To the Editor:

Last week, a Knox Planning Board member ended her letter to the editor by asking the Knox Town Board:

— Why do we need another business district?

— Why here?

— Why now?

— And why aren’t you listening to us?

I’m going to go out on a limb and guess the board won’t answer. So I’ll answer for them.

The one simple answer for all four questions is: politics.

To its credit, the current administration openly admitted this during its meeting of Jan. 9, 2018 where it re-introduced the matter of a new business district at routes 156 and 157. The reason stated on the record for why this action was being re-pursued was because the previous administration got it wrong.

That’s it. That’s the sum total of the town board’s analysis of this incredibly important and complex land-use issue, one which other regulating bodies in the town have systematically evaluated and recommended against. To reintroduce the matter with such a flimsy rationale is arbitrary and capricious.  

In its actions and words, the town board has shown its eagerness to sacrifice Knox’s natural beauty and open space at the altar of big business. All to chalk up a political win.

I wish there were a better answer.

Travis O’Donnell

Knox

Editor’s note: Travis O’Donnell served on the Knox Conservation Advisory Council for two years before being appointed to the planning board in December 2016; both the conservation council and the planning board recommended against the proposed business district at routes 156 and 157. The current administration did not reappoint O’Donnell.