horse-drawn carriages and country cottages to one of container trucks and condominiums.

But the 84-year-old veteran member of the Development Applications Board says the Island has maintained its beauty despite the changes.

Mr. Todd, who was recently honoured for serving on the DAB for the past 25 years, has seen the implementation of all four of Bermuda's development plans.

But in an interview with The Royal Gazette he stressed that despite the changes in the plan's policies, the DAB's objective remains the same -- to ensure any development was in tune with planning and building laws and was not detrimental to the Island's beauty.

He said so far he believes the DAB has done a good job at this, although objectors to projects such as the incinerator or the Bank of N.T. Butterfield expansion on Front Street might disagree.

"We listen to all the objections,'' Mr. Todd said during an interview at his South Shore, Paget home.

"But we just don't look at the application and approve it right away no matter who the person is. We still have to go through the planning rules, which sometimes include getting information from the Health Department, Fire Department, and Public Works.

Up until two years ago, Mr. Todd said, the DAB was receiving about 500 applications a year.

But in the last two years there has been a drop off due to the economic downturn.

And the majority of applications which the DAB has received are for minor renovations to homes, Mr. Todd said.

"Bermudians still prefer a cottage with a small garden where they can grow vegetables or flowers and have some privacy,'' he added.

Mr. Todd, who worked as a supervisor of catering at BAS until 12 years ago, said he was able to carry out his DAB duties while he held that post because he managed his time wisely.

"I worked in Planning, so I had to learn to plan my life and time,'' he chuckled. The widower of five years said he begins everyday at 6 a.m. and tries to be in bed by 8.30 p.m.

Between those hours he said he divides his time in order to make Planning meetings, and on-site visits and carry out household chores.

Living alone in his immaculate seven-room home, Mr. Todd said he enjoys going on DAB site visits.

"By going on site visits, I've been to some places that I've never seen in my life and would not have seen otherwise,'' he said.

Mr. Todd has been active in the community from the days when he operated a horse and carriage livery below his home in the 1930s.

He was on the Paget Council for 20 years and serves on the tribunal which picks jurors.

Asked about his secret to looking younger than his years and remaining active, the energetic octogenarian said: "I don't smoke. I don't drink and I don't tell lies.'' YEARS OF PLANNING -- That's what 84-year-old DAB member Mr. Arnold Todd Sr.

has under his belt. The longest-serving member of the board was honoured recently by his Planning colleagues and Environment Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto.