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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWRITTEN RESPONSE - 07-00209 - Curtis Ferney - Pine brook - Annexation & Rezone8 November 2007 City of Rexburg Zoning Commission Dear Sirs: When the developer who has bought the land between Larch Drive and McJon Lane talked to the neighbors about what he was going to do, he told us they would be making half acre lots. He said he would also leave our little neighborhood already in place with the last couple of lots one acre and he would put in a culdesac at the end of the road to help separate us from the new neighbors. That is what the neighbors agreed to do with him. Now we hear that he wants to zone for much denser housing including Multiple Family Dwellings. People move to Hibbard to get away from the crowds. This community is much quieter than Rexburg. We really don't want high density acreage or multiple family dwellings out here. It will add a lot of cost to the City of Rexburg as well as people and problems to Hibbard. I would like to see all the apartments kept closer to the college where they are needed the most. Please do not rezone for high density housing or Multiple family dwellings in this area. Sincerely, Donna Thueson 977 Larch Drive Rexburg, Idaho 83440 �AD 9 November 2007 City of Rexburg Dear Sirs: I would like to remove my name from the form signed earlier about the annexation of the property between Larch Drive and McJon Lane. I signed it with a protest and after acquiring further knowledge would like to withdraw my signature. Donna Thueson 977 Larch Drive Rexburg, ID November 13, 2007 4�,[FcA� .IV,, IM �D 13 Dear Curtis Ferney, Qr d I am writing in regards to the annexation and rezoning of the land north and west of 48 -V8U&O Teton Lakes Golf Course. I am concerned about the impact it will have on the future of Hibbard. Hibbard has always been a small, rural country area and with the rezoning of this land, I foresee big changes to the Hibbard community. By rezoning this land, Hibbard will be a completely different place to live in the future. It opens up the possibility for all of the open spaces in our wonderful countryside to become high-density housing and small acre lots. This isn't what the people of Hibbard want. We would like to keep our small, country atmosphere. The rezoning would also bring on new issues to consider such as: road expansions, road maintenance, more law enforcement, expansion of schools, and much more. Please consider rezoning for one -acre lots minimum to keep the growth of our small community down as much as possible. I hope you will listen to the voices of the people of Hibbard and take into consideration the many different views. Better planning needs to take place. If one subdivision is rezoned in small acre lots, that is what the future of Hibbard will become. I appreciate your attention to these issues. Sincerely, 1)�A� �A Kevin Stewart 3361 Lombardy Street Rexburg, ID 83440 November 13, 2007 Dear Curtis Femey, �7 C/7 -y OF Rt�R'C I am writing in regards to the annexation and rezoning of the land north and west of the Teton Lakes Golf Course. I am concerned about the impact it will have on the future of Hibbard. Hibbard has always been a small, rural country area and with the rezoning of this land, I foresee big changes to the Hibbard community. I feel that by rezoning this land and dividing it into high-density housing and quarter -acre lots, Hibbard will no longer be what it has always been. The people of Hibbard live here for the quiet, country atmosphere that it's always been and change will take that all away. I feel that if there is to be growth in Hibbard, the lot sizes should remain good sized, one - acre lots minimum. If you start making them smaller, the growth will be a cause for great change in Hibbard. High-density housing and small lots would cause for overcrowding on the streets, thus causing a need for stop lights and more law enforcement. Road expansions and maintenance would be necessary as well as the expansion of schools. One positive aspect that we love about Hibbard is the fact that the elementary school is very small, thus providing a more personal school atmosphere. With school expansions, this would all be taken away. I hope you will take into consideration the impact that rezoning Hibbard into small acre lots and high-density housing will have on the future of what we know as a rural, country area. Sincerely, Janae Stewart 3361 Lombardy Street Rexburg, ID 83440 RECEIVED NOV 1 4 Date: November 12, 2007 } To: Rexburg Planning and Zoning Commission and City of Rexburg From: Homeowners in the Pine Brook Subdivision and Reynolds Properties, LLC Subject: Formal Comment regarding the Public Hearing, Thursday November 15, 20,07, 7;05 p.m. at Rexburg City Hall We, the homeowners inthePine Brook Subdivision One and Reynolds Properties, LLC., located on or near Larch Drive, Madison County, Idaho, just north of the Teton Lakes.Golf Course, respectfully submit this written comment regarding the request of Annexation and proposed zoning of approximately 153 acres. We had given our conditional approval to be annexed to the City of Rexburg based on a meeting held July, 2007, with the ten property owners and Curtis Ferney, representing the new land owner. At that meeting we discussed the intent of the development of the said property. We agreed that the remaining four one -acre single family residential lots along with the plated cul-de-sac, located in the Pine Brook Subdivision 1, on the east end of Larch Drive, be kept as it is currently platted which are one -acre lots. We discussed that the remaining adjacent property described above be developed in no less than one-half acre single family lots. We also discussed restrictive covenants, which have been drafted and presented to the City Clerk. Therefore, we are opposed to the current request of both LDRI and MDRI zoning as submitted by the new property owner. This is contrary to what we discussed and agreed upon thus making our conditional annexation approvals null and void. We agree to zoning that would allow a minimum one-half acre lot or RR2 on the property adjoining Pine Brook Subdivision, Division 1 and we