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Taking Legal Action

What is happening in Clinton? The Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) appears to be ignoring zoning regulations as well as the public outcry about them. Some members of the PZC, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and Zoning Enforcement Officer Eric Knapp appear to be compromised by local contractors and auto junkyard dealers.

Many citizens have attended and/or spoken at public hearings to protest amendment AR 16-112 that allows local contractors and auto junkyard dealers to create safety and/or health hazards that destroy residential property values. The changes include lowering buffers and setbacks.

Many of these residential properties were built before the businesses were there. Through the years, these businesses have made many changes without seeking permits and without consequences. Proof of that is in the Land Use Office records.

The mission of the Clinton Taxpayer’s Association (CTA) is to promote fiscal responsibility and to monitor town taxes. It advocates for property owners and for the orderly development of commercial and industrial businesses.

The CTA is taking legal action on behalf of the residential property owners. It has established a special legal fund to pay attorney John Lambert to appeal decisions that adversely effect residential neighborhoods. CTA has filed an appeal of the recent passage of PZC amendment AR 16-112, Contractor Storage Yard.

This legal fund (www.gocta.org) is totally separate from the CTA regular account, which is used for education about property taxes and upcoming referendums.

Harriet Stein

Clinton

Harriet Stein serves as vice-president of CTA.