Fitchburg Voices

In Support of 300 ft Wetland Buffer

2008-12-17T22:00:00.028-06:00

Photo of the southwest portion of Lake Waubesa and wetlands to the west by Nadia Olker.Fitchburg has written into the Comprehensive Plan the use of 300 ft. buffers for wetlands outside of the current urban service area. This is a major step forward by the Fitchburg Planning Department, because the County only mandates 75 ft.Below is an appeal by Peter Ellestad to protect our wetlands.Please

Drumlin Community Garden

2008-11-03T16:30:00.002-06:00

Here's a beautiful and timely letter from Rich Eggleston followed by several others on the same important topic. For more information about Drumlin Community Garden, check out their website here. -- Terry----------------------------------------------------Date: November 3, 2008To: Elected officials and planning staffFrom: Rich Eggleston, FitchburgMuch of Fitchburg's celebration of 25 years as a

Preserve Existing Gardens

2008-11-03T15:30:00.000-06:00

Submitted by: John Fournelle and Judith Munaker, FitchburgNovember 3, 2008Dear Planning CommissionWe would urge you NOT to change the Southdale/Rimrock Neighborhood's zoning to "commercial" status.In this time of growing difficult economic conditions, it is becoming increasingly obvious that we should not necessarily rely upon food coming from long distances -- which assumes low transportation

Fantastic Opportunity

2008-11-03T14:30:00.007-06:00

Here's an excerpt from another letter regarding Drumlin Garden. -- Terry---------------------------------------------------Submitted by: Shannon Day, Fitchburg November 3, 2008Dear Fitchburg Officials,... I feel that City Planners are missing a fantastic opportunity here in Fitchburg. We can preserve Drumlin Community Garden and work within the confines of current neighborhoods to make

My Confession of Terrorist Ties

2008-10-06T23:30:00.002-05:00

by Rich EgglestonOctober 6, 2008Fellow Fitchburgers:Well, given the conduct of the McCain-Palin campaign, I guess it's time to confess my ties to domestic terrorism before they run an ad about me, or worse yet, hustle me off to Guantanamo Bay and throw away the key.My ties to former Weatherman radical Bill Ayers are almost as strong as presidential candidate Barack Obama's.It turns out my father,

Is Fitchburg Serious About Sustainability?

2008-08-15T22:30:00.000-05:00

By Phyllis HasbrouckOnce in a while we see flashes of brilliance among the alders of Fitchburg, and they must be acknowledged. Though I no longer haunt each and every Fitchburg Common Council and Plan Commission meeting, being too busy organizing and fundraising for Fitchburg Fields, I do catch up on what happened by reading that excellent publication, the Fitchburg Star. And I was delighted to

Fitchburg is planning for the past

2008-07-14T22:30:00.001-05:00

By RICH EGGLESTON It's only coincidence that communities across Wisconsin are required to have their much vaunted comprehensive plans completed not long after the last SUV rolls off the General Motors assembly line in Janesville.But it's no coincidence at all that our best efforts to map our future via comprehensive planning could end up just as ungainly a dinosaur tomorrow as the Chevy Suburbans

Suburbs feeling the pinch as fuel prices soar

2008-07-14T13:00:00.001-05:00

Open letter to District 2 aldersSubmitted by Rosanne LindsayThis is about the third article (click here) I've seen in as many days, on the need to rethink the status quo planning of suburbs. It offers some ideas to consider. Do we really need to plan and build extra homes when so many are standing empty and those who commute are struggling to fill their gas tank? I'm writing to you to consider

NE Neighborhood Land Use Committee

2008-05-24T18:00:00.000-05:00

Notes from the Committee Meeting on 5-20-08By Phyllis HasbrouckPresent at the table: Alder Steve Arnold (Chair), Alder Andy Potts, Alder Jay Allen, Alder Bill Horns, Samuel Cooke (RCC Chair), Tom Hovel (Senior Planner), Randy Christianson (with Sveum Enterprises). Present around the edge of the room: about 18 consultants, neighbors, and observers.I won't report everything, just some highlights

Suburbia - The Next Slum?

