Legislation in the state House proposes that plans to build warehouses should be subject to referendums by voters.

As the sponsor of the bill, state Rep. Joe Emrick, R-Upper Nazareth, explains, according to an article by The Center Square in the Sun-Gazette’s business section, “the people who are most affected” by proposals to build large warehouses “the community – have no say in whether they should become part of the fabric of our region.”

That, of course, is not entirely true.

Plans must go before local government — usually zoning hearing boards, appointed by elected borough councils or elected boards of township supervisors.

These hearing boards are tasked with applying the municipalities’ zoning ordinances to the construction proposals — ordinances which themselves were adopted by the elected municipal leaders.

This system allows the public to have a say in how growth and development occurs. It also requires the government to determine such rules in a way that can be fairly and dispassionately applied.

While the democratic process is part of the foundation of our society — it is only one part.

Equality before the law and individual rights and liberties are as important, if not more so.

The application of zoning ordinances fairly and evenly treats property owners equally, without preference to one applicant and disfavor to another even if their plans have a similar impact on the community.

And, of course, we believe property owners should generally have the right to develop their properties as they see fit, and that the ability of any government — municipal, county, state or federal — to impede that should be limited to situations where it is most clearly warranted.

Beyond these matters of principle, the practical truth is that Pennsylvania needs jobs and it needs a climate where people believe they can create jobs and affordable housing without burdensome hurdles discouraging these pursuits.

We worry that allowing neighbors to veto a development, for no reason other than emotional pique, will discourage both the creation of jobs and the construction of more housing.

We hope after transparent debate that our lawmakers recognize the problems, both as matters of principle and practicality, with this proposal and vote for equality before the law, property rights and more development and against this bill.

— Williamsport Sun-Gazette