Walking the Neighborhoods - David Billings

Greetings from the campaign trail….

I have been walking the neighborhoods to better understand the needs and desires of Forks Township residents. I have been very fortunate to meet so many wonderful people who wanted to discuss the future of Forks Township. It has been a great experience!

I would like to share three questions that have been posed about my candidacy in an anonymous email.

1, What is your position on the passage of zoning ordinance 298 last year by the Board of Supervisors?

2. What is your position on the Weis Market plan for Sullivan Trail?

3. If elected, will you vote independently, or will you vote as instructed by the Forks Action Committee?

These are very important questions, as we consider the role of citizen-based political action groups in our local government. It is very important that we have active participation in our local government from all members of our community. We must have an open and honest dialog about critical issues that face our community. This is the only way to create viable solutions to some very serious issues.

I will make it a priority to take concrete actions to create a transparent government. I have outlined the specific actions in my previous blogs about Quality of Government.

In the spirit of open dialog, I would like to answer the questions posed by a concerned citizen. The challenge is to separate the issues being discussed in questions 1 and 2. The approved Zoning Ordinance 298 (conditional use for a supermarket) is a logical extension of the uses available in the current Economic Center (EC) zoning laws. The Board of Supervisor has the legislative right to establish zoning laws and approve conditional uses, as long as the zoning change does not meet the legal definition of spot zoning. The second question is whether a 100,000 square foot supermarket should be located in the updated EC zone on the corner of Uhler Road and Sullivan Trail.

What is your position on the passage of Zoning Ordinance 298 last year by the Board of Supervisors? Answer: I would have voted yes on Ordinance 298. It does make sense to update the current EC zoning laws to allow a supermarket. I would suggest a supermarket is a similar type of a retail store, such as a drug store, convenience store, motel, or any other business that can exist in an Employment Center.


What is your position on the Weis Market plan for Sullivan Trail? Answer: I would have voted no to the proposed Weis Market plan. I was very concerned about the two traffic studies and the impact on traffic around Uhler Road and Sullivan Trail. Additionally, I do feel we need a second supermarket in Forks Township, so the challenge is to find a location that could support the additional traffic created by a new market. I would support a plan by the township to hire an independent traffic engineer to determine a proper location for a new market and other commercial business.



If elected, will you vote independently, or will you vote as instructed by the Forks Action Committee? Answer: Great question. I believe the public places a sacred duty on elected officials to act in the best interests of the township and not based upon personal motivations. I will uphold this obligation and vote in the best interests of the community!


I will pledge to openly and honestly represent the people of Forks Township, regularly seek input from the community, and be an independent voice of reason on the Board of Supervisors.


If you have any ideas or comments about critical issues facing Forks Township, please share your ideas via our blog or email at billings2007@att.net.



Get Involved – Your Vote Counts!


David Billings
billings2007@att.net