My name is Richard Boehler and I am running for Planning Board.

A Milton native, I live on Church Street with my wife, Laura, and our two boys Jack and Nick (both at Collicot).  I have over fifteen years of experience in the energy efficiency industry and currently hold a senior leadership position managing a team of technical project engineers. I enjoy giving back to the community and served as a member of the Warrant Committee for the past five years. I am a Town Meeting member, a committee member of the St Agatha’s Pack 5 Cub Scouts, and an officer and board member of the East Milton Neighborhood Association.  I serve as a member of the East Milton working group and have spent countless hours with my neighbors focusing on the mixed-use development proposed at Adams Court in East Milton.

I am running for Planning Board because I love living in Milton but believe that our town is at a crossroad with respect to its development. A fresh voice is needed on the Planning Board. Our easy access to Boston, top-notch school system, community hospital, senior citizen programs and abundant green space make Milton an attractive place to live. These also make Milton attractive to developers. Growth and development is on the horizon and we need to manage it properly to maintain Milton ‘s small-town feel.

If we plan appropriately, we can keep our neighborhoods intact and welcome growth that works for our community. We should not allow developers to direct our growth nor should neighborhoods have to do all the hard work defending against unreasonable projects. Elected officials need to lead through thoughtful proactive planning and policy making.

While I appreciate my opponent’s many years of service, we differ on many important issues. These differences offer voters a clear choice. In contrast to my opponent, I propose community-led zoning efforts putting residents’ voice and vision first rather than waiting to react to developer proposals and threats. I favor saving Milton time and money by engaging experts to help create the vision and by-laws to avoid costly legal disputes caused by ad hoc processes and defective zoning language. As opposed to my opponent, I favor linkage – a requirement that developers fund neighborhood improvements identified in the planning process –  to lighten the burden on taxpayers and bring the community-planned vision into reality.  In further contrast to my opponent, I believe that we should establish a design review committee to focus on project aesthetics and advise the Planning Board on what works for the town as well as providing the Planning Board policy and advice on other important issues.

A fresh perspective is needed on the Planning Board. I look forward to working for the interests of my neighbors and respectfully ask for your support and your vote on April 24th.