Advice for Baldwin

One of the experts on stage during last Thursday's lively public discussion was Sharon Pfeifer, a community assistance manager with the state's Department of Natural Resources. She wrote this follow-up note, hoping to leave Baldwin Township residents with a bit of advice for moving forward.

"My message for Baldwin would be:

1. Create a vision and plan that incorporates solid natural resources information. So many developers and local government staff have insisted that holding to the community's vision of itself is essential and helpful to developers.

2. Have patience. Thoughtful change takes time and change is as much a process as an outcome.

3. Seek partners. Don't be afraid to ask for help or feel that by asking for assistance the community will lose control. These challenges are complex and none of us can solve them alone.

4. What Baldwin does matters - to its residents, to Princeton, to the entire surrounding area, and to those downstream because many land use impacts of development follow the flow of water.

In my mind, Baldwin is at that point in time when it is moving from being 'placeless' to defining itself as a place. Let me know how I can help."

What do people think? Do any of Sharon's recommendations resonate especially well? We didn't talk a lot on Thursday about conservation or natural resources. Do people think those are vulnerable in Baldwin Township? What partners might be most useful to Baldwin residents?

Let us know by commenting on this post.

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