As a former Auburn councilor and a staunch advocate for regulation and zoning that would at least somewhat protect the remaining quality of life in the greater Turner Street area, I would like to remind councilors and citizen advocates alike (as I was reminded many times) that the maintenance of our (Auburn’s) quality of life, including the school system, requires a consistent expansion of the tax base.

While the development of a single hotel may seem threatening, I would like to remind people what the greater Turner Street area has endured and survived — the development of a Walmart and the consequent destruction of a huge, near-pristine hillside to accomplish that; a hotel; and two other large strip malls.

In comparison, I find it difficult to believe that the development of a single hotel would single-handedly destroy the quality of life in the greater Martindale/Beech Hill Road area.

Bob Mennealy, Auburn