Letter to the editor: After Amazon, working for the best for Churchill

The proposal to build an Amazon distribution center in Churchill has finally come to an end. On May 31, Judge Joseph James signed an order ending the appeals filed against the Borough of Churchill. Churchill Future had appealed the borough council’s approval of a conditional use permit to build the facility. After Amazon withdrew from the project and the developer withdrew its permit applications, the appeal was moot.

In the editorial “Amazon withdrawal leaves new challenge for Churchill” (March 19, TribLIVE), this paper asked, “OK, Churchill, now what?”

I’m happy to answer your question. There is something that many in Churchill share, regardless of whether we supported or opposed Amazon’s plan. We want the former George Westinghouse site, our community and school district to be the best they can be. We want a healthy community and environment, jobs and sufficient tax revenue to support the borough and school district. We should unite and work together to get the right kind of development on the site.

There are smart, talented, educated, hard-working Churchill residents who participated in borough meetings and public hearings. Others from this region joined us in protesting, advocating to protect the trees and pay attention to environmental impacts of the Amazon proposal. Many of us are willing to stay involved and work with the property owners and council to redevelop the site and to improve our ordinances so that an inappropriate proposal like the one we faced will not be allowed.

We all want what is best for this incredible region. Let’s put our differences behind us and make this happen.

Cathy Bordner

Churchill