Town Centre plan is senseless

The proposal for commercial development of the former Buffalo Shooting Club property is a huge mistake. It is inappropriate for a residential neighborhood, and paradoxically, it defies, even mocks, Amherst's own Comprehensive Plan.

It is time for our elected officials to "just say no" to senseless commercial development. It is time to hold developers accountable for filling their empty properties before building new ones to house the same type of businesses. Currently, there are 18 empty properties along a three-mile stretch on Maple Road. This includes thousands of square feet of office space, one of which is 8,500 square feet.

It is time to understand that Amherst has reached a point of diminishing returns. This is not "smart development." This will not attract people. People are fleeing. They will continue to flee as long as our town continues to cater to commercial developers and big businesses and not to the needs and desires of its loyal, taxpaying citizens.

History has shown that this site will eventually display many "leasing" signs. Sadly, a neighborhood, a green space, a part of our town would have been destroyed - forever.
Marcia Namulik
Donna Lea Boulevard
Amherst