To the Editor:

On Oct. 1, the Altamont Village Board will once again tackle the decision to rezone the property at 107-109 Helderberg Ave. from residential to Central Business District.

I am sure you have heard and read everything possible either for or against this rezone. I have a couple of questions everyone should think about.

First, has anyone given much thought to the pro argument of “Stewart’s is a good neighbor” by donating to different organizations in the community?

Have you ever thought that this is a critical component to the Stewart’s business model and happens in every community in which Stewart’s is located? I bet there is a line item budgeted for “contributions” in the annual budget and a tax write-off at the end of every fiscal year.

Second, has anyone thought about what I would call less-than-ethical business practices by going into communities and buying up properties, knowing full well that they will need rezoning and usually variances to the communities’ building codes in order to complete the expansion?

Research communities of Voorheesville, Rotterdam, Queensbury, Schodack, Glens Falls, and probably others that face similar circumstances as Altamont. Most of them involve issues of rezoning, variances for one thing or the other, and outcomes that contradict that community's comprehensive plan.

Much of this done by buying property in an advantageous location for expansion and then worrying about the legal issues later.

I hope you give these ideas some thought and advise your board members to vote for the Altamont community you desire and the “good neighbors” you would like to have.

Bruce Bartlett

Altamont