An email from Bob Potter about the Supervisor election in Harris Township:
Harris Township Friends:
By now you should have received a mailed copy of the letter below. I am pleased to be included with other involved Harris Township residents in supporting Chris Lee for Supervisor. Here's why....
To me the only thing to consider in this election is who would be best for Harris Township.....nothing else matters. Based on qualifications and experience it is no contest: Chris is by far the stronger candidate. He has been active in all levels of Boalsburg, Harris Township and Centre Region government and civic activities since the early 1970's. He has served multiple terms as Harris Supervisor and on the board of the Boalsburg Village Conservancy, of which he was one of the founding members.
Of special importance to me is his deep knowledge and understanding of the planning process. Harris is not anti-growth (neither am I) but we have a system that has worked well to properly channel growth and I think most of us would say it has worked well. Chris respects the process and will work within it in the future.
Also, apparently looming is another go-round for the upgraded/re-aligned section of 322 from Potter's Mills to Boalsburg, through Harris Township. From the responses to the questions as listed below it is obvious we need Chris at the table if and when this is considered.
Chris is by far the better choice for Harris and I urge you to vote for him next Tuesday.
Many thanks.
Bob
Also......you can help by forwarding this to your Harris friends.
Attachment:
A message to residents about our Harris Township quality of life:
Your vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5, can make an important difference.
Dear Harris Township Neighbor,
We are contacting you as someone who shares our love of the present wonderful character and quality of life of Harris Township and who shares our concern for our community in the face of vocal demands to rezone agricultural and forest land for residential and commercial uses that threaten the rural character of Harris Township by opening the floodgates of development.
The voting balance of the Harris Township Board of Supervisors is at a tipping point. The election for Harris Township Supervisor on November 5th will decide between two competing and very different visions for Harris Township. It is very important that you vote and that you vote fully informed.
On the one hand, you have a candidate with no experience in Township government who has said “Absolutely, we have to have growth” and “our tax base is going to have to go up.” (See other sheet for more verbatim quotes).
If elected, this approach will tip the majority of the board towards those who advocate the rezoning of agricultural and forest land to denser residential and commercial uses and ultimately require the expansion of sewer and water lines into agricultural and forest areas. If that happens, this could well be “Goodbye” to the rural character of Harris Township that we know and love and “Hello, North Atherton Street.” This is most decidedly not our vision for the future of Harris Township.
Such extreme measures are not even necessary. Harris Township has already approved five major subdivisions in recent years and has made plans to accommodate growth through 2040. According to the Centre Regional Planning Agency report of 2012, the Township already has approved subdivisions that include 745 residential lots that have yet to be built on. In addition, we have land that is zoned residential but for which no subdivision plan has been submitted that would accommodate an additional 464 homes, for a total of 1209 homes that could be developed. This total is more than the homes projected to be needed by the year 2040. In addition, the township has land equaling a quarter-of-a-million square feet that is zoned for commercial and industrial uses which is still vacant and therefore available for development.
Clearly, there is no need to rezone yet more land to accommodate the future residential and commercial development projected through 2040.
Such measures are also based on the wrong idea that more land development improves the Township budget. In fact, developed land requires more Township expenses than agricultural land or open space. Any increase in taxes from developed land is more than eaten up by corresponding increase in government services required to serve that land. Development does not improve the Township budget. In fact, since extensive residential development costs more in services than it provides in revenue, this type of development could be viewed as a tax on Harris Township residents. And as we said above it also most certainly threatens our rural quality of life.
Fortunately, there is another better candidate for Township Supervisor, one who has already served twice as Harris Township Supervisor, including as board chair, and who offers a rich background in the kind of carefully planned, intelligent growth that has given us the Harris Township we love today.
Christopher Lee is the one Township Supervisor candidate who believes in smart growth as more than a slogan. He believes in smart growth as a policy when rezoning requests come in from developers. This means first build out land for houses and businesses inside the growth boundary before rezoning any additional agricultural land for denser residential and commercial uses.