2008-02-26T23:30:00.002-06:00

Here's an important and timely email (with emphasis added) from Rich Eggleston to the members of the Plan Commission, Common Council, Citizens Advisory Committee on the Comprehensive Plan, and Mayor Tom Clauder.Monday, 25 Feb 2008One of the hallmarks of a comprehensive plan that works is flexibility. What we know about the proposed Northeast Neighborhood now, for example, is more than we knew

Greener Homes & Gardens Feb. 27th

2008-02-23T11:10:00.000-06:00

Greener Homes & Gardens ExpoSimple steps you can take now, for a cleaner & greener tomorrowDate: Wednesday, Feb. 27thTime: Come anytime between 6:30 and 9:00pmPlace: Ancora Coffee -2690 Research Park Dr., just across Lacy Rd. from Fitchburg City HallVisit booths, and talk with experts one-on-one, to learn more about:*How to enhance the beauty of your yard while protecting our lakes, streams, and

Dr. DeWitt's Presentation Posted

2008-02-23T11:00:00.000-06:00

As a follow-up to a previous blog, the city has posted Dr. Cal DeWitt's presentation on their website here.The slide below is my favorite showing the various layers of bedrock deposits in Dane County (top left is north). The two darkest layers are the thickest areas of the Eau Claire formation which comprise the best aquitard separating our upper and lower aquifers. As you can see, much of the

Wake Up Dane County!

2008-01-22T10:30:00.000-06:00

Last Tuesday night the room was packed for Dr. Cal DeWitt's remarkable presentation which was entertaining, important, and memorable! If you missed it, you might catch the replay on FACTv.I'm sorry Channel 15 news was unable to record the unveiling of Dr. DeWitt's latest research during his second presentation to the Plan Commission, which unfortunately was delayed for an hour in order to

Surprise Guest Remains a Mystery

2008-01-14T12:30:00.000-06:00

This is a longer version of the Letter to the Editor, Capital TimesTo be published 1/15/2008Who could the “Special Guest” be at the top of the agenda? What forwarding-thinking person is Mayor Clauder going to present? I’ve never seen the Mayor so excited about anything. But, then, I’ve mostly seen him at Council or Plan Commission meetings. But wait. This IS a Common Council meeting and he’s

How Will Measures Be Enforced?

2008-01-10T12:30:00.000-06:00

Expanded version of Jan. 10, 2008 Letter to Editor, Fitchburg StarSubmitted by Phyllis HasbrouckChair of the West Waubesa Preservation Coaliton“Just Trust Us”The main message that I heard from developer Phil Sveum and his team on Dec. 18 was “Just trust us.” They painted a picture of a “green development” in the Northeast Neighborhood, but with no real substance. They are “looking at” encouraging

Development Threatens Water Quality, Rural Character

2008-01-10T12:29:00.001-06:00

Slightly revised version of Jan. 10, 2008 Letter to the Editor, Fitchburg StarSubmitted by Ed Korn, FitchburgConcerning the proposed development in the rural area of Fitchburg east of County MM and north of Lacy Road known as the Northeast Neighborhood. This parcel of undeveloped land abuts the Town of Dunn, a community that has worked hard to retain its rural characteristics. As one example of

Northeast Neighborhood Poorly Planned

2008-01-10T12:29:00.000-06:00

Jan. 10, 2008 Letter to the Editor, Fitchburg StarSubmitted by Holly Adams, FitchburgI am a resident of the Northeast Neighborhood, and I was hoping that Sveum’s plan for the forests and fields that surround my home would impress me with planning, innovation and forethought. Unfortunately, the plan failed on all three counts.The neighborhood is not well planned out. The neighborhood is not really

'Green Plan' is Actually SPRAWL

2008-01-10T12:28:00.000-06:00

Jan. 10, 2008 Letter to the Editor, Fitchburg StarSubmitted by Rosanne Lindsay, FitchburgCall it what you will, but the proposed Sveum development, on the outer edges of Northeast Fitchburg, is SPRAWL by any name, and raises more questions than it offers answers.This plan may boast many things, including parks, rain gardens, native plantings, and filling a need to “provide houses in an area that

Proposed Development is 'Green Washing'

2008-01-10T12:27:00.000-06:00

Jan. 10, 2008 Letter to the Editor, Fitchburg StarSubmitted by Amy Schulz, Fitchburg"Green" plans for N.E. Neighborhood really mean "green $" for developerI just finished reading the article regarding the "new and improved" proposal for the N.E. Neighborhood. I'm glad that Sveum has tried to be responsive to the concerns of the citizens of Fitchburg but I'm afraid that his proposed solutions to

