Approve Newport senior housing

Newport has an opportunity to provide desperately needed housing for our senior citizens at a reasonable rent (“Zoning board delays senior housing vote”; April 22). The housing would be designed with seniors in mind and would apparently offer amenities like a place to do their laundry and a place to gather. The housing would be age-restricted. Existing senior housing on Meadow Road does not cause any noise, traffic or lighting issues to my knowledge.

So it is ironic that the manager of the airport, who no doubt does not live in Newport, expressed concerns about the project’s potential for traffic, light and noise. I have fruitlessly requested a number of times in the past for the actual cost to the town of owning the airport versus any real or imagined benefits. I seriously doubt that any of the users of the airport actually live in Newport. Do any owners of the airplanes that land and take off from the airport live in Newport? Any pilots or passengers of the airplanes that use the airport actually live and pay taxes in Newport? Do they patronize any of our businesses? On the other hand, we get to listen to the drone of their airplanes taking off, landing, and circling overhead numerous times a day.

How many trips a day by our senior citizens would be a noticeable addition to the constant stream of traffic through town? The overstated fears of neighbors concerning an onsite, professionally designed, septic system need to be realistically assessed. Lighting can be designed to reflect downward and not affect neighbors. As the developer accurately noted, the area is not rural in character and includes the town’s wastewater treatment lagoons, commercial and manufacturing businesses.

I urge the Zoning Board to approve this project, which stands to benefit people who actually worked their entire lives here, and live and pay taxes in Newport.

Gail Wild

Newport

Pedestrians, keep
yourselves safe

When I moved to the Upper Valley, in 1962, it was always possible to find a parking spot on Main Street in Hanover, and there were no meters. I think that there was only a single traffic signal hanging over the intersection of Main and Wheelock streets by the Hanover Inn. At the corner of Allen Street and Main was the Food Co-op which was turned into a bookstore and is now a dress shop. That was across the street from a hardware store which is now a bank. There were two different banks in another building. I think there are now five banks in Hanover. Times have changed.

The Valley News has reported on studies being done to improve pedestrian safety on Main Street in Hanover (“Studies consider pedestrian safety”; April 24). Perhaps first and foremost, all Dartmouth students should be given lessons in using sidewalks and crossing a street which might include: 1. Take those things out of your ears and pay attention to what is going on around you; 2. Put your phone or laptop away and do not use modern electronics when walking on the sidewalk or crossing a street; 3. Walk beside your iScooter and do not use it on the sidewalk or in the middle of Main Street; 4. Learn about jay-walking and that jay-walking is dangerous and should not be done; 5. Cross Main Street only at designated crosswalks and respect the traffic that is there; 6. Pay attention to the WALK and DON’T WALK lights for they do serve a purpose; and 7. Leave a little early for where you are going and slow down. Just safely getting to your destination might be worth it. A little common sense might go a long way.

John Mudge

Lyme