Unity Zoning Vote

[Kat Kanning]

Hey guys, here's a way we can keep up the fight against zoning.

From Mary of Unity:

Hi All,

    Sorry I was unable to get to the Hampton events. Thank you to those who made it. How did the zoning meeting go? I wrote and IM'ed Barbara and it sounds like she needs a lot of help. I wish I was closer to her, what a nightmare!

    I am writing because Unity is about to face a zoning ordinance and impact fee ordinance. I am working on a letter to send out to all the Unity voters. No matter how I try, I've made two letters so far, I can't get it down enough in size for people to read all of it. It's not that people are stupid, but they have so much to do they get bored, at large.

    My husband thinks the letter is a waste of time and that signs would be better. I am looking to see if anyone has the time or interest in making signs. They would need to be simple and easily read while driving past. Something like:
SAVE YOUR
PROPERTY RIGHTS
VOTE NO
ON MARCH 8TH
OR
DON'T BE FINED
VOTE NO TO FEES
MARCH 8TH
OR
DO YOU NEED
PERMISSION
TO USE YOUR LAND?
VOTE "NO" MARCH 8TH
     Having this type of sign, positive, that a NO vote is for your benefit, has seen the best results in town previously. I bought the checklist and the envelopes. I am seeking a neighbor's support for the postage, not yours. I am just an awful sign maker and really don't have the time to devote to it. I think they should go up around the second week in February, or the third. Too much time and the opposition will get a jump on it and cover our signs with theirs or take mine down.

     Traditionally, Unity has been very independent and voted no to zoning, but this time the pro-zoning people has a weapon of fear in their pocket. A developer bought a 300 acre parcel in town and wants to put in senior housing. As I see it, this is the least impacting type of development the town could see and if he is forced to do something else with the place, it could have horrendous effects to our taxes as each child attending public school costs approx. $8,600 per year. Plus our elementary school can handle about 150 and there are 125 there now.

    Please write if you have any questions or some ideas.

Thanks, Mary of Unity

[Kat Kanning]

Got a little more info from Mary.  If you want her to look over letters to the editor before sending them in, email her at:  Gere1356 (at) aol (dot) com

---

Love seeing the immediate response! Thanks! I didn't have a specific type of sign in mind. Cheap and legible were the two biggest concerns. Letters to the editor may help, but they should really be specific on what this vote will take away from the land owners.

A group in town are in favor of zoning and have been for over 20 years, they are seeing this one development as their banner to scare people with. It is ridiculous! They are going to give away their rights just to stop this one guy, but what they don't realize is that he is a businessman and he is not going away, he will just change what he builds.

...The Claremont Eagle Times and the Argus Champion out of Newbury would be the best to reach Unity voters. Do you think I could be so rude as to peek at a letter and edit if necessary for any errors?

[Dave Ridley]

Here are a couple more ideas for zoning sings;

Zoning Kills Owning
Vote NO March 8
NHfree.com/unity

The /unity page could be a page or forum thread on this site, run by you Mary.   Outsiders shouldn't be in charge of the page or  overly prominent on it, mainly Unity residents.     Out of towners can provide logistical support like signmaking.   I can start making signs tomorrow if  I know what they should say.   Barbara Burbank herself is starting a sign making company, not sure when she is going to be ready for action.

[Dave Ridley]

Any letters from out of town would have to be really carefully written so that you don't come off as telling Unity what they should do -  you're not in Unity.

[davemincin]

Hey guys.....I expect to be talking to Mary within the next couple of days to get the full
picture of what is going on and how we can help.

From what she has said, it looks like the bad guys are ganging up on little Unity, thinking
it might just be an opportunity to call out the calvary!

BTW...Mary's real excited about us helping....Expect we don't want to disappoint her.

[Russell Kanning]

Let us know Dave...I was getting the impression that she only needed help on ideas from us not actual manpower. If they need help, it would be fun to join them....besides we could force all of you Seacoasters to travel to our part of the state and show what you are made of.

[Russell Kanning]

Hey guys....., thinking
it might just be an opportunity to call out the calvary!

I know you take this stuff seriously Dave, but the "cross"...we sometimes get big heads around here but this Christ fixation you have has got to be cured
People in NH are calling us the "cavalry"

[davemincin]

Oops...meant the kind that comes in on horses...damn public school education. ???

I'm currently uncertain re how to help Mary...just have a couple notes from her, but
thinking we should be able to do more than paint a couple signs or whatever.

Believe I will be talking to her later in the week, and will let you know.

As for me and now.....Going to go into auto-pilot....and just kick back on the
last day of my first year in NH!

[Russell Kanning]

OH yea  1 year already

[Kat Kanning]

Sorry, I shoulda posted the new info I got from Mary.  She wants a few signs that she can put around town.  And we were talking about a few letters to the editor explaining experiences with zoning in other areas....maybe Varrin's driveway problems, and Mrytle & the Burbank's experiences.

[Lloyd Danforth]

I believe there was a discussion about, Unity, zoning and a proposed retirement community in the FSP Forum, but, I can't find it. ???

[davemincin]

No biggie Kat...believe I got the same or similiar notes from Mary.  It's really hard to
keep up with everything.  Keep in mind Mary has been fighting this battle for a long
time and mostly alone.  Thinking she doesn't really know that we can offer real help,
and do it with a simile.

So hold the gate...keep the restless natives at bay...and just maybe we can offer
Mary some real help!

Remember, many of the folks are way to nice to scream...."HELP"  the boat is sinking...
"All hands on deck!!!"

[Kat Kanning]

Here are the sign suggestions so far:

SAVE YOUR
PROPERTY RIGHTS
VOTE NO
ON MARCH 8TH

DON'T BE FINED
VOTE NO TO FEES
MARCH 8TH

DO YOU NEED
PERMISSION
TO USE YOUR LAND?
VOTE "NO" MARCH 8TH

Write in                                       
Robin Booth                                 
Planning Board                           

Write in
Donna Sweetser
Zoning Board of Adjustment

[jcpliberty]

Hey all-

I will being going up to Unity to help on Election Day. Can I get three more volunteers? I will be there ALL DAY and want to break up the shift between three others to stand at the polls.

JP

[AlanM]

and do it with a simile.

I'm not much for simile's Dave. I'm great at metaphors though.