Proposed Development a 'Homebuilding Debacle'

2008-01-10T12:26:00.000-06:00

Jan. 10, 2008 Letter to the Editor, Fitchburg StarBy Gary Leverington / Resident of Fitchburg(Emphasis added)I'm writing again to express concern about the proposed NE neighborhood plan. It is my hope that sensible leadership will prevail at the City Council to once and for all put a stake in the plans to turn the NE neighborhood area into a massive homebuilding debacle.I ask all members of our

Ghost From Councils Past

2007-12-18T10:56:00.000-06:00

At the Common Council meeting on Dec. 11, the Ghost from Councils Past was put to rest. Through the haze of "institutional memory," there was confusion about whether or not the city had prohibited aerial spraying of pesticides (fungicides, herbicides or insecticides) in the City of Fitchburg. So, some farmers and sprayers were refraining while others were not. While I understand the desire to

Effective Simplicity

2007-11-20T11:28:00.000-06:00

I recently completed one of Sustain Dane's discussion groups on “Voluntary Simplicity.” This is the second course I've taken and I highly recommend them. The last week of the series, I had a chance to be the "opener" for our discussion about putting what we'd learned into practice. The poem below sums it up. Effective Simplicity If Ignorance is BlissWhy are we stressed out by competing with

Bloomquist Takes Stand on Water

2007-10-14T22:00:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Phyllis Hasbrouck: Hooray for Richard Bloomquist! Here is an alder who isn’t afraid to take a stand for what he knows is right, even when he clearly sees that he’s going to lose the vote. If more alders start to express their true feelings and vote their consciences, all sorts of “politically unfeasible” things may start happening!At the Oct. 9 Fitchburg Common Council meeting, the

Keep "Public" in Public Hearings

2007-10-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

Phyllis Hasbrouck and Terry Carpenter discuss comments (some disturbing) made at the end of the Plan Commission meeting on 9/18/07 regarding the public input process.Phyllis: Mark McNally started in again on what’s becoming a recurrent theme: that the public talks too much, and repeats themselves! He thinks they should be silenced after 150 seconds, no exceptions! Get an egg timer, and just cut

Politics and Planning

2007-10-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Phyllis HasbrouckI must recommend Fitchburg Plan Commission meetings to FitchburgVoices readers. Though Terry Carpenter and I are sometimes the only people there who aren’t either elected officials or someone putting up a new deck or trying to get a liquor license, it isn’t as boring as you probably imagine. You really learn a lot: about the people who make decisions for you; about

Leverington Warns About Over Development

2007-09-28T15:30:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Gary Leverington, FitchburgDear friends and representitives,I've grown increasingly concerned regarding the recent discussions of the NE neighborhood development. What I hear mostly are concerns (quite valid) about the negative impact that building a large number of houses will have on the environment and animal habitat - what's missing are concerns about the impact on housing

No Substitute for Water

2007-09-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

Here’s a great line from one of my favorite comedians:"You never know what you have until it's gone, and I wanted to know what I had, so I got rid of everything." - Steven WrightMaybe that’s not such a bad idea. What would we really miss? What would we put in its place?I certainly wouldn’t miss the closet full of project files that I ended up with after I sold my business. Come on… admit it… you

FLOWCHART: Are you a resident of Fitchburg, WI?

2007-09-16T18:15:00.000-05:00

Sure, I'm guilty of saying that I'm from Madison when I travel outside of Dance County. But some folks seem to be genuinely confused about their city of residence, so I thought this flowchart might help. Click on the link below and when it opens, you may have to enlarge it by clicking near the top of the chart (if you see a "plus sign" or other "expand" symbol when you move the cursor over it).I

Website for Southdale-Rimrock

2007-09-14T17:30:00.000-05:00

The Southdale-Rimrock Neighborhood Association has a new website (here). The home page includes the introduction below. Please share this with anyone interested in the area or the new re-development project:"The neighbors, homeowners and tenants of the Southdale-Rimrock Neighborhood have renewed our Neighborhood Association and are ready to take an active role in the development and

Water, Water... Anywhere?

