What will Hadley look like in five years, or ten? What kind of town will we leave our families and the next generation? I believe that Hadley is at a crossroads, and I’m running for Planning Board to help chart a path forward. Like other western Massachusetts towns, Hadley is facing immense pressure — much of it generated from Boston — to reshape our communities, to conform to a vision driven largely by state politicians. We’re being forced to bear the brunt of economic, housing, and energy crises that we did not create and that we’re not in a position to fix. I believe that the residents of Hadley should drive decisions about our future, not state politicians who rarely, if ever, set foot in town.

The Planning Board plays a key role in not only ensuring that development projects adhere to zoning regulations, but also in exploring and advancing new directions. If elected, my decisions will focus consistently on protecting neighborhoods, preserving farmland, defending local decision-making, and supporting private business development on Route 9.

The concept of zoning itself is being criticized by some as outdated. I disagree. Through thoughtful, well-managed zoning, generations of Hadley residents have benefited from a thriving business district on Route 9 while still enjoying welcoming neighborhoods throughout the town. Zoning has allowed us to maintain and protect farmland — some of the best in the country. At the same time, we need to recognize that zoning laws throughout Massachusetts are far too complex and difficult to understand. This adds cost and time to development, and serves as a barrier to needed housing and industrial projects. Reform should focus on clarifying and simplifying the process, not on adding new layers of regulation.

I’ve often supported town officials, but I also do not mind speaking up when I disagree. For example, I urged our Planning Board to reject the siting of commercial lithium battery storage facilities. These plants put our residents, our water supply, and our farmland at risk due to potential fire or leaks. Unfortunately, the board advanced a compromise prohibiting battery storage on aquifer land, but allowing it elsewhere, including near neighborhoods.

I also argued against a special permit that allowed low-income apartment development at the former Econo Lodge on Route 9. To this point, the project has been a massive drain on our police and fire resources and negatively impacted quality of life and public safety. And recently, I spoke to several boards to urge the town to take a stand against the governor’s effort to decimate local control of large-scale energy projects. I was deeply disappointed that officials stayed silent, with some even expressing support for having Boston politicians, rather than Hadley residents, decide what forest or farmland could be paved over for a solar field or battery site.

As a Planning Board member, I will not only encourage input from local residents, I’ll actively seek it. I have confidence that when more town residents are engaged we will achieve forward-thinking solutions that benefit our town as a whole, not just the agenda of a few. I grew up working in the fields of Hadley, picking tobacco, asparagus, peppers, and anything else our farmers could coax out of the ground. I later moved away before returning home to raise my family. I’ve been an award-winning journalist, an editor, content developer, and senior copywriter.

Finally, I’d note that service is a multi-generational tradition for our family. My parents, Richard and Elizabeth Fydenkevez, set a standard for community involvement. My mother was a Hadley schoolteacher for more than 35 years, while my father served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for decades. My wife, Amy Fyden, leads the town’s Finance Committee and volunteers countless hours with many other efforts, advocating for fiscal responsibility and good governance. Amy and I taught our two daughters that it’s important to speak up, to contribute, and to volunteer one’s time to support the community. Both girls have given their time to support our town, from helping at American Legion functions to working with Hadley Media.

With your vote, I’ll be a voice for you on the Hadley Planning Board.

Anthony Fyden lives in Hadley.