Normally this time of year with spring finally here I’m full of good thoughts and hope for the coming year.

This spring is very different; instead, I’m only feeling dread and I’m not alone. The reason behind this feeling of gloom and doom is the possible future for my town of Springfield. In the last year, events like Madison Square Garden proposing their rock festival, the voting down of the moratorium on type one projects, and the prospect of gas drilling, etc., leave little room for the future quality of the life we all have grown to cherish.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Recently, I attended a public hearing in Springfield that could be our town’s saving grace. A balanced committee of residents representing a cross section of interests in town were presenting their draft comprehensive plan. It is a beautifully done document. Every page reflects the desires of our town as expressed by the results of an extensive citizens questionnaire and as presented during more than two years of committee meetings.

As a comprehensive plan it is a vision statement, a perfect way to express hope. There will always be disagreement about such a plan, but this one is very well done and reflects the attitudes and wants of our town as a whole.

For those who worry that this plan sets new restrictive regulation, truly understand, it doesn’t. The comprehensive plan is an important guide to how we see  and want our town to be for future generations. It is not a new regulation. Even after it is adopted by the town, none of our current laws can be changed without more discussion, more dialogue and formal revised laws prepared by the town board.

It is a wonderful thing what the town has done for it’s residents formulating this comprehensive plan. So I say to you, town board members, please have the courage and the integrity to make it so.

Rosemarie Harrison

East Springfield, N.Y.