Plan Commission Meeting - Live Blogging
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 6/12/08 @ 12:12 pm - Filed Under Featured, Local Politics
12:10pm - The meeting just started and the city council chamber is full. The only other time I’ve seen it this full is for the public hearing on Harrison Square. There’s probably 150 people here.
12:12pm - Al Frisinger begins by introducing the members of the executive committee that will preside over the meeting. He tells the crowd that Bodenhafer has a financial interest and thus he will not be present. He also warns the public that intolerant or abusive remarks will not be tolerated. In my opinion his speech regarding this was extremely condescending.
12:15pm - Mike Thomas of Oakmont development says that Canyon Cliffs fits perfectly into the county’s comprehensive plan. The microphones don’t appear to be turned on and people are having a hard time hearing him speak.
12:17pm - Thomas says rain gardens will be required for every lot and 9 bioswales will be put in for their roadways. For every new home that gets built as part of this development, two homes will get septic relief. He claims this fits into the minor plat ordinance.
12:20pm - Bill Brown says the public perception is that the spirit of the minor plat ordinance has not been followed and he asks Thomas for his opinion on this. He also points out that no other county he researched allows more than 6 plats to be developed at once under the minor plat ordinance. Brown also points out that Thomas’ associates actually had a hand in developing the minor plat ordinance that they are now exploiting.
12:24pm - Thomas says the same people that talk about saving Cedar Canyons are the same ones that are polluting it. He claims his plan would actually help Cedar Canyons.
12:26pm - Ken Neumeister disagrees with commissioner Brown and says the project meets the spirit of the ordinance
12:28pm - Bill Brown points out that planning staff originally said there was no conflict between the Cedar Cove development and the surrounding community. He asks if they still feel that way. The staff spokeswoman goes back on that recommendation and says when they originally made that statement there were not all these people in the room - drawing laughter from the crowd.
12:33pm - Homestead Acres spokesman speaks in favor of the project. He says his development was started 55 years ago and much of the septic runs directly into Cedar Creek. He says they understand his subdivision is polluting the environment and that isn’t right. Says they tried to hook into Huntertown sewage system and they refused because they didn’t want to cross Coldwater road. His main point is that the while the proposed Canyon Cliffs project will have a negative environmental impact on the land it will have a positive impact on the creek which they are currently polluting.
12:38pm - Homestead Acres spokesman says they have no other options other than running a main to Perry school 3 miles down the road. That would cost over $15k/house in the subdivision. He also claims nobody can sell their homes because of the antiquated septic system.
12:44pm - My own thought. Why is Homestead Acres on city sewage in the first place? The city needs to stop expanding utilities out into the county. If people want to move out into the county then they should have to build their own septic sytem, tank, lagoon, etc. It’s contradictory to promote development in the city while expanding utilities out to the edges of the county. Just because engineers can do it doesn’t make it good public policy.
12:49pm - Two more speakers voice an opinion in favor of the project. One man speaks directly to my point above. He says this development will be good for those that want to enjoy country living and better septic systems.
12:54pm - Sewar district spokesman says that 17,000 gallons of sewage are consumed by Homestead acres and some of that is being pumped directly into the creek. Ted Nitza says he hopes this is just the start of septic relief for the area. That was the end of those that showed up to speak in favor of the development. Many, many people look like they’re ready to speak in opposition.
12:59pm - The first lady speaking in opposition ends by saying that the project should be rejected due to urban sprawl and that a few are exploiting the minor plat ordinance for their own benefit. The crowd erupts into cheers leading Frisinger to ask the crowd to refrain from such outburts.
1:02pm - The commission has a conflict because there’s another hearing at 1pm so they’re discussing postponing the meeting. Paul Moss speaks up and says people have took time out of their day and it shouldn’t be postponed. Bill Brown says the commission should “take all the time it needs”. Again the crowd erupts into applause. The commission decides to continue.
1:06pm - Speaker says the developers are “exploiting defective language in the minor plat ordinance to avoid the plainly stated purpose of the ordinance.”
1:13pm - Same speaker above says the plain language in the plat ordinance was established to keep the plan commission from having to make policy decisions. Obviously that hasn’t happened. He points out that the proponents of the development seem to be angling for an expansion of projects like this and this isn’t some kind of anomaly. To paraphrase he seems to be asking if the public good is going to drive zoning or will sewage matters become the deciding factor in the future.
1:22pm - Ken Neumeister antagonistically asks what kind of environmental damage the Homestead Acres is already doing. Obviously the speaker refuses to answer as he was arguing legal points.
1:24 - Al Frisinger asks why the speaker thinks the language in the minor plat ordinance is defective. He tries to get him to answer some kind of hypothetical but the speaker refuses. He does say that the reason he claims the ordinance is defective is because they are here arguing about it. It was a brilliant comeback and the crowd erupted in laughter.
Paul Moss tries to beat back a bit by asking the speaker if he was involved in any of the public meetings when they were drafting the ordinance - the speaker answers no. A quick opinion from me - citizens can’t follow every single ordinance that is written and approved by every body in the city and county. For Moss to even suggest that somehow that speaker was negligent by not taking part in that is ridiculous. The guy probably didn’t even know the discussion was taking place until it was over. Elected officials are charged with that job and pointing the fingers at the citizenry for their poor language is a complete abdication of responsibility.
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9 Responses to “Plan Commission Meeting - Live Blogging”
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Great work Jeff.
This is more informative than anything in the “regular” media.
Jeff, this is frickin’ awesome - I’m sitting here on the edge of my seat - waiting to see where this all ends up.
Kristina, if live feed from the plan commission has you on the edge of your seat. I advise that you consider getting out more.
Sorry Mr. Green Jeans. I feel pretty passionately about this piece of land and I have no other access to what is occurring. I wish I could be there in person - but like most of middle-america, I work for a living. And if you must know. I’m on my lunch break. Thanks for asking.
I just stopped home for a break. I agree with Kristina. This issue is extremely important to me, and I don’t live near Cedar Creek. But I live right across from the St. Marys River at Thieme, West Berry, and Nelson. Thieme Drive is another irreplaceable piece of our history and our environment, and I am totally dedicated to keep it concrete-wall free.
I have been watching the time all morning and afternoon. I wish I could have been there, but I have to work also.
Jeff - Thanks for the fantastic coverage. I was at the meeting for about 2.5 hours. For those that were not present, there were an amazing number of concerned citizens at the hearing — the room was completely filled and standing room only! I left at 2:30pm, but it was great knowing individuals could monitor the event from a far.
Mr.& Mrs.Bodenhafer: Please consider ACRES Land Trust purchasing this land. From my understanding, they are willing to purchase.
[...] Plan Commission Meeting - Live Blogging [...]
This is a very accurate account of the events. This should become a regular activity and utility. It would make it easier to keep our leaders in check and make sure they are upholding our new comprehensive plan which is one of the main issues and drives behind this public action.