2007-09-10T15:45:00.000-05:00

The word is out. Professor Cal DeWitt has sleuthed some amazing and disturbing facts out of the recesses of our aquifers. At Tuesday night’s Planning Commission meeting, he explained the relationship he discovered between Fitchburg’s deep-aquifer, high-capacity Well #10 (located on Granite Circle) and the 125-year-old, upper-aquifer, cased artesian Well #8 (located at Nevin Springs Fish Hatchery)

Calling All Localvores

2007-09-09T12:15:00.000-05:00

Localvore -- A person committed to eating foods grown within their local food shed. (No, not a building!)In case you haven't already heard about this, here's an event to seriously consider that was sent to me by a Sustain Dane Board Member (http://www.sustaindane.org/). What better way to support your local producers/growers and reduce your carbon footprint to boot? --- Terry Eat Local Challenge

The Trouble With Happiness

2007-09-06T21:30:00.000-05:00

I’m finishing up the last chapters of “Stumbling on Happiness” by Daniel Gilbert (link here), an entertaining and thought-provoking book about how the mind works. What does the mystery of the mind have to do with Fitchburg? Plenty!Gilbert explains that based on various studies “Starting points matter because we often end up close to where we started.” So, it was inevitable that after a maximum

Kurt Questions City's "Diversity"

2007-09-06T21:25:00.000-05:00

I like the following comments, stolen from a newsletter by Jim Kunstler:In the natural course of things, new buildings command premium prices precisely because they are new. Affordable housing, in the natural course of things, is prime housing that has gotten older. Historically this occurs in cycles. However, that cycle was interrupted after the Second World War -- and with it, the natural

Fitchburg's Grand Opportunity

2007-09-03T16:30:00.000-05:00

Phil Lewis, "retired" Professor Emeritus of Landscape Architecture, shares with us a revised version of the comments he recently submitted regarding Ruekert-Mielke's proposed "Northeast Neighborhood" Plan. [Emphasis and clarification in brackets are mine.] -- TerryTo Ruekert-Mielke and Fitchburg's Planning Commission:The option to integrate the two plans (on the rail corridor) of Kelly and Wall

Check Out This Blog

2007-09-01T13:00:00.000-05:00

There's a new blog in town called Healthy Future for Kids. I consider this a local blog because one of the authors is a Fitchburg resident. From their blog:"2 Moms, Melinda, a journalist, and Rosanne, an MS Environmental Health Scientist, discuss health articles, information and ideas with the goal of healing our kids and saving our nation's future from big-ag, big-pharm and others who make money

McIntosh Questions Indulgent Development

2007-08-29T14:15:00.000-05:00

[The comments below (emphasis mine), and other public comments submitted to Ruekert-Mielke regarding the NE Neighborhood, can be found in 6 PDF files on the City's website here under "Comments from 7/12/07 Public Meeting."]My name is Melanie McIntosh and I am a resident of Fitchburg's Hatchery Hill neighborhood. I have been following the issues involved in Fitchburg's urge to develop outwardly,

New City Website

2007-08-22T15:00:00.000-05:00

It is immediately obvious that the new City of Fitchburg website (here) is a vast improvement over the previous version. Gone is that horrible list of buttons that scrolled on forever and appeared to be sorted by a cryptographer. And locating material is no longer a guessing game. Want to know where to find the Phil Lewis presentation? Use the Search box.“You are here” provides the current “

Phil Lewis - Workin' on the Railroad

2007-08-18T13:00:00.000-05:00

Regional Design – Creating Frameworks for Quality of Life, Peace & SurvivalYou gotta love that title! On July 26, 2007, I had the pleaure of attending this presentation by retired UW Professor Emeritus, Phil Lewis who just completed his 57th year of focusing on "Regional Design," a study that requires an understanding of how communities in the region fit in harmony with the values and visions of

Downshift Your Driving

2007-08-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

According to the Carbon Conscious Consumer (C3), "It takes total carbon dioxide emissions from most countries worldwide combined to equal just vehicle emissions in the United States, and as we consume more and more gas, pressure builds to drill in fragile and conflict-ridden areas. Yet a quarter of the trips Americans make are within walking distance, and each American driver could keep nearly a

What If The Experts Are Right?

