A bill in the Legislature being pushed as a way to increase affordable housing doesn’t seem as though it would have much of an effect on anyone, which begs the question: Why bother restricting the rights of residents?

Proposed by Sen. Lynn Bromley, D-South Portland, and Rep. Ted Koffman, D-Bar Harbor, the bill would halt all efforts to block a development through petitions and referenda 75 days after developers have received their permits for the development. The bill came out of a special legislative committee, chaired by the two legislators, that was looking at ways to create affordable housing.

The bill got favorable votes in both the House and Senate last week, but faces more votes next week. Despite the fact that no one can seem to point to a development that would have been affected by such a rule, it is generating considerable debate in the Legislature.

Two recent local development projects have been affected by citizen referenda – the Great American Neighborhood in Scarborough and the Spurwink Woods housing development in Cape Elizabeth. However, citizens opposed to both projects rallied well in advance of the developers receiving permits for their projects. So, this bill wouldn’t have spared the developers behind these projects any opposition or expense.

It’s true, as supporters of the bill argue, that with well-publicized developments, residents have plenty of time to get involved in the planning process. What isn’t clear, however, is why that means the state needs to set time limits when no one can point to projects that have been affected by residents getting involved too late in the process.

It’s unclear how this bill would do anything to improve the availability of affordable housing except in theory. Obviously, the fewer restrictions that are put on developers the less expensive it is for them to do business. That savings could theoretically be passed on to consumers. It could also fatten the wallets of developers.

Right now residents have the right to petition and vote to block development until developers begin building. Unless someone can come up with a compelling argument as to why that should change, the Legislature should preserve the rights of residents.

Friendly fashion

Two Scarborough High School seniors have come up with a great idea that should be supported by students and parents alike.

The students, Carrie Chykaliuk and Matthew Hall, have decided to organize a fashion show to help raise money for the Uniquely ME! program, which was created by the Girl Scouts of the USA and the Dove Self Esteem Fund. The program is aimed at making young women feel comfortable with their bodies.

Chykaliuk and Hall plan to use models with various body types and clothing styles to illustrate the point that young people shouldn’t be uncomfortable with their bodies just because they don’t happen to resemble the bodies they see on the cover of Cosmopolitan.

The two students have gotten local stores to donate clothes to the fashion show. They’re hoping to raise money by charging $5 for student tickets and $8 for members of the public.

The money will all go to a worthy cause. We would encourage teenagers, parents or anyone else who recognizes the importance of this cause to support these two students by attending the fashion show, which will take place at 7 p.m. April 29 in the Scarborough High School auditorium.

Brendan Moran, editor