Kimberly Peace | Oppose SB564

This bill defeats the purpose of preserving open space land and wetland buffers by allowing septic systems and utility lines within these areas. The intent of the open space approval was to preserve this land and cluster the development of the residential housing by having smaller lots and less roadways. The need for undisturbed wetland buffers is well documented in the scientific literature as they offer protection to the functions and values that wetlands provide. The length of dead-end roads was always determined with input from the fire departments due to the length of their hoses. This proposal to allow longer dead-end roads may jeopardize those homes serviced only by cisterns where the length of the hoses are not sufficient. Placing such restrictions on Towns without any additional funding is a severe hardship for our citizens, and can cause dangerous situations and undermines our ability to preserve our natural areas using local control and governance that is voted on by the citizens.