I support the Holland Township Committee in their intent to conform to the Highlands Regional Master Plan because this will:

• Ensure that any future growth in Holland is sustainable and is based on scientific analysis of water availability and septic capacity.
  
  
• Limit the future full build-out of Holland to 262 residential units instead of the 649 houses allowed under our current zoning laws. (Not conforming means experiencing nearly 250 percent of the housing growth allowed under the Highlands Plan.)
  
  
• Bring 10-13 acre zoning in the farmland sections of Holland, with housing “clustered” on no more than 20% of the land so that 80% continues to be used for agriculture.
  
  
• Create 30-35 acre zoning in the wooded, hilly regions of Holland, with housing again “clustered” on 20% of the land so that most of the forested areas remain untouched.
  
  
• Enable Holland to do all this by adopting model ordinances provided by the Highland Council.
  
  
• Provide Holland with grant funding from the Highlands Council to pay for all the costs of updating our ordinances, Master Plan and other documents.
  
  
• Give Holland and other conforming municipalities priority for Green Acres preservation funding and farmland preservation.
  
  
• Result in lower affordable housing obligations because there will be less growth in Holland Township.
  
  
• Stabilize taxes by reducing growth in single-family residential housing, which adds to the cost of community services.
  

Therefore, I commend the Holland Township Committee and urge them to petition for Basic Plan Conformance by the deadline in December 2009.