Matthew Mandell Says Mixed Land Use is Repugnant
Matthew Mandell (RTM District 1) took a swipe at the Water Rat Parents Club last week in his e-mail newsletter, which he sends to constituents. (Click to read it.) He accused the Parents Club directors of casting “dispersions” [sic] in their open letter to Indy Goldberg and Debbie McGinley. (Click to read a critique of Mr. Mandell’s newsletter on Politicus Machamux).
Mr. Mandell also says that it is repugnant to argue that the Westport Weston Family Y should be allowed to build at Mahackeno, because northwestern Westport has no public facilities – no churches, schools, firehouses or public parks, all of which are confined to the rest of the town:
One issue that is arising and has been tossed out by Mahackeno supporters is that Northwestern [sic] Westport deserves this proposal and its impact. Old Hill, Redcoat, Partrick and other folks [sic] are you hearing this? They are saying the rest of town has traffic, the rest of town has schools and churches so why shouldn’t you. [sic] This is a repugnant position, the idea that if one has ills (traffic) everyone should. This shows a sincere lack of empathy for fellow citizens and a selfish desire to succeed at any cost.
Is it really a lack of empathy to ask fellow Wesporters to share the burden of having public facilities? How can you say this without laughing?
The funny thing is at the same time the argument is being made that Sunny Lane is not residential because the cell tower, Exit 41 and the Red Barn are there. I’m sorry, but I don’t see the cell tower bringing a thousand plus extra car trips to the area. And just because there is one non conforming use does not mean commercial encroachment should expand like a cancer.
It seems that Mr. Mandell is opposed to “mixed use” even though it is a basic tenet of “smart growth.” (Click to read more on smarthgrowth.org.)