2007-08-11T19:30:00.000-05:00

[Originally published as Letter to Editor in the Fitchburg Star on November 30, 2006.]What if the experts are rightThat the earth is a closed loop systemWith limits on many of its natural resourcesAnd long term consequences for many of our actions?What would you change if you knewThat our unsustainable lifestyleWastes precious and finite assetsLike oil, natural gas and water?What would you want

Lindsay Questions Water Supply

2007-08-09T23:30:00.000-05:00

Rosanne Lindsay's testimony from Aug. 7th Public Hearing:[Most content from Letter to the Editor which appeared in the Fitchburg Star on Aug. 9, 2007.] I’d like to talk about something that links all of us on the issue of Smart growth and growth boundaries, and that is the water. The term water shortage has become a buzzword in Fitchburg this summer with two warnings from the city, including one

WWPC Looks for Win-Win Solutions

2007-08-08T22:45:00.000-05:00

Testimony by Phyllis Hasbrouck, Chair of the West Waubesa Preservation Coalition, from Aug. 7th Public Hearing:Good evening. The West Waubesa Preservation Coalition thinks it is great to have a long-term urban growth boundary, but we disagree with including the Northeast Neighborhood in the boundary, and with ignoring the needs of the farmers in Stoner Prairie. We do not want that, or any other

Fitchburg Neighborhood Plan Would Threaten E-way and Lake

2007-08-08T15:45:00.000-05:00

By Bill LivickOregon Observer editorThis article appeared in the August 2, 2007 edition of the Oregon Observer.When Oregon’s Village Board unanimously passed a one-year moratorium on residential annexations in May, trustees sent a clear message that they wanted to put the brakes on outward expansion. Under the leadership of then newly elected Village President Steve Staton, the board did an about

Pourchot Hopes for Courageous Path

2007-08-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

Caleb Pourchot's testimony from Aug. 7th Public Hearing:Good EveningThe elephant in the room tonight that we, the citizens of Dane County, continue to ignore is the fact that we are using more water than is falling from the sky. Saving Stoner Prairie or southern Fitchburg, or even the Northeast Neighborhood for groundwater recharge may be completely irrelevant if we

Shape Future with Phil Lewis' Vision

2007-08-08T14:45:00.000-05:00

Terry's Carpenter' testimony from Aug. 7th Public Hearing:I would like to see a 50 year or permanent growth boundary and I believe that this process is not a prediction, as some have said, but an effort to shape the future. I want to pick up on Samuel’s comments. On page 138 of his presentation, Phil Lewis provides examples of his Diverse Density design (see below). This graphic shows high

Cooke Explains the Depths of Frustration

2007-08-08T13:30:00.000-05:00

Samuel Cooke's testimony from Aug. 7th Public Hearing :I appreciate what you have to go through to set policy. It is not easy weighing all the issues and deciding what is important and what is not regarding land use. That being said, I have to say that I, and others, both here at the meeting and not here at the meeting, are getting very frustrated with what we see happening. Many of us prepare

Public Hearing Aug 7th - Yes that's tonight!

2007-08-07T15:30:00.000-05:00

Come one. Come all. Let Fitchburg know that you care. Join the chorus (in or out of harmony). Make your voice heard!This is your chance to comment on the current Long Term Growth Boundary sometimes called the 50-Year or Urban Growth Boundary. I know it's scary but someone has to think about the future. I wish my parents had thought about the future when they got me hooked on internal combustion

Eggleston's Review of "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle"

2007-08-05T21:30:00.000-05:00

From Rich Eggleston (emphasis added by Terry):I recently picked up Barbara Kingsolver's book, "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life," a back-to-our-roots look at industry-driven, petroleum and other chemical based agriculure, that shakes its head at how far America has been led down a path chosen by the agribusiness community, not a bunch of people you'd want your kids associating

Take the Local Produce Pledge

2007-07-30T12:30:00.000-05:00

I found this reminder of how important it is to buy locally grown food on the New American Dream website. This month's Carbon Conscious Consumer (C3) pledge is "Buy 1 Pound of Locally Grown Food a Week." Why? "Because 'going local' is a small step that can lead to big change. Food in the U.S. typically travels 1500 miles and the transportation of conventional food generates five to 17 times more

Determine True Costs of Development

2007-07-26T16:00:00.000-05:00

Today, I emailed the following letter to District 4 Alders (Steve Arnold and Jay Allen):As all city leaders know, the costs of residential and commercial development can not only be measured in dollars spent constructing the buildings, and the benefits are not only measured in increased tax revenues. Unfortunately, the process by which a development goes from ink and paper to wood and steel often

Whose Agenda Is It?

