I was glad to see the BDN note the positive impact that the Informed Growth Act, LD 1810, would have on growth in Maine (“Plan for Development,” BDN, May 22). Its enactment would be a major step towards supporting healthy development and avoiding the steamroller approach of the less responsible developer.

While municipal comprehensive plans can be effective in laying out criteria for healthy local development, more often a community is caught off guard – working with an outmoded comprehensive plan while trying to put a new plan into place. Anyone who has ever been on a planning board or “testified” at a planning board meeting knows how frustrating it can be to comment about the negative impact a proposed big box will have on neighborhoods, downtown, small business, and its true net effect on the municipal bottom line, just to be told that these issues cannot be addressed.

Not all growth is good. Not all development supports community. The enactment of LD 1810 would provide the additional support needed by Maine communities to do a case-by-case, fair review of large-scale development to distinguish between the good, the bad and the ugly. If you are concerned about the future health of your community, please contact your legislators and let them know you support this important bill.

Suzanne Kelly

Bangor