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By JIM AUSTIN Editor The pair met each other in the September primary and Potrikus narrowly edged out Burch for the Republican line on next week’s ballot. Burch, who was appointed to the town board following Nancy Iversen’s resignation, decided to run as a write-in candidate after receiving encouragement from a number of residents, he said. ``If I had been soundly defeated I would not have made this decision,’’ Burch said, ``This way people have a choice.’’ Potrikus said this week that the biggest issue in the town currently is the proposed conservation subdivision regulations which limit the number of lots in a subdivision and require the set aside of a percentage of land as open space. ``I believe that as it has been presented, it is over the top,’’ he said. ``I certainly believe in the rights of property owners and feel it is extremely restrictive.’’ Potrikus said he thinks most property owners are ``pretty good stewards of the land’’ and are ``fundamentally interested in the preservation of open land.’’ ``Certainly there is no need for the regulations as presented so far,’’ he said. Potrikus, who currently serves on the town’s zoning board of appeals, said he believes the town has a very effective planning board and sees no reason why that should change. ``I think they are capable of making decisions without such a restrictive land use law,’’ he said. Another issue that is tied to the proposed regulations is the re-evaluation of property in the town. According to Potrikus, the regulations may devalue some land if it is no longer developable and land owners may want their property re-assessed at a lower rate. ``If theirs is lowered, it only stands to reason others will have to go up or the town will have to look to other sources of revenue,’’ he said. He said, one of the primary reasons he decided to run was that it seems the town has a propensity to spend more than other towns. ``I don’t know that they spend too much, it’s just how it’s spent. I think there’s still some room for cost cutting and looking at where the money is spent,’’ he said. Burch agreed that the proposed conservation subdivision regulations are the biggest issue. ``I am in favor of a structured and reasoned approach to development. An approach that protects first and foremost the assets of property owners, while maintaining the natural character of the landscape should be our goal,’’ he said. A question during the recent informational meeting about the proposed regulations started Burch to thinking and he now believes the best way to handle the proposed regulations is to make them optional. Landowners would not have to follow the new, stricter regulations, but could if they wanted to. Burch readily admits that it is likely the town would have to provide an incentive to property owners or developers to interest them in the more restrictive regulations. The incentive he suggests is to allow a property owner to create one or two additional lots in the subdivision if it is done according to the conservation subdivision regulations. He said the reality of the situation is that often times subdivisions end up being configured in much the same way the proposed regulations would require because of the steep slopes and wetlands, but making it mandatory is a problem because people don’t like being told what they can and can’t do. Burch said he believes it is possible to make it optional and still achieve the goal of preserving open space. The councilman also pointed to other ongoing projects and issues in the town, including some upgrades at the town barn on Cemetery Road, union negotiations still underway with town employees, the recent formation of a town ethics board and a proposed town budget which calls for no tax increase. ``I was disappointed with the election, but that’s how they voted. I’m running because the people need a choice,’’ he said. Voters in the town of Otsego will also be electing a new highway superintendent to complete the unexpired term of Spike Boyd, who resigned earlier this year. The only candidate running is Republican Shawn Mulligan. Polls will be open next Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
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