Candidate Profile: Mike Johnson (D), Planning and Zoning Commission

This has been a stressful week for everyone in the state and it's been difficult to read these profiles since there seems to be a lot of news this week - I'll keep my message concise and short.

I've served on Middletown's Planning and Zoning Commission as an Alternate member and have been Chair of the Budget Subcommittee for the past two years.  When able to sit and vote as a full member, my votes represent a responsible vision to maintain our city's character and multiple identities.  There are suburbs where people embrace their privacy but enjoy being five minutes away from a vibrant downtown and rural areas with farms that are a mere few minutes away from major intersections.  And of course, there's Main Street - with great restaurants, stores and community centers. We certainly have a diverse community, but it's one we unapologetically embrace.  My experience looking at re-zonings and special exemptions across the city gives me a great perspective on what's best for our residents and what's going to make people, such as myself, move to Middletown -- and stay.

While on the commission, I've supported the expansion of sidewalks wherever possible, embraced any proposal to allow a more bike-firendly environment in the city (I introduced an amendment to have Walgreens on Washington St. add a bike rack to their property) and have held the line on over-development in our city's suburban neighborhoods.  

I've opposed, and will continue to oppose, additional commercial development in South Farms area of the city.  It makes no sense to clutter a community that has already been forced to deal with too much commercial property.  Let's attract development where it makes sense: the Aetna property, the north and south ends of Main Street and the vacant industrial parks outside the 91 corridor.  

The development of our beautiful waterfront will be a treasure to our city and it is imperative that everyone have a voice in this process.  After knocking on doors these past few months, it's commonly believed that much of the city's business is not thoughtfully considered and needs more scrutiny.  Having our river development be open and transparent is a primary goal of mine and should be for anyone who works on it.  If elected, I will continue to focus my attention on ensuring all of Middletown's voices are heard during the discussions that will take place after the plant is decommissioned.  

With your help - P&Z will be a commission that represents thorough, thoughtful work and the utmost transparency.