To the editor: Your front page report on the

To the editor:

Your front page report on the “stormy” session of the Washington Town Council over more planning and zoning of that incorporated town was both entertaining and enlightening. This public meeting in a small town brought into sharp focus, once again, what is wrong with the mindset of our enthusiastic planners and zoners; it sheds a glaring light on the twisting road down which these absolutely determined people would shove their neighbors — in Washington and elsewhere.

One side of the dialogue at the meeting was carried on by aroused and irate citizens who clearly foresaw that they were going to be forced to drag themselves before petty bureaucrats to beg permission if they dared to dream of improving their own property or of increasing their income from it. On the other side were the zoners and planners who were perfectly certain (through divine insight — revealed exclusively to them?) that they knew exactly what the people wanted — or more important, as they see it — what the people NEEDED and what was best for them. Messrs. Reynolds, Wickens and Miller led this beleaguered but determined band.

Mr. Miller outdid himself. He saw “history repeating itself’ in the council chamber: “One year ago at the Elementary School, (the county) lost momentum and we still don’t have an Ordinance — if you wait until you know zoning, you’ll never get it,” he reportedly stated. Horrors! That we should understand in advance the laws by which we are to be governed! Mr. Miller was perfectly aware, while sharing this intriguing revelation, that I was told to my face by Chairman Gilkey on August 4 (with considerable annoyance) that, as far as the Supervisors are concerned, it is all over but the shouting with regard to the massive new county zoning ordinance; that the only thing the Board had to discuss