HomeMy WebLinkAboutWRITTEN RESPONSE - 04-00077 - 859 S Yellowstone Hwy (Area 5) - AnnexationWRITTEN TESTIMONY RE ANNEXATION JUNE 10, 2004
(To be read at the next City Council meeting)
Following a City Council meeting on June 2nd, 2004, I feel strongly
compelled to make the following statement:
First, let me retrogress for a moment. A couple of years ago, our entire
neighborhood turned out at not one, but three Council hearings to protest a
proposal for a multiple housing project in our neighborhood. We ALL felt
that if the approximately 10 acres on the corner of 5th West and 7th South
were to be developed, to be compatible with a proper and orderly growth of
the area and our neighborhood, it should be "Residential". But instead of
complying with an entire neighborhood, the City Council elected to go with
multiple housing. So, now we have forty-one four-plexes (164 units) in this
relatively small area. Now, by a show of hands -- how many of you would
vote to have a monstrosity like this move in right next door to your residence?
If anyone said "Yes", we need to trade places.
What happened to government "of the people, by the people and for the
people"? If this was supposed to be in the best interest of the people, why
has it so negatively impacted our neighborhood -- and the entire south end of
5th West for that matter? A total of 12 families have moved away from our
street since this annexation process began. Is that what you want? -- the
stable, established, committed families in the area to move out and usually
temporary residents replace the population?
People inside the city government have confided to me that this was a big
mistake. The development now has the reputation of being Rexburg's "army
barracks". What a legacy! And now city government has elected to annex
more property to further compound the problem. I have felt all along that the
vast amount of property already within the city limits and zoned for
development should be used before annexing additional property -- and only
then if the property owners request it!
I have been told by council people that if I didn't annex, it would create an
island. I didn't create the island. You did!!! We have enjoyed quiet,
peaceful, free country living for 54 years and now we are being threatened
with losing it. How can that be government "for the people"?
Respectfully,
Weston Lawrence /
795 South 5th West
Rexburg, ID 83440
Incidentally just to correct the record -- at the last City Council meeting on
June 2nd, Ted Whyte indicated that he had contacted my wife and I several
times about his proposal to annex the property South of us. He did not
contact us several times --- NOT EVEN ONCE.