further agree that the already plated and proposed RRl Zoning of Pine Brook Subdivision, Division 1, be acceptable. (See attached homeowners proposed zoning map.) n D s r m _ u m w 0 0 r 1 i� �e T4 fen CD c UT MA z® z c� WJ W \ RECEIVED November 11, 2007 '"`' IOU CITY OF F�,,.StJi3C Re: Annexation of the Hibbard area. To whom it may concern: My name is Robert Dennis. I moved to Hibbard in 1981, and other than a one year absence when I got married, have lived here since then. My one year absence was spent in the limits of the city of Rexburg. I see nothing but harm to the peacefulness of this area by becoming part of the city. As is, we have excellent protection from our sheriffs department and fire department. I know that part would not change under the very capable city police department; it will just cost us a lot more. Right now we have very good roads and the county is incredibly good about keeping them up and clearing them in the winter. This would end upon Annexation. If you have any questions on ls matter, take a have.af we put nve down 12�' west. Another concern I haveis he animals I apartments and houses on small lots, I will eventually be forced to get rid of them. I have seen how the city treats people with livestock within their limits and know that I do not have the financial assets to withstand that fight for long. I also grew up around apartment complexes and know how much trouble accompanies their presence. I do not want my children exposed to that environment. That is why I moved here after I got married. In closing, the only people I see benefiting from this annexation and having the smaller lots are the developers and the city of Rexburg. The people and atmosphere of Hibbard would only suffer. I hope you will consider my position. Thank you. Robert Dennis 1290 N. 12t' W. Rexburg, Id. November 13, 2007 l City of Rexburg Dear Sirs: I wish to rescind my letters previously sent to the City about the zoning in Hibbard. I would like to take back my signature on the Petition signed by the neighbors in the Pine Brook subdivision. I would like to see the meeting held on Thursday night so we can get this all settled and finished. Thank you, Donna Thueson 977 Larch Drive Rexburg, Idaho 83440 November 13, 2007 RECEIVED NOV 1 4 2007 An open letter to the City of Rexburg, Planning and Zoning Committee: Dear Committee Members, I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed annexation and re -zoning of the Pine Brook Div. No. 2 property (formerly Doug Smith's farm and the Jensen farm). Before I give my reasons for opposing, l want to be clear in stating that I am not opposed to development in general; and I'm not even opposed in particular when development is planned to happen in my backyard so to speak (literally in this case). I will sum up my opposition in three questions: why here?, why now?, and why this particular type of change? This annexation and re -zoning seems to fly in the face of Rexburg's own comprehensive plan objectives. In the comprehensive plan it states this objective: "Encourage compact development to retain a convenient city. Promote continuous development rather than leapfrogging or bypassing county areas." The property in question is on the periphery of Rexburg proper, and is only connected by virtue of the Teton Lakes Golf Course that already juts out from the more contiguous confines of Rexburg itself. This annexation is a "reach." Not only is it a reach, but, for all intents and purposes, it creates an "island" type of community that would be part of Rexburg, but very separate from Rexburg. In fact, one would need to drive approximately 1.5 miles outside of Rexburg to reach the new subdivision. There is no way to drive from city hall to this annexation without leaving the city for a mile and a half on county roads. In addition to its isolation, the new neighborhood would be unduly dense with respect to surrounding developments. Even though the development would probably enhance the Rexburg tax base and benefit the developer and builders, this should not be the purpose of accepting development proposals. The comprehensive plans states this goal: "To promote the public interest, the interest of the community at large, rather than the interests of individuals or special groups within the community." The Hibbard community is rural, and the community interest is to keep the "Hibbard feel" to its neighborhoods. Finally, with expanded development in and around Rexburg, we need to be increasingly sensitive to stresses placed on groundwater purity through the number of septic drainage fields, and to the additional draws on the groundwater with additional pumps on properties. This annexation would require a city hook-up to sewer and water; and that is good for both of the above water reasons. However, the land could similarly be developed under its current zoning and have minimal impact as well. If the county would require developments to manage their own waste and water according to the needs of the community, then annexation is not required for effectively dealing with additional stresses on groundwater issues. In summary, if the planning and zoning committee is truly committed to measured and wise growth according to its own comprehensive plan, then it must reject the proposed annexation and re -zoning. Hibbard is undoubtedly going in the direction of annexation and development, but this particular proposal is not in keeping with the already rural nature of the community and is not in keeping with Rexburg's own plans for smart growth. In fact, the comprehensive plan states that "over one-quarter of the lands within the [city] boundaries are vacant. The majority of these vacant lands are in residential areas." Not only does Hibbard not need this kind of development, but Rexburg doesn't need it either. Rexburg has plenty of residential space available to be developed before it needs to reach further out. I recommend that the committee reject this plan and wait to move in this direction until it is under a scenario of more contiguous growth and in a more community -sensitive way. Sincerely, IC Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D. 2139 Ferris Lane Rexburg, Idaho 83440 Phone: 356-7375