SAMPLE SUPPORT LETTER/FOR DISTRIBUTION TO:

PLEASE NOTE: This letter is to serve as a model for your letter(s). Feel free to send as is or modify and change to reflect your personal point of view. Thank you for your time and support.

Mayor Michael J. Newhard Letter to the Editor Letter to the Editor

vlgmayor@warwick.net editor@wvdispatch.com editor.wa@strausnews.com

Village of Warwick Warwick Valley Dispatch The Warwick Advertiser

77 Main Street P.O Box 594 45 Gilbert Street Extension

Warwick, NY 10990 Warwick, NY 10990 Monroe, NY 10950

Dear Mayor, Village Board Members and Editors:

As a Warwick Resident I have watched various proposals to develop the Welling Farm at the southern entrance to our Village. I think the Demetroules family’s current proposal to rebuild the historic Red Swan Inn and develop Welling Farm Square will enhance Warwick and create a beautiful gateway to our Village.

This is a good project and I’m concerned that if we, the community, don’t come out and voice our support for the project it could be lost and instead we will have another mediocre sub-division.

The opportunity to do the right thing is now. We have a neighbor willing to put everything into a project that will greatly benefit the community. We have a Village Board who worked tirelessly to approve an updated Comprehensive Master Plan for the Village. And we have a brand new New York State Village Law, #7703-(a), that went into effect on July 1, 2004 that enables Village officials to enact a streamlined, quality preserving rezoning process that could rezone this property a TND/PUD, basically a traditional neighborhood zone.

Let’s be honest, it’s only a matter of time before the Welling property will be developed. What it will be developed into is our choice right now. Timing is critical. The Demetroules family may not have the means to sustain a long drawn out rezoning process. If we don’t support the project, the family may be forced to reevaluate their plan and sell the property to an out-of-town developer.

I urge the Village Board and the people of Warwick to support the Red Swan Inn at Welling Farm Square, a project that would be of tremendous benefit to the Village and it’s residents; one that is consistent with the charm and history of Warwick, and one that will be a boon to the shops and restaurants downtown.

We need to support our neighbor, Mike Demetroules, a family man who has deep roots in the village and is trying to do the right thing for the entire community.

I encourage Village and Town of Warwick residents to log onto www.redswaninn.com to familiarize themselves with the project and fill out an endorsement card that says you support the concept of the project.

Thank you for your time and attention to this very important project.

With best regards,

[Add name/address/email]