We know Christopher Lee will vote on the Board to preserve and protect our quality of life because that is what we have seen him do before as Supervisor. In addition, his experience as former chair of the Centre Regional Planning Commission and as three-time president of the Boalsburg Village Conservancy makes him well-qualified to make thoughtful, educated decisions, not decisions based on wrong ideas about growth and tax bases.
We have known Chris well for decades and we can vouch for Chris’ sincere commitment to do what’s best for the future of Harris Township.
Your vote on November 5th can make the difference between these two futures for Harris Township. We urge you to vote to conserve and protect our quality of life in this community and prevent the Harris Township Board of Supervisors from tilting towards rapid and unnecessary development. We urge you to vote for Christopher Lee.
/Signed/
Paul Weener, former member, Harris Township Planning Commission and Centre Regional Planning Commission
John Wainright, Chair, Harris Township Planning Commission and Boalsburg Memorial Day Committee
Bob Potter, former Chair, Harris Township Planning Commission; former President, Boalsburg Village Conservancy
John Tait, former Chair, Harris Township Board of Supervisors and Harris Township Planning Commission
Jim Farr, former President, Boalsburg Village Conservancy; former chair, Memorial Day Committee
PS: Voting November 5 is at the two red brick churches at N. Church St and Old Boalsburg Road.
***********************************************************************
Some selected questions and verbatim responses by the two candidates for Harris Township Supervisor, with some comments by Harris residents.
From C-Net TV candidate interviews, April and October 2013 and League of Women Voters candidate forums, April and October 2013. Full content is viewable at CNet1.org
1. Question: What are the rules and regulations for rezoning farmland in Harris Township and do you favor rezoning farmland?
As long as I’m going to be a supervisor I will protect their rights to do what they [owners of agricultural land] need to do with that land… If they want to go back and get it rezoned, they should have the opportunity to do that… If they can do that (rezoning) then, I think that we should let them have it.
-- Franklin Harden
My approach has always been that a top priority in making decisions by the board at township meetings is protecting the quality of life and character of Harris Township…When you rezone farmland from agricultural to more dense residential or commercial, then you’re extending… water and sewer… I think rezoning should only be done very carefully and only aligned with the Comprehensive Plan of the Township. It should be done for the general good of the township and not because a developer sees a financial opportunity there.
-- Christopher Lee
Comment from resident Paul Weener: Agricultural zoning already allows one house per acre. Specific proposals about rezoning for more intense uses will open up the floodgates of development. This is a real red flag for those who care about the rural character of Harris Township. It is important to reject this approach.
2. Question: Do you believe that Harris Township is currently doing a good job of regulating growth and development within the township, and why or why not?
I think that growth for Harris Township is to protect our tax base and I think that’s the way we have to look at it… I don’t think we can dictate to people that have paid taxes and own their land… and say, “You can’t do this with it.”
-- Franklin Harden
We have a long tradition in Harris Township of planned growth…I’ve been Supervisor twice before. If I am elected supervisor, I intend to continue that tradition and not open up the floodgates…not vote willy-nilly for rezoning out in the agricultural land. My priority will be the quality of life. We want to preserve and protect the quality of life in Harris Township.
-- Christopher Lee
3. Question: Do you favor affordable housing and if so would you cut back on government fees like water and sewer hook up fees for builders as a way of making housing more affordable.
We’re going to have to work with the government agencies, maybe cut back on some of their fees… So I would say not just those hook-ups, we would also have to maybe have to have a designation for affordable housing and make that tax base or assess them a little bit less.
-- Franklin Harden
I think the idea that you would reduce fees for the builders, is the wrong way to go. That just shifts the costs of the sewer and water to everyone else who has already paid for the sewer and water for their houses. I don’t think the old users should pay for the new users. I think the best way to do it and the way they do it nationwide is to give density incentives to the developer.
