We are not golfers, but our lot backs against a public golf course and provides a serene country view. A developer bought the golf course and unbeknownst to us, last summer received approval from the planning commission for annexation and zoning for multi-family construction. That’s when the struggle began.
I realize that in many areas of the country development of this nature would be welcome, but we have serious concerns. We’re past the fact that we bought a home with a golf course view that would be encircled by other construction. What we question is the nature on the development and the impact on our property values.
At this point in time, single family “attached” housing is planned. I realize that there are many parts of the country where condominiums are attractive, but this is not one of them. We have serious concerns about the market for this type of product. An unoccupied condominium project stands within a few miles of our homes. Construction was halted months ago, and no buyer has been found for this eyesore. Closer to town in an area that we would have considered highly desirable, a comprehensive plan that included retail, business, and condominiums was abandoned recently for lack of interest. Based on sales in our area over the last five years, we have every reason to fear that condominiums will not sell. We also know that could mean a quick change in zoning to apartments. So much for the value of homes set on large lots in a peaceful little neighborhood. We could always hope that the market would improve for multi-story multi-family living in an area with minimal amenities.
The five month struggle documented in this layout is now nine months long with no end in sight. The city council subsequently rejected the annexation/zoning recommendation from the planning commission for lack of a general plan, a requirement under their own zoning laws. The planning commission took care of that this week by a change in wording from a prerequisite “general plan and any applicable local area plans” to a ”comprehensive plan or applicable local area plan.” I’ve always heard about the power of words, but this change in conjunctions is more than a subtle shift in meaning. So much for state law. We don’t have a local area plan either, but I’m sure it will take little time for the planning commission to whip one up since citizen input and state statutes for studies that should be considered in planning have always been ignored. After all, we’ve always done it thus way.
One positive change has resulted. The required legal notice can no longer be hidden in unreadable mini type in the local paper. We’ve just begun work on a blog to provide information on this issue. I’d rather spend my time on time on other things, but we’ve got to do what we can to protect the investment we have in our home.
I scanned a few of many newspaper articles for the background for this layout. The “icicles” were cut from the plastic liner that comes under our favorite pizza and painted with Ranger Adirondack Silver Metallic Acrylic Paint Dabber. “Zoning” was also stamped with the Silver Metallic Dabber, outlined with white and black pens, Use of the silver paint to edge the picture added to the starkness of the layout – my intended result.
