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Consider the Rights

With all the controversy surrounding the proposed purchase by CVS of the properties on the corner of Hull and Main Street, has anyone stopped to consider the rights of the owners of these properties? I am amazed that the people who object to this sale have never considered their own response if others were preventing them from selling their property and were calling them greedy.

While I agree with the objections of the speakers at the January hearing in regard to the design of the building, the decision for the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) is only whether this application conforms to current regulations, which, according to PZC’s attorney Richard Roberts, it does. Threatening the members of the board with repercussions or lacking courage if they don’t listen to peoples’ demands and accusing them of bending to powerful interests is shameful.

As for the 80 people who showed up for the hearing and the 26 who spoke against the plan, in a town of 13,000, do they truly represent the will of the people? And saying the town is “universally opposed” is an overstatement.

As for the historical buildings on the property, these ramshackle buildings are hardly charming and worthy of preservation for future generations. Clinton has lovely homes well deserving of preservation, but not these. If the historical society is so concerned, let it purchase them and either move them to a new site or put its own money into their restoration because, if not, they will continue to fall into an even more decrepit state.

What we should be focusing on is not the sale of this property, but on letting CVS know that if it wants to be considered a good neighbor, please construct a building that is a credit to the community, not a slap in the face, and let the current owners conduct their business.

Andrea Belous

Clinton