The View is Just Fine

Lindsey Pizzica Rotolo surely echoed the views of most if not all Norfolkians in her View From the Green article last month regarding the pride we take in the beauty of our town.  Norfolk’s historical architecture is something we all cherish.
We should be cautious however in considering the creation of an architecture review board to oversee construction.  Norfolk has remained beautiful for more than 250 years without the need for such extra controls.  Much of Norfolk’s beauty, charm and character stem from the individualism of our citizens.  An architectural review board sends a message of collectivism that seems contrary to our town’s very fiber. Individual property rights are a basic constitutional provision.  One man’s “eye sore” is another’s castle.
Our existing zoning and building regulations and the hard-working committee members charged with monitoring construction are more than adequate. Striving for contrived architectural parameters may be well suited for large housing developments or preplanned communities but Norfolk is hardly either.

Jen Morgan