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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWRITTEN INPUT - City of Rexburg - Professional Plaza Area - E Main - Rezone from LDR1 to CBDPlanning & Zoning Commission of the City of Rexburg To Whom it may Concern: Recent decisions for an increase in student enrollment at BYU-I has caused a great influx in traffic and noise in the area of Main Street and 2nd East. There has also been an interest in Real Estate for the location of professional offices The area known as the Professional Plaza and extending to 2nd East forms a perfect buffer zone between existing houses on 3rd East. We concur with the P & Z commission regarding the zone change outlined in the Notice of Public Hearing dated October 4, 2002 and we believe the proposed change would be for the best use of this property. Yours truly, Terrell and Margaret Arnold 206 East Main Street Rexburg, Idaho 83440 My name is Allan Miller. I Live at 05 South Third East, along with my wife. This home has been in our family since 1972. It was constructed of native limestone and red brick in 1922. Like its current occupants, the home is getting old but we have tried to keep it in good repair. We raised four children there. They are now grown but they left two pet hamsters buried in the back yard --along with an 18" iguana. If public hearings provide information guiding public policy toward more informed decisions, and we believe it does, then kindly hear me. We strongly oppose yet another attempt to rezone this area so close to our home. It would diminish the residential value of the neighborhood, disrupt our domestic tranquility and our pursuit of happiness. Existing zoning has worked very well there for many years now and we see no reason to change it based on the financial speculation of a few businessmen who do not live in the area. We respectfully question why the Zoning Commission is considering a request of unknown origin that directly impacts so many residents who oppose the zoning change. We don't know who wants the change. We don't what they want or why they want it! Xthese questions would require very specific answers from residents living there should any of us request a zoning change. The speculators do not live there—we do! The speculators are free to buy all the homes they want. But please, do not allow them to replace existing structures with hamburger joints and pizza palaces. Let them work within existing zoning regulations like the rest of us. Isn't that what zoning regulations are all about? We have articulated our opposition before. Now we are doing it again. Leave the zoning the way it is. Otherwise, the Zoning Commission would seem more interested in the hushed request of a few speculators than the thunderous roar of those living in the area. Thank you. Nov. 7,02 7 Nov. 2002 To The Rexburg Planning & Zoning Commission My name is Raymond K. Hill I live @ 328 East Main St. I am here representing the East Main Neighborhood Assn. Could I have everyone involved with the neighborhood please stand. We are vehemently opposed to any changes in our zoning status, which is currently LDRL We are told that a change is inevitable! Why is it inevitable? We do not think this has to be. Why should established beautiful residences be removed in favor of offices & parking lots? I think those people who have purchased residences as investments have made a bad investment We are not going to roll over & play dead. We are going to fight this, & they would too if it was being proposed in their neighborhoods. It is only 5 minutes away from the hospital from any location in Rexburg. They do not need to be next door to the hospital. We understand that there is a need for professional office space in Rexburg. As you may remember, we presented you a study of other locations in Rexburg where professional offices could be built. In that report we made several suggestions as to where professional offices could be built. May I recommend that our report be reviewed. Has the commission made use of this report and advised interested parties about our proposals. At this time I would add that I think another viable location for professional office buildings might be the corner of Main & 2nd East Streets. There is a also a parcel of land Zoned H B D. which is located just north of the new Jalisco's Restaurant on 2nd East. It is quite large and could accommodate several offices. I would like to outline several reasons why we are opposed to the proposed rezone to Central Business District. 1. We are concerned about the negative effects this rezone would have on the currently residential area both within the proposed area & outside this area. The area in question is the traditional edge of a very large residential area that extends both eastward & southward. It includes many older homes that represent many architectural styles that were built throughout the 2001 Century. 2. The proposed Central Business District would not require the same amount of open space or set back from the street. In fact, the Central Business District would not require any open space or set backs. Buildings or parking lots could be built right up to the sidewalk as is the practice in downtown Rexburg. 3.The height of the buildings would increase from 30 to 45 feet, thus allowing three-story Buildings. This would not be compatible with the current residential neighborhood both within the zone & adjacent to the zone. 4. The Central Business District would allow most any kind of retail business including gas stations, restaurants, stores etc. This would not be compatible with the adjacent residential neighborhood. 5.Additional commercial business would increase traffic on Second East, Third East, First South, and all nearby streets. This would not be compatible with the adjacent residential neighborhood. 