In our research, we ran across this news article and thought it might be fun to post.
Thursday, September 11, 1947
Zoning Plan Strongly Opposed
A lively public hearing on the matter of zoning the Town of New Hartford ended last night in no formal expression of opinion although the majority of the 55 present were opposed to the project. Another meeting will be called by the Town Planning Committee and then the matter will be submitted to the Town Board for final decision, it was announced.
"This is a free country and I should like to keep it that way. I think zoning is unnecessary.” Thus Dr. Herbert N. Squier, Third Ave., voiced the majority opinion of those in the Highway Building, Washington Mills.
“New Hartford is a free and very lovely township. None in our residential areas would sell property to anyone wanting to start a honky-tonk or beer joint. We are protected by a natural pride in our community”. Dr. Squier added “We are not going to be free with a lot of zoning restrictions established.”
ELMER ROBERTS, Tilden Ave., asked, “Who started this business? This is a free country. Let’s keep it that way. If we have zoning and a board of appeals, we will have just one political mess after another.”
“Zoning”, he continued, “becomes a political football. It is accompanied by higher taxes. Many people have moved from Utica to New Hartford to escape these high taxes. Most residential developments already are restricted. Let’s leave the rest of the people alone.”
Roberts suggested the estimated costs of administering the proposed zoning program be presented at the next meeting. W. D. Morgan, serving as chairman of the Planning Committee, repeated several times that the proposed zoning plan is still open to changes. He said: “This is not our baby. The committee has been appointed to investigate the proposition. We are here to obtain a cross-section of your opinions. It may well be that the proposed map will be changed as a result of factors that have been brought out here tonight. By law, there must be another meeting on this matter. The final decision rests with the Town Board.”
FREDERICK H. BAIRD, senior planning technician, State Department of Commerce, pointed out ''Zoning cannot change the present physical features of your property over night. Zoning will provide that the better qualities are retained. But there is no way a use which is already established can be thrown out.
Stephen Bogner, 1126 Pleasant, asked, “What affect will zoning have on the assessment of our property? Is there a possibility that zoning will result in higher assessment? We are o.k. as we are now.”
P. D. McCormack, surprised many when he said, "I maintain winter quarters for lions, tigers, elephants and other animals on Third Ave., just above Sedgwick Park. We have never had trouble. Your zoning plan would classify us as residential.' Then we would have trouble. Zoning means gravy for somebody, — the architects, the lawyers, or somebody."
AMONG THOSE who spoke were: A. J. Scully, third Ave; W. Elmer Bedford, Chadwicks: a representative of Dr. H.F. McDonald, Burrstone Rd. and Champlain Ave; Frank Dingle, Park Blvd.; Henry Brown, Utica; Walter J. Brown, Seneca Turnpike; John Moyer, Chadwicks; and W. S. Garrett, Higby Rd. and Valley View; J. J. Scatko, New Hartford; and Theodore Burek, Utica.
Chester Roberts, Valley View Rd., and several residents of Sedgewick Park spoke in favor of zoning, especially in their area. Mark Barlow, Washington Mills, pointed out that for a small fee property owners could have restrictions written into their deeds regardless of zoning.
Serving with Morgan, a lawyer on the Planning Committee, are Nicholas Kauf, a farmer; Wendell Sawyer, an industrial engineer; Irving Wood, a chemical engineer; and William Downs, a merchant.
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