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Profound Concern

I’m writing to express my profound concern over the possibility of a large number of low-income apartments being built on Liberty Street on the vacant property adjacent to the highway overpass. My concerns are as follows.

The tenants will pay no property taxes to the town and it will be likely that the owner of the property will be given tax breaks because of the low-income status and lower rents. This will also serve to devalue this property and all of the surrounding properties.

Such property may generate large numbers of children, thus causing a burden on the school system that, due to potential state budget cuts to the Education Cost Sharing grant, will be difficult to fund as it is. In addition to the schools, we may anticipate increased need for services from social services, police, and health departments, etc.

A property with this many units will need a substantial septic system, which will undoubtedly impact the wetlands feeding into streams to the immediate west of the property.

Public transportation, which is not on this street, may also be an issue so that the tenants can get to and from work, if they have jobs. The town may be obliged to pay for such a service.

There are many multi-user dwellings, either duplexes or full rental apartments, that are well maintained in this neighborhood. Properties such as the proposed low-income apartments are not historically maintained to the same standards, which will devalue all of the properties in the area.

This particular piece of property is not a good choice for such a venture. Single family or duplex dwellings would not place the burdens as mentioned above and I suggest that the Planning & Zoning Commission consider all of the above and limit use of this property.

Benjamin J. Ambrose

Clinton