I am disappointed with the Cumberland Town Council’s vote for a contract zone agreement with J. Fletcher Inc. on July 14. This was after all of the public comments were against accepting this agreement, and not all were Harris Road residents.

One of the outcomes of developer Fletcher’s zone change will negatively impact the residents of Harris Road and their neighbors by changing this dead end to a through way. This will result in an increase of traffic, loss of recreation, and denial of the ideal of a purposeful purchase of a home on a dead-end road. Several of the residents have lived here 40 years and have raised their children teaching them how to ride their bikes and eventually learn to drive. There are many children living here today with even younger siblings waiting to learn to ride their bikes. Bike groups often use this road. Years ago I walked my dog here and today many still do, not all from Harris Road, and this will be jeopardized. The high school teams still practice here, since it is well known for its good hills. This dead end has served many purposes, people and animals.

The residents of Harris Road, side roads and supporters will exercise the process as written in the Town Charter and set out to collect 600 signatures to place this issue on the November ballot. Please support them when gathering signatures while they exercise this citizen’s initiative. Once it is lost, it will be lost for all, forever.

Colleen Higgins
Cumberland


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