-- Christopher Lee
Comment from resident John Tait: This raises another red flag for residents. It’s wrong to shift the cost of affordable housing to residents who have already paid for their water and sewer and their real estate taxes. The right way is density incentives on-site to the developer, not shifting the costs off site to all the rest of us.
4. Question: Is there anything Harris Twp can do about various proposals to improve route 322 coming west from Potters Mills or is it in the hands of Harrisburg and PennDOT; and what would you like to see happen?
“Its something that I have concerns of…but it’s also something that’s kind of out of our hands. It belongs to Harrisburg… it’s their baby.”
-- Franklin Harden
I think safety is the first concern… any Federal money that gets spent on highways in Centre County must be allocated by the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization…I’ve been chairman of that before. ..So Harris Township has a role. It has a vote and we need to use that.
-- Christopher Lee
5. Question: What opportunities do you think there are in Harris Township to improve facilities for cyclists?
I think the cyclists, at some point, have to sit down and say, “Look, there are rules out there for cyclists right now. They’ve got to follow those rules.”…… I’m not in favor of just starting to change every way we’re doing it and making the cyclist better because, from my standpoint, I don’t see the cyclists appreciating what we’ve already done for them.
--Franklin Harden
I was a leader in getting the existing bike path established way back when. In terms of opportunities, I think we need to think about “complete streets.” A street is not complete unless it offers choices. Cars, yes, obviously that’s the standard. But also transit, also bike, also pedestrian, If you offer all of those, that’s a “complete street.”If you offer choices to the people who are going places, they can lower their costs. If you offer transit and you don’t need to have a second car, you can save $3000 per year in your family budget. So it’s important for the government to play its role in helping people in their family economy.
--Christopher Lee
Comment from resident Bob Potter: I have never heard of a single cyclist be anything but appreciative of the Atherton bike path and other pro-cycling initiatives. The rest of the world is actively promoting cycling for many reasons....... health, economics, energy savings, reducing traffic congestion, etc. Harris and the Centre Region have a good start, but still have a long way to go on this. I believe we should support cycling whenever and wherever we can.
Harris Township Friends:
By now you should have received a mailed copy of the letter below. I am pleased to be included with other involved Harris Township residents in supporting Chris Lee for Supervisor. Here's why....
To me the only thing to consider in this election is who would be best for Harris Township.....nothing else matters. Based on qualifications and experience it is no contest: Chris is by far the stronger candidate. He has been active in all levels of Boalsburg, Harris Township and Centre Region government and civic activities since the early 1970's. He has served multiple terms as Harris Supervisor and on the board of the Boalsburg Village Conservancy, of which he was one of the founding members.
Of special importance to me is his deep knowledge and understanding of the planning process. Harris is not anti-growth (neither am I) but we have a system that has worked well to properly channel growth and I think most of us would say it has worked well. Chris respects the process and will work within it in the future.
Also, apparently looming is another go-round for the upgraded/re-aligned section of 322 from Potter's Mills to Boalsburg, through Harris Township. From the responses to the questions as listed below it is obvious we need Chris at the table if and when this is considered.
Chris is by far the better choice for Harris and I urge you to vote for him next Tuesday.
Many thanks.
Bob
Also......you can help by forwarding this to your Harris friends.
Attachment:
A message to residents about our Harris Township quality of life:
Your vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5, can make an important difference.
Dear Harris Township Neighbor,
We are contacting you as someone who shares our love of the present wonderful character and quality of life of Harris Township and who shares our concern for our community in the face of vocal demands to rezone agricultural and forest land for residential and commercial uses that threaten the rural character of Harris Township by opening the floodgates of development.
The voting balance of the Harris Township Board of Supervisors is at a tipping point. The election for Harris Township Supervisor on November 5th will decide between two competing and very different visions for Harris Township. It is very important that you vote and that you vote fully informed.
On the one hand, you have a candidate with no experience in Township government who has said “Absolutely, we have to have growth” and “our tax base is going to have to go up.” (See other sheet for more verbatim quotes).
