing still is moving backwards. If you are not attracting new businesses and new families to locate here you are, or soon will be, falling behind.
In the end, whichever way you choose, I encourage you to be involved. Do not leave it to your neighbor. This is your town. Take pride in that; own it. Do your part to make it be all that you want it to be.
Decisions are made by those who show up. – Aaron Sorkin
Kevin Bielmeier
Former Economic Development Director
Town of Southbury
[This article first appeared in Southbury Neighbors magazine.]