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In FL, how much is too much? |
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Wednesday, 16 April 2008 |
Sherri McMurray
Guest Columnist
Recently our lovely neighborhood came smack dab, face to face with “progress” in the form of two 54 foot high apartment buildings plus 18,000 square feet of commercial space -- right in our backyard! The name of this proposed development is Everton Commons. In the process of this battle over rezoning requests to turn land now zoned low density into high density zoning, our neighborhood group has discovered that developers believe that the Woodbury model needs to come to Forest Lake. We take that to mean that they think we ought to look like Woodbury. Ugh!
Everyone says “not in our back yard,” but soon we may all have large buildings on top of us in the name of progress and increasing the tax roles. Our research has shown that our property values will decrease while we will pay higher property taxes in order to pay for the increased need for infrastructure and services for such a development.
How much is too much? And what role does the city’s comprehensive plan play in all this? This plan is developed with a great deal of thought, time and money. The plan currently designates the future use of the land in question as low density residential. Isn’t it the role of that plan to provide guidance on where high density residential and commercial space belongs versus more open residential neighborhoods?
Many of the folks who live in our area checked into that very plan before buying homes here. Now we are told the developers who own the property in question ought to have a reasonable expectation of enhancing their investment. We homeowners believe we also should have a reasonable expectation of maintaining our investments which collectively run into several million dollars.
Five years ago the owners of this property tried to have it rezoned. Their request failed and they withdrew it due in large part to neighborhood opposition. Now we are at it again and so we ask, what has changed, what makes this partial wetland the best sight for the two tallest buildings in Forest Lake?
And why should the zoning be changed from low to high density? (Note: the density is so high that they need an exemption even from the existing city code on high density!)
There are surely other, much more appropriate uses for this acreage. Just as there are many other existing sites already zoned for such high density apartment buildings. Four similar developments are on hold right now in this city. There are already 125 condos for sale in Washington County. Why do we need to add 80 more?
Many of us moved here because of the neighborly, semi-rural and open atmosphere. This development provides no appropriate transition from commercial to residential space. We fear issues of traffic congestion, accidents with our kids and ourselves, other safety issues with the influx of so many more people in a small space, the deterioration of our existing neighborhood, noise, more pollution, etc. And there are no good answers for any of these concerns.
We believe the city plan ought to encourage strong and healthy neighborhoods. Instead we have young teens crying at home at the news that their parents will sell their homes if this development is approved. We not only take pride in our neighborhood, but in this community.
We believe in this community and volunteer as coaches, in churches and schools to keep the community strong and safe. Don’t we have enough existing areas where this type of development makes sense? Isn’t there something more appropriate to do with this parcel of land? And do we really want this to look and feel like Woodbury?
All of us, whether facing immediate threats like Everton Commons, or other ill conceived notions of development, need to pay attention to what is going on in our city and what is being proposed at the planning commission and the council. And we need to speak up and ensure that the small handful of people making these important decisions for our community have our best interests at heart.
Do you really believe that outside developers have our best interests at heart? We don’t.
The column is on behalf of Havelka Court, Everton Ave. and Forest Glen neighbors – all concerned citizens of Forest Lake.
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