If elected, this approach will tip the majority of the board towards those who advocate the rezoning of agricultural and forest land to denser residential and commercial uses and ultimately require the expansion of sewer and water lines into agricultural and forest areas. If that happens, this could well be “Goodbye” to the rural character of Harris Township that we know and love and “Hello, North Atherton Street.” This is most decidedly not our vision for the future of Harris Township.
Such extreme measures are not even necessary. Harris Township has already approved five major subdivisions in recent years and has made plans to accommodate growth through 2040. According to the Centre Regional Planning Agency report of 2012, the Township already has approved subdivisions that include 745 residential lots that have yet to be built on. In addition, we have land that is zoned residential but for which no subdivision plan has been submitted that would accommodate an additional 464 homes, for a total of 1209 homes that could be developed. This total is more than the homes projected to be needed by the year 2040. In addition, the township has land equaling a quarter-of-a-million square feet that is zoned for commercial and industrial uses which is still vacant and therefore available for development.
Clearly, there is no need to rezone yet more land to accommodate the future residential and commercial development projected through 2040.
Such measures are also based on the wrong idea that more land development improves the Township budget. In fact, developed land requires more Township expenses than agricultural land or open space. Any increase in taxes from developed land is more than eaten up by corresponding increase in government services required to serve that land. Development does not improve the Township budget. In fact, since extensive residential development costs more in services than it provides in revenue, this type of development could be viewed as a tax on Harris Township residents. And as we said above it also most certainly threatens our rural quality of life.
Fortunately, there is another better candidate for Township Supervisor, one who has already served twice as Harris Township Supervisor, including as board chair, and who offers a rich background in the kind of carefully planned, intelligent growth that has given us the Harris Township we love today.
Christopher Lee is the one Township Supervisor candidate who believes in smart growth as more than a slogan. He believes in smart growth as a policy when rezoning requests come in from developers. This means first build out land for houses and businesses inside the growth boundary before rezoning any additional agricultural land for denser residential and commercial uses.
We know Christopher Lee will vote on the Board to preserve and protect our quality of life because that is what we have seen him do before as Supervisor. In addition, his experience as former chair of the Centre Regional Planning Commission and as three-time president of the Boalsburg Village Conservancy makes him well-qualified to make thoughtful, educated decisions, not decisions based on wrong ideas about growth and tax bases.
We have known Chris well for decades and we can vouch for Chris’ sincere commitment to do what’s best for the future of Harris Township.
Your vote on November 5th can make the difference between these two futures for Harris Township. We urge you to vote to conserve and protect our quality of life in this community and prevent the Harris Township Board of Supervisors from tilting towards rapid and unnecessary development. We urge you to vote for Christopher Lee.
/Signed/
Paul Weener, former member, Harris Township Planning Commission and Centre Regional Planning Commission
John Wainright, Chair, Harris Township Planning Commission and Boalsburg Memorial Day Committee
Bob Potter, former Chair, Harris Township Planning Commission; former President, Boalsburg Village Conservancy
John Tait, former Chair, Harris Township Board of Supervisors and Harris Township Planning Commission
Jim Farr, former President, Boalsburg Village Conservancy; former chair, Memorial Day Committee
PS: Voting November 5 is at the two red brick churches at N. Church St and Old Boalsburg Road.
***********************************************************************
Some selected questions and verbatim responses by the two candidates for Harris Township Supervisor, with some comments by Harris residents.
From C-Net TV candidate interviews, April and October 2013 and League of Women Voters candidate forums, April and October 2013. Full content is viewable at CNet1.org
1. Question: What are the rules and regulations for rezoning farmland in Harris Township and do you favor rezoning farmland?
As long as I’m going to be a supervisor I will protect their rights to do what they [owners of agricultural land] need to do with that land… If they want to go back and get it rezoned, they should have the opportunity to do that… If they can do that (rezoning) then, I think that we should let them have it.
