On April 30, the residents of Poland will be voting on 55 warrant articles, including a number of changes to the land-zoning ordinance.

One change could dramatically affect many of us in town. Warrant article 37 discusses duplexes. The proposal by the Planning Board is that if a duplex has two bedrooms on each side, the required lot size would be 150 percent of the lot size that exists. If it has two bedrooms on one side and three on the other, then that would require 200 percent of the lot size.

My concern is for people who might be planning retirement or senior care homes for themselves or loved ones. For instance, someone could live in one side and have a caregiver living in the other, and each wanting two bedrooms in case of visiting friends or relatives. What good does it do to increase the lot size? The planning board admitted they were concerned because subdividers were looking to put duplexes on conforming lots. When asked to put this change in the subdivision ordinance only, they refused. I find their credibility beginning to slide when they no longer listen to resident input.

It seems to me that the number of lots in town where duplexes could be built is minimal.

I am planning to vote against the article in the hope that the Planning Board will revise the article, inserting the change in the subdivision ordinance for the next town meeting.

Sue Ellis, Poland

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