Letter from Cindy Christiansen

As Milton develops its Master Plan and as we discuss plans for condominiums and other multi-family development in our Town, I want to suggest that the Town adopt a public health policy for new multi-family homes.

I’m asking that the appropriate Town Boards, Committees, Departments and Town Meeting set policy to require that developers of new multi-family units designate their buildings to be smoke free. Now is the time to think about this given the influx of plans for multi-family homes in Milton.

I think most developers see the public-good and financial benefits of making their residential buildings smoke free. These policies have been shown to increase property value, reduce maintenance costs, reduce risk of fire, and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. There are many other benefits. One local developer told me that all of his buildings are smoke-free and that his tenants love it.

Additionally, there is much legal precedence in MA and across the country for smoke-free polices for multi-family homes. Condominium Trustees and unit owners in many Massachusetts towns, with help from their local Boards of Health, are changing condominium bylaws to designate their shared-air to be smoke-free. Informed buyers now look for homes in buildings with no-smoking policies. Let’s start with our new developments and make them smoke-free.

Please join me in making this happen: new multi-family developments in Milton should be smoke free.

Cindy L. Christiansen, Town Meeting Member Precinct 7, clcMilton@gmail.com