A citizen of Paupack township, hoping to improve the local zoning and environmental laws of this and other area townships in North Eastern Pennsylvania.

So your time to retire is quickly approaching. You're thinking about moving away from the hustle and bustle, noise and pollution of the big city. No more waking up early to get to work. No more breathing in the dust and pollutants caused by the heavy traffic, manufacturing and ever-present construction. Maybe you're thinking of moving to a pristine and serene recreational area like Lake Wallenpaupack in Pennsylvania's Poconos mountains. Think again! You would be moving into an area with the same problems listed above - and maybe worse. At this point you may be asking, what noise? What pollution? Its a nice forested area with zoning laws, right? Wrong. Think you can now enjoy your hard-earned retirement and sleep 'til ten? Wrong. Think you will not be bothered by pollution caused by heavy traffic? Wrong.

Zoning laws in northeastern Pennsylvania are a joke. (Paupack Township Zoning Map) Anyone with the right amount of money can have an area rezoned to suit their purpose. Areas zoned residential have been changed to commercial/industrial. Areas zoned commercial can be changed with even less financial backing to industrial via a conditional use petition to the local township. The township will set conditions for the conditional use, but does not monitor that the set conditions are adhered to. Thus, quarries and other industrial activities can move right onto a small lot in your neighborhood, within yards of your new $500,000 home. No more sleeping beyond seven. You'll be drummed out of bed each day by the sounds of dump-truck tail gates slamming to the ever-droning sound of backup alarms keeping time with the clanking and banging of heavy earth-moving equipment and other industrial noises. Think you can enjoy the solitude of your own hard-earned backyard? No way.

The townships in the area have no concept of quality of life issues. Noise limiting laws or air quality laws simply don't exist.

Traffic is light in the area, so you would think the pollution generated would be little to none. Not the case. You can't drive even a short distance without seeing a dozen or more jumbo, tri-axled, pollution- spewing dump trucks. Get stuck behind one of these while driving and you will receive a month's worth of lung damaging pollutants.

Pennsylvania needs strict laws requiring quarries, crematories, gas drilling and other industrial facilities be restricted to areas well buffered and away from residential areas. And also needs to set limits for noise and pollution. To do otherwise leaves the citizens of this state at continued risk of health issues, lower property values and a diminished quality of life.