Letter: Belvedere project – A pig in the parlor

Posted 6/7/19

Zoning laws in the U.S. were first enacted to protect property values and quality of life, so citizens know what their neighbor can and cannot build. Those who purchase property or have property in a …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Letter: Belvedere project – A pig in the parlor

Posted

Zoning laws in the U.S. were first enacted to protect property values and quality of life, so citizens know what their neighbor can and cannot build. Those who purchase property or have property in a neighborhood have advance notice of the Zoning Laws so that everyone is on an equal playing field.

In 1926, U.S. Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland colorfully noted in the landmark case of the Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co.: "A nuisance may be merely a right thing in the wrong place — like a pig in the parlor instead of the barnyard …."

This was the first case which challenged Zoning Laws, and the Supreme Court sided with the Village of Euclid upholding their Zoning — that Zoning Laws are a necessary municipal-planning instrument.

While some people don’t mind having a pig in their parlor, the current Belvedere at Thames design that requires 16 variances doesn’t belong in the only remaining historic working waterfront section of our town. A good design with a proper fit within the zoning laws can work there. Please come to the Public Hearing to be held next Thursday at 7 p.m. to oppose an application for 16 variances that will destroy every intention of the Zoning Laws and our Comprehensive Plan that Bristol Citizens created and adopted.

Marianne Bergenholtz
Bristol

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.