-- Franklin Harden
My approach has always been that a top priority in making decisions by the board at township meetings is protecting the quality of life and character of Harris Township…When you rezone farmland from agricultural to more dense residential or commercial, then you’re extending… water and sewer… I think rezoning should only be done very carefully and only aligned with the Comprehensive Plan of the Township. It should be done for the general good of the township and not because a developer sees a financial opportunity there.
-- Christopher Lee
Comment from resident Paul Weener: Agricultural zoning already allows one house per acre. Specific proposals about rezoning for more intense uses will open up the floodgates of development. This is a real red flag for those who care about the rural character of Harris Township. It is important to reject this approach.
2. Question: Do you believe that Harris Township is currently doing a good job of regulating growth and development within the township, and why or why not?
I think that growth for Harris Township is to protect our tax base and I think that’s the way we have to look at it… I don’t think we can dictate to people that have paid taxes and own their land… and say, “You can’t do this with it.”
-- Franklin Harden
We have a long tradition in Harris Township of planned growth…I’ve been Supervisor twice before. If I am elected supervisor, I intend to continue that tradition and not open up the floodgates…not vote willy-nilly for rezoning out in the agricultural land. My priority will be the quality of life. We want to preserve and protect the quality of life in Harris Township.
-- Christopher Lee
3. Question: Do you favor affordable housing and if so would you cut back on government fees like water and sewer hook up fees for builders as a way of making housing more affordable.
We’re going to have to work with the government agencies, maybe cut back on some of their fees… So I would say not just those hook-ups, we would also have to maybe have to have a designation for affordable housing and make that tax base or assess them a little bit less.
-- Franklin Harden
I think the idea that you would reduce fees for the builders, is the wrong way to go. That just shifts the costs of the sewer and water to everyone else who has already paid for the sewer and water for their houses. I don’t think the old users should pay for the new users. I think the best way to do it and the way they do it nationwide is to give density incentives to the developer.
-- Christopher Lee
Comment from resident John Tait: This raises another red flag for residents. It’s wrong to shift the cost of affordable housing to residents who have already paid for their water and sewer and their real estate taxes. The right way is density incentives on-site to the developer, not shifting the costs off site to all the rest of us.
4. Question: Is there anything Harris Twp can do about various proposals to improve route 322 coming west from Potters Mills or is it in the hands of Harrisburg and PennDOT; and what would you like to see happen?
“Its something that I have concerns of…but it’s also something that’s kind of out of our hands. It belongs to Harrisburg… it’s their baby.”
-- Franklin Harden
I think safety is the first concern… any Federal money that gets spent on highways in Centre County must be allocated by the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization…I’ve been chairman of that before. ..So Harris Township has a role. It has a vote and we need to use that.
-- Christopher Lee
5. Question: What opportunities do you think there are in Harris Township to improve facilities for cyclists?
I think the cyclists, at some point, have to sit down and say, “Look, there are rules out there for cyclists right now. They’ve got to follow those rules.”…… I’m not in favor of just starting to change every way we’re doing it and making the cyclist better because, from my standpoint, I don’t see the cyclists appreciating what we’ve already done for them.
--Franklin Harden
I was a leader in getting the existing bike path established way back when. In terms of opportunities, I think we need to think about “complete streets.” A street is not complete unless it offers choices. Cars, yes, obviously that’s the standard. But also transit, also bike, also pedestrian, If you offer all of those, that’s a “complete street.”If you offer choices to the people who are going places, they can lower their costs. If you offer transit and you don’t need to have a second car, you can save $3000 per year in your family budget. So it’s important for the government to play its role in helping people in their family economy.
--Christopher Lee
Comment from resident Bob Potter: I have never heard of a single cyclist be anything but appreciative of the Atherton bike path and other pro-cycling initiatives. The rest of the world is actively promoting cycling for many reasons....... health, economics, energy savings, reducing traffic congestion, etc. Harris and the Centre Region have a good start, but still have a long way to go on this. I believe we should support cycling whenever and wherever we can.