Is joint zoning good for Newton Township?

[Sal]

In March 2005, I wrote on this board that I questioned the supervisors as to whether there were any disadvantages to joint zoning and the supervisors stated that they did not know of any.  I also asked important questions and they did not have the answers.

At some point after that, the supervisors decided to begin the process of joint zoning with South Abington.  I attend meetings regularly and I was not aware that the supervisors made that decision until today.

Is anyone aware that the supervisors did this?

[Sal]

I received an email from a person that is on the joint zoning committee.  The email was confidential therefore, it will not be posted here but I am making my reply public.

My reply follows:

I do not have a problem with joint zoning; it just needs to make sense for the municipalities that are involved.

Initially, I set up a web forum for the leaders of the communities to provide information to the public.  They were all notified but none of them placed information on the website.  

I find it interesting that people pushing the initiative say the want the public to be informed and get involved.  We have a website where the people of Newton are involved.  If it is such a great deal, why are these people not putting out any information so that it can be open for discussion?  Could it be that the plan would never hold up under public scrutiny?

On September 14, 2005, I started a section on the board titled “Is joint zoning good for Newton Township?”  To this day, there has not been any reasons stated that would show that it would be good for Newton Township.  Therefore, based on my research, I maintain my position that joint zoning is not good for Newton Township and that it will be detrimental to Newton.

In addition, I am aware that the reason a few people want joint zoning is to exclude reasonable land uses.  That is not the purpose of the law, therefore, it will not hold up in Court.  It will expose Newton to lawsuits that will bankrupt this Township if it tries to defend against them.

We already have a comprehensive plan that cost us a bit of money to prepare.  The only thing remaining is to make minor adjustments to our zoning map and Newton Township would be in compliance with State law.  In my opinion, that is the proper and most cost effective course of action for Newton.