The best viewing last month on TV was a live broadcast from Bangor City Council chambers on the Judson Grant proposal for rezoning a large parcel of landon the corner of Griffin Road and Broadway. Kudos to Linda Hunter, Dr. Geoff Gratwick and others for asking two tough questions of the developers:

1. What type of building will be constructed on the rezoned 40 acres facing Griffin Road?

2. What are we going to do about traffic congestion that will result?

Dr. Gratwick’s questioning of the developers was particularly provocative for the lack of substantive answers. It is shocking when a developer in a public hearing does not discuss his plans for a very large piece of land. More ridiculous is the statement that since no big box corporation has yet contacted them, we should all be reassured.

Like the planning board meeting last month, only one citizen supported the rezoning. Yet, the councilors voted 6-1 in favor of rezoning. How is that possible?

I have no experience in city planning but lots of experience reviewing multimillion-dollar multi-year proposals for the National Institutes of Health. I daresay we would never consider a research study based on a sponsor whose plans are not spelled out in exacting detail.

So why is this process any different? The future of the city depends on a long-term plan for development. We have nothing but vague plans for a shopping area on Griffin Road. This clearly is not satisfactory and those two basic questions remain unanswered.

Please tell us what will happen to Griffin Road, and how will this help ease major traffic congestion on Broadway and Kenduskeag Avenue. We need new housing for low-income residents. But why accept a shopping and services rezoning to accommodate that goal?

Clifford Rosen

Bangor