Plan Commission - Live Blogging 3
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 6/12/08 @ 2:36 pm - Filed Under Featured, Local Politics
2:21pm - A geologist and author of the Allen County groundwater study is now speaking. He claims that cedar canyon is in the top 3 geological significant places in all of Indiana. He says that the groundwater under the creek is the preeminent source of water for this region and feeds the Fort Wayne rivers. Any development, no matter how green, is going to have some impact. He doesn’t live in Allen County but came to sound a “cautionary note” about impacting the groundwater under cedar creek. He says engineering a new sewer line will only further more development applications for that area and that we will ultimately adversely affect that water supply which is crucial to the region’s water supply. A burst of applause erupts when he finishes.
2:29pm - Paul Moss asks him if any development should be allowed. He says it should not and that it should be preserved out to the areas that feed cedar creek especially on top of the canyons due to stormwater runoff concerns. Moss then asks if the impact would be a net positive or negative considering this development would put other homes onto city sewage and keep that out of the creek.
The speaker says it’s too hard for him to say without all the data but that more development will ultimately come about due to the new sewage line and that will have a negative impact.
2:38pm - Another speaker voicing concerns about urban sprawl. This development would accelerate the urbanization of the area. Asks if there is really a need for another housing development in that area.
2:45pm - A speaker that lives on the edge of this development says the new roads and driveways will increase runoff onto his property bringing more pollutants and chemicals.
2:49pm - The next speaker says her organization has tested the water and the e coli levels are actually within the acceptable limits for partial body immersion.
2:52pm - Another Bodenhafer neighbor speaks. He’s angry and points out there’s a difference between 28 houses and 6 and he urges the commission to check their math. Crowd erupts into applause.
2:54pm - Another resident pushing the conflict of interest line. He’s really laying it on thick. Says Bodenhafer should’ve resigned his position before trying to develop his property. Neumeister asks if everyone has a right to sell their property? The speaker says of course he does but asks what would’ve happen to any of the presidential candidates if they would’ve sold their own property while the president of a planning commission. The crowd bursts into laughter. The speaker suggests that it’s human nature for the commission to treat Bodenhafer special. Paul Moss says he resents that remark and says Bodenhafer doesn’t carry any special weight. The speaker disagrees and leaves the podium - the crowd applaudes.
Full Disclosure - This speaker was a retired individual that I had the pleasure of working with. He’s an extremely intelligent individual and the commission is lucky this wasn’t a debate.
3:03pm - More speakers in line - I’m going to take a quick break - but wait, the last speaker said “this is nothing more than a horse’s head under the tent, or maybe the other end of the horse” and then walked away to loud applause.
3:07pm - A resident of Homestead Acres claims that a meeting of the residents that was referenced earlier was only attended by those with problems - nobody else was invited. She claims she doesn’t have any sewage troubles and questions why the others do - suggesting it was poor inspection during the build process. She says when she moved out there she was agreeing to country living and didn’t want the government to interfere and help them out every step of the way. She urges the commission to vote No and crowd erupts. (so much for my break)
3:15pm - A speaker asks Neumeister directly if he will be working on the project and if so will he be voting today. Neumeister responds by saying that he will be voting and that he doesn’t have a conflict. He then turns to the crowd and asks if that makes them happy. The crowd yells No! And then Neumeister responds by saying “he will not be doing any work on the project” and then hostilely says to the crowds - “Does that make you people happy?”
3:27pm - A spokesman from ACRES tells the commission that they have announced that if Bodenhafer agrees to sell their land to them that they will raise the money. The loudest applause of the days erupts. A quite thought - this ALONE should be enough to cause the commission to hold off.
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Have they voted yet?
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