Canyon Cliffs Plan Commission Vote - Liveblogging
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 7/17/08 @ 2:04 pm - Filed Under Featured, Local Politics
Just got here and things have been underway for about half an hour.
2:04 PM - Susan Hoot says she voted for the minor plat ordinance but doesn’t remember anyone discussing the “stacking” of properties like is happening now.
2:06 PM - Bill Brown says the minor plat ordinance needs to be revisited so that its purpose statement is actually in the ordinance (no kidding).
2:08 PM - Hoot says the minor plat being discussed goes against Plan-it Allen; nobody challenges that assertion
2:13 PM - A bunch of gobbly-gook about whether or not this specific piece of property is prohibited under the minor plat ordinance. If the minor plat ordinance is not approved the developer could still develop 28 lots over 2 years.
2:18 PM - Hoot says “I’m in disagreement with all of this. I don’t think we’ve done a good job for Allen County and I’m sorry I’ve been a part of that. I don’t think we can stop Mr Bodenhafer from developing the 28 lots but I want to go on record as saying I’m against what’s happening out there.”
2:20 PM - Commissioner Bill Brown states that just the fact that this type of approval could happen in executive committee means the ordinance should be revisited. Also says some people would’ve liked to have seen this donated to ACRES but the property owner can do what he wants.
My quick thought - This whole process is a disgrace. There truly is no point for a plan commission…
2:25 PM - Paul Moss says the area is unique and believes strongly in personal property rights but also believes it’s important to do what’s right. Says he would like to know more definitively about the discussions between the developer and ACRES. It doesn’t appear to me that was a substantive discussion but he would like to know more about that. Asks Mike Thomas to explain those discussions (will happen shortly)
2:27 PM - Commission attorney says that since the ordinance is in place for sub-divisions then as long as a sub-division is in compliance then the responsibility of the plan commission is to rubber-stamp the sub-division plan (I’m not kidding. He used the exact words rubber-stamp). To be fair, he said that was the legal responsibility as he understands it according to court cases he’s looked at.
2:30 PM - Ken Neumeister says the remonstrators are not objecting to the minor plat ordinance but to the area of the development (duh). Says that “it’s unbelievable that we’re sitting here having this discussion”. Says all 5 minor plats meet the ordinance and an opportunity to take 60 people off of failing septic system. Says “if this problem doesn’t make sense then I don’t know one that does.”
2:34 PM - Moss states “this is a unique circumstance because the property owner is the president of the plan commission and that there are an awful lot of incestuous relationships here to try and weave through”. Says the commission needs to look at the appointment process in the future and try to avoid that type of conflict. (My thought: Yes I agree 100%. Of course Bodenhafer could’ve simply resigned his unpaid, volunteer position.)
2:36 PM - Hoot and Brown both say that they didn’t foresee the minor plat ordinance being used for this type of sub division and, referring to Neumeister’s previous statement, say that they don’t find the situation comical - they see it as a serious situation.
2:38 PM - Brown says the county should take the $500k they thought about giving the Zoo for economic development and instead using it to purchase this property.
2:44 PM - Mike Thomas says they have been in discussion with ACRES and they’ve given them an estimate of what the purchase price would be. He says the door is still open to ACRES and if they make a proposal then he will consider it.
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