A message develops    Andover Townsmen Editorial       5/8/00
   There are those in town who think Andover is far too influenced by it developers.
   Many of those people attended Town Meeting on Monday.
   They came because they believe more development will continue to increase the traffic, pollution and even flooding in town. They came because they want this development to slow.
   And though some of the articles may have had merit, many residents Monday voted against virtually any article they thought might benefit a developer.
   Although one yes vote would have made it easier to get to the post office residents voted down all three articles seen as having ties to the Powder Mill Square project because they don't like the idea of building near a floodplain and they don't want to create an excuse to further increase traffic.
   Residents voted against privately proposed changes to the zoning bylaw, too.  Although  Attorney  Richard Asoian said new rules would make it easier to build reasonably priced housing , residents didn't like that Asoian was "not at liberty to discuss" whom he was representing.
   Monday's votes should have sent two clear messages to town officials and local developers.
First, residents want the town, not developers, to take the lead in dictating growth. Second, they want people who seek to change the town laws to come before the rest of them and explain exactly what they want.
   Yes, Town Meeting doesn't seem to like development. But it likes being kept in the dark even less.