2007-07-25T16:00:00.000-05:00

At last night's Common Council meeting, Mayor Clauder suggested that if we don't like the fact that two alders can introduce an agenda item without the mayor's approval, perhaps we should change this for the next mayor. He clearly would like to see this duo-power removed.On the flip side, an unnamed alder offered that we might also want to consider removing the power of the Mayor to introduce an

Professor DeWitt Critiques NEN Stormwater Plan

2007-07-21T22:52:00.000-05:00

I provide my critique of the Stormwater Management Plan under a series of headings, as follows:1. Failure to take the Watershed into Account. The Nine Springs Creek Watershed and the Swan Creek Watershed are smaller components of the Lake Waubesa Watershed. The Lake Waubesa Watershed, with a principal contribution to it by the City of Fitchburg, is the primary surface hydrologic feature of the “

Stormwater Management Must Exceed City Standards

2007-07-20T22:25:00.000-05:00

To: Ruekert MielkeFrom: Samuel Cooke, FitchburgSubject: Review of Ruekert Mielke Northeast Neighborhood Conceptual Storm Water Management Plan - DraftI want to express my appreciation to City of Fitchburg staff and elected officials for commissioning the Ruekert Mielke May 2007 report, Northeast Neighborhood Conceptual Storm Water Management Plan – Draft. As stated in the Ruekert Mielke plan, the

Why Flood Housing Market, Destroy Farmland & More?

2007-07-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

To: Ruekert-MeilkeFrom: Pat W., Town of DunnPlease file this in the public comments on the Fitchburg Northeast Neighborhood development.I live just east of the proposed development and have attended two of the public information sessions. I can't say that I am encouraged by what I have seen. From a very basic standpoint, why in the world would anybody propose to build over 1,400 new homes in a

Out-Dated Plan Not in Community's Best Interest

2007-07-19T23:51:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Mel “Butch” Powell, Town of Blooming GrovePlease consider the following points of concern relating to the Final Draft of the Ruekert-Mielke Northeast Neighborhood Plan.IntroductionThe Swan Creek Resource Area, designated by the City of Fitchburg as the Northeast Neighborhood, is a system of distinctive natural, social, and cultural features. Likewise, the proposed Neighborhood Plan

Too Many Unknowns in NEN Plan

2007-07-12T23:30:00.000-05:00

My name is Phyllis Hasbrouck, and I’m the chair of the West Waubesa Preservation Coalition. We are in favor of preserving farmland, preserving and improving the quality of Lake Waubesa, its wetlands and tributary streams, of creating a dense city core near Fitchburg’s City Hall, promoting the use of trains and buses instead of cars, and of helping farmers stay on the land, make a decent living,

NE Neighborhood "Plan" is Flawed

2007-07-12T18:15:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Terry Carpenter, FitchburgThe new Ruekert-Mielke Neighborhood Plan for the Northeast Neighborhood (NEN) is flawed in many ways including its name. A “plan” should create a vision of what you want to see happen, not just assume that trends of the past will continue to be the trends of the future, and then figure how to accommodate those trends.As one

Conceptual Stormwater Study Insufficient

2007-07-12T15:39:00.000-05:00

Comments submitted to Ruekert MielkeBy Rosanne Lindsay, FitchburgThe city of Fitchburg recently received a Draft Conceptual Storm Water Study which, if approved, would attempt to mitigate runoff pollution from a proposed development in the Northeast Neighborhood. I reviewed this draft Stormwater study using current statutes and recent published studies to determine whether it could be implemented

Open Doors Make Good Neighbors

2007-06-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

[This Letter to the Editor appeared in the Fitchburg Star on June 28, 2007.]I would like to congratulate the Fitchburg Common Council, Mayor, and Plan Commission for working in a thoughtful way to plan for the city's future. And I thank them for the courteous reception that they have always given all concerned citizens even those residing outside of Fitchburg. Though some might complain about "

Questions Proposed Growth Boundary

2007-05-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

[This Letter to the Editor appeared in the Fitchburg Star on May 31, 2007.]As an observer at the Plan Commission meeting on May 15th, I was very disappointed at both the process and the results. Please consider my points and join me in questioning the Proposed 50-year Growth Boundary at the open house and public hearing on June 5th.(1) I saw little consideration for protecting the ecosystem - our