This letter is to rebut the June 16 editorial, “How will future generations regard our urban planning?”. Apparently the author decided to write without making inquiry of our concerns.

First and foremost, I am speaking for the entire Butler Township Board of Commissioners in stating we are not averse to any regional or local growth except when such growth may have a negative financial impact on our taxpayers. One should never be penalized for sound fiscal management.

To date we have only seen a preliminary plan, not the plan as prepared by Gateway Engineering. Veterans should expect easy access to the new VA Butler Health Care. We all profess a debt to them. The private, for-profit entity should bear all costs, not the taxpayers of Butler Township.

Center supervisors have known of the proposed Duffy Road development for many months. They held advertised public hearings prior to amending their zoning ordinance to provide for this type of development. The statement learning of the development this week is not true; their meeting minutes will support this statement.

The author’s unselfish remark is uncalled for. Having a fiduciary and moral responsibility to our taxpayers and residents is not an unselfish act. We have many questions that have yet to be adequately addressed, such as who will be responsible for financing any required traffic control devices within Butler Township as a result of the proposed roadway, including perpetual maintenance; perpetual electric bills and, ultimately, renewal of the traffic control system at its end of life.

A preliminary minimum estimate for a traffic control system is $250,000. In addition, there exists a potential for additional adverse traffic impacts at the Moraine Point intersection.

If the Veterans Administration needs access to Route 422, then why didn’t they or Cambridge plan for that? The VA’s specifications required the health clinic to be built on a major highway. I wonder what happened that it sits on a two lane rural road?

A joint meeting between officials of Butler and Center townships was held on Sept. 8, 2014, where a joint resolution was adopted in opposition to PennDOT’s announced plan to remove the Lions Road bridge. Apparently that resolution is meaningless.

Creating a direct connection to Lions Road from the proposed new roadway will hasten its removal, with the ultimate cost resulting in decreasing our ability to provide quality emergency services to that area of Butler Township. It is well known that seconds count when responding to an emergency and could be the difference between life and death.