|
|
|
Town officials need to protect Historic District
To the Editor:
I love Honesdale.
One of the reasons I moved here was because of the interesting architecture and the flavor of the town.
One of the things I am finding distasteful, at the moment, is the lack of accountability of the town council, its apparent blindness to violations of zoning ordinances, and its ineptness to correct them. Even the president of The United States is responsible to the people he represents; sadly our town council feels they are above this.
In August I attended our town council meeting with a few other neighbors who were still upset about the modular monstrosity that was allowed to be inserted (sideways) into the historical district (which we have been told by a council member, never mind the posted signs, really isn't one). We had protested when the building permit was issued, to save the last piece of green, but we certainly weren't ready for the bomb that hit, which is totally out of character with the other homes. Thankfully our concerns were heard so that another modular home then being built by the same owner on East St. had to take on a more fitting facade.
It is over a year now, and not only have the old sidewalks on West St. not been replaced, a driveway which is shared by the same absentee landlord of the adjacent property has been connected with this new driveway, creating a street running from North Main to West Street. Most unsightly is the gravel parking lot in the front of the house, and the blank wall with a window and door that face the street.
But then, this isn't a historical district, is it? Or is it only one when the town wants to keep it as one on the national register?
As I told the council in September, they wouldn't have permitted this to be erected if they live next door. Having studied the zoning ordinances and pointed out why the building permit never should have been issued, and having requested an appeal with the zoning hearing board, I still have had no answer from anyone as to how this could have happened, or had any communication as to what is being done on their part to correct the violations.
Honesdale is a beautiful place in which to live, and it is in our own interest to demand accountability from its officials for keeping it historic.
Glenn Kawalek
.Honesdale
Town officials need to protect Historic District
To the Editor:
I love Honesdale.
One of the reasons I moved here was because of the interesting architecture and the flavor of the town.
One of the things I am finding distasteful, at the moment, is the lack of accountability of the town council, its apparent blindness to violations of zoning ordinances, and its ineptness to correct them. Even the president of The United States is responsible to the people he represents; sadly our town council feels they are above this.
In August I attended our town council meeting with a few other neighbors who were still upset about the modular monstrosity that was allowed to be inserted (sideways) into the historical district (which we have been told by a council member, never mind the posted signs, really isn't one). We had protested when the building permit was issued, to save the last piece of green, but we certainly weren't ready for the bomb that hit, which is totally out of character with the other homes. Thankfully our concerns were heard so that another modular home then being built by the same owner on East St. had to take on a more fitting facade.
It is over a year now, and not only have the old sidewalks on West St. not been replaced, a driveway which is shared by the same absentee landlord of the adjacent property has been connected with this new driveway, creating a street running from North Main to West Street. Most unsightly is the gravel parking lot in the front of the house, and the blank wall with a window and door that face the street.
But then, this isn't a historical district, is it? Or is it only one when the town wants to keep it as one on the national register?
As I told the council in September, they wouldn't have permitted this to be erected if they live next door. Having studied the zoning ordinances and pointed out why the building permit never should have been issued, and having requested an appeal with the zoning hearing board, I still have had no answer from anyone as to how this could have happened, or had any communication as to what is being done on their part to correct the violations.
Honesdale is a beautiful place in which to live, and it is in our own interest to demand accountability from its officials for keeping it historic.
Glenn Kawalek
.Honesdale
