The Good News is:

The Moratorium was approved !

The Moratorium ammended to 6 months duration was a approved
by the Stafford Planning and Zoning Commission
by a vote of 3-0 with 1 abstention.

( View the PZC Hearing Agenda for the Sept 13, 2005 Public Hearing )

( Read the hartford Courant Editorial supporting a moratorium in Stafford )

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Dear Friend of Small Town Stafford:

Stafford First has proposed a 9 month moratorium (temporary ban) on new retail building applications of 30,000 square feet or more-that's three times the size of Rite-Aid. In other words, the moratorium proposal would stop any big box stores like Wal-Mart from building in Stafford for 9 months, until June 2006.

The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on the moratorium on:

Tuesday, September 13
7:00 p.m.
Stafford High School Auditorium
Please attend the hearing and support the moratorium

It is critical to show the PZC how important this is-if we are all there, they'll hear our voices.

The moratorium helps by allowing the town and its citizens (that's us!) time to review the zoning rules, receive the results of the Connecticut Economic Resource Center development study, and to regulate Big Box development. With a moratorium, the PZC will have a chance to write regulations that favor locally-owned business, re-use of existing buildings and infrastructure, forest & farm conservation, more diverse retail product availability and an expanded tax base. Without a moratorium, virtually nothing stands between us and a Wal-Mart Super Center.

Please attend the hearing on September 13. Your presence is the most important thing you can give, but in case you're willing to contribute money too, we have enclosed a pre-addressed envelope; checks can be made out to "Stafford First." You can see us on the web at www.staffordfirst.org, or attend our meetings, the first Thursday of every month at the Stafford Public Library community room.

We hope to see you on September 13, 7:00 p.m. at Stafford High School.