We feel that the answer to the question "What is the role of additional "big box retailing" in Easton in 1999/2000?" should be "None" and that the Comprehensive Plan and appropriate Zoning Ordinances should be amended accordingly.

Big box stores do not fit into our community. There is much concern among our neighbors about the traffic they will generate and the demand they will place on public safety services. For example, will we need to change from a volunteer to a paid fire department to accommodate the needs of a big box retailer?

As we have learned from the development of Carleton Business Park, traffic is not always easy to plan or manage. We are not sure how Rt. 50 would ever be able to handle the increased traffic generated by a new shopping center featuring big box stores, particularly during the summer "Reach the Beach" traffic, and in light of the newly built sports park.

We feel that the answers to the questions you have developed in reseaching this issue will prove that there is not much to gain in having a big box store in our town and much to lose. Our historic downtown, existing retailers, and the quality of life in our community must be preserved. Big box retailing is detrimental to those goals

Thank you for considering this letter and for your efforts on behalf of our community. This is a complex issue and we appreciate the work you are doing on it.