Many people driving through Marlboro are seeing signs to Save the Ridge and don’t know what is going on. The town board of Marlborough, is working together to try and find an amendment to our ridgeline code that will clarify the current code while preserving the beauty of the ridge and also protecting the rights of land owners.

In a perfect world, the end result would be harmonious. Unfortunately, no one is ever 100% satisfied with any decision. With that being said, both sides should respect each other’s opinions.

As I can sympathize with preserving our ridgeline view, I also sympathize with the building rights of the ridgeline property owners. If one owns said property, and pays taxes on said property, in my opinion, no one should have the right to dictate what and where they can build on that property with the exception of the board of health requirements, septic and well separation, drainage engineering, and possible emergency waivers concerning liability to the town.

Recently, I decided to take a ride and enjoy the ridgeline that I’ve lived under my entire life, but never much paid attention to. It is beautiful. Something so amazing, I’m ashamed to admit, I have taken it for granted.

However, as I traveled the back roads, I also noticed the views leading up to the ridgeline. Various homes on the verge of condemnation, sometimes vacant with overgrown lawns. Many homes with blue tarps strewn over piles of brush, firewood, and even lawn tractors, unregistered vehicles, motor homes also covered in tarps, put away for the winter months, Quonset hut type sheds constructed from tarp like material located in both front and back yards, unlandscaped cell phone towers, and solar farms that seem to have just appeared haphazardly throughout, without any notice to the public, various businesses operating in nonconforming locations, unkept commercial buildings littered with garbage and debris, not to mention the early morning loitering.

Do any of these things mentioned merit the same attention and consideration as the perseverance of the ridgeline?

Crickets… that seems to be the response.

It seems to me that the city population that frequent our agritourism are used to the city skyline and would probably not even notice the dozen or so houses we see now.

Like anything else in life, maybe everyone who strives for change, should be open to doing it at their own expense, and not expect others to bear the burden without having any input.

Buy the property in question.

Choose NOT to develop it.

Pay the required vacant lot taxes.

I personally live on top of a Marlboro mountain. 25 years ago, I chose to buy an additional 10 acres around my original 3-acre parcel so others could not build near me. I never expected no development adjacent to me at anyone else’s expense.

I hope all can respect my views, as I respect theirs.