Re: SG-W:/ Newmarket

["Kristen A. Gibbs" <kgibbs@umich.edu>]

Regarding the Newmarket plan:

I use a different definition of sprawl: instead of _any_ development in a
rural/ag area, I think that sprawl is unplanned, low density pseudo-rural
development. And it looks to me that Pittsfield is going through growth,
whether we like or not. The question is then, do we want low-density
pseudo-rural development, or do you want the people to be clustered
together, permitting clusters of wildlife sanctuaries?

While I am not a new urbanist, I do think that Newmarket would be an
improvement over the type of development that will otherwise occur in the
area. Drive around! See all those subdivisions? Sure, all the houses are
big, have lots of space around them. They don't preserve the wildlife any
better, they are probably worse. As the subdivisions go up, the strip
malls will follow. That corner commercial lot will become a huge parking
lot (because every one will have to drive) with a tiny one story building
behind it housing an Einstein, a Starbucks, a 7-11.

If you wanted to keep it as woods or open space, then buy it. Yes, it is
hard, but that seems the only way to go about it. 

Pittsfield _will_ become a city in the future; there are too many exterior
pressures for development not to happen. The only issue at hand is whether
it will be typical sprawl or a real downtown.

regards,

Kristen



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