6.The other side of the streets just outside this proposed Central Business District are currently zoned residential, including as least half of the west side of Second East, all of the south side of First South, all of Third East, and part of Main Street. We are told that it is not known how Professional Plaza came to be in a residential neighborhood. We realize the offices within Professional Plaza are currently out of compliance with the Professional Office Overlay. Most offices do not have the 30 % open space as required by law. However we believe that most of these offices are grand fathered, having been built before the Professional Office Overlay was put into place. Therefore there is no need to change the zoning in this area and the Professional Office Overlay could stay in effect. Leaving this Professional Office Overlay would guarantee that any green space that currently is there would be protected and not removed for more parking lots or buildings. We are also opposed to any new Zone designations for our area. Si rely �yya�0�/L�V `'(_ Raym nd K. Hill Preside East Main Neighborhood Assn, Comments by Don Sparhawk Thursday, November 7, 2002 Rexburg Planning and Zoning Commission Hearing My name is Don Sparhawk. I live at 37 South Third East, within less than 200 feet from the property in question. My wife and I, along with many of the neighbors, wish to live in our neighborhood for many years to come. This is a place where people of modest incomes can afford to live in a traditional residential neighborhood surrounded by other lovely homes, lawns, gardens and trees. The homes are not fancy nor expensive. These homes are affordable for young families just getting started in life, working families trying to make ends meet, and older retired residents on fixed incomes. We settled in this residential area because of the charming appeal of the tree -lined streets and older homes. In our mind, this is best preserved older section of the city of Rexburg. Fortunately, this area of Rexburg has been relatively untouched from modern development and the ravages of a devastating flood. The homes reflect nearly all decades of the Twentieth Century, from historic rock buildings, to bungalows, to quaint brick homes. I would like to give you all a color copy that shows some of the lovely homes inside the area that is being considered for a Central Business District. These are just a sample of the homes in this neighborhood. None of the homes are what I would consider delapidated. For at least three decades, Professional Plaza has been located on the inside of the block that is in question tonight. This block has been surrounded by traditional homes for these three decades. The homeowners and professionals lived together in peace and harmony for all these years. The homes did not encroach on the office area and the office area did not encroach on the homes. But during the last couple of years, some doctors took it upon themselves to start buying some of these family homes. They did not ask for these homes to be rezoned before they bought them. They did this on a gamble that after they had purchased enough homes, they could come to the city and say they now own many of the homes and they would like them rezoned for commercial purposes. Today they own at least six homes. I know of specific homeowners who were personally approached by the doctors and asked if they would like to sell their property. Page -1- We do not believe in this method of planning and zoning. For example, suppose the hospital began buying up homes along Morgan Drive or Maple Drive because they wanted to expand the hospital. After they had purchased a number of homes they came to the city and wanted to rezone the entire area. It seems to us that the planning is backwards. The city and planning and zoning commission should not react to developers' whims and their financial ability to buy property. The area in question is the gateway to a greater residential area that spreads east and south from the Courthouse. Yes, the homes along East Main Street and Second East border commercial areas. For many, many years they have bordered commercial areas. And yes, there is traffic along these streets, but there has always been traffic along these streets. This is not a new problem. We do not agree with the city planner on this issue. We love this area of the city and desire it to be preserved as a residential area. Many of us bought homes in this area because we believed we would be protected by zoning laws. We never imagined in our wildest dreams that anyone would think of putting offices, stores, or two -or - three story buildings in this protected residential area of well preserved older homes. I would like to address another concern. Has anyone ever asked the doctors specifically what they plan for this area of the city? Generally when you rezone property, you ask this question. You specifically want to know what is proposed. All we ever hear is offices will be built here. What kind of offices? A doctor called me the other day to say that many doctors in the city are not in favor of this development. He told me it is only a handful who are involved with this project. He added that he had heard that the master plan of these doctors is to eventually build a surgical center. I have no way of knowing if this is true, but it seems like a good question to ask. A surgical center or large medical complex would have tremendous impact on the city. Besides competing directly with the county -owned hospital, it has the potential to add a lot of traffic and congestion in this entire area. A large complex would also not blend with the residential nature of our neighborhood that we would like to preserve. I do not believe we are dealing with a few small offices hidden away in our residential neighborhood. It is much larger than this yet no one ever asks these questions. I feel sorry for Dr. Heiner and that things have not worked out for the addition he would like to build onto his office. But this is the consequence of his own decision. I know for a fact he has had a chance over the past several years to buy the property Page -2- next to him. The small home next door that is already zoned professional office overlay was recently for sale, yet he did not care to buy it. Instead, it was recently purchased by insurance agent Steve Bjonm and his wife, city councilwoman Marsha Bjornn. Thirdly, we realize the land use map that is part of the comprehensive plan shows the entire area between Second East and the Hospital as commercial. None of the residents of this area of the city knew this change was ever made to the comprehensive plan. If we had known this change was made a few years ago, we would have voiced our concerns. But no one knew. h► June I wrote a formal letter to Mr. Kurt Hibbert requesting that a hearing be set as soon as legally possibly to change this designation in the comprehensive plan. At the time, we realized we would have to wait for six months from the last change to make this change. According to my calculations, the six months were up on September 14 — almost two months ago. And there has been no action by the city to set such a hearing. Instead, the city has proposed this rezoning instead in disregard of our written request. I would like to once again ask that you please set a hearing to consider changing the comprehensive plan to reflect the traditional residential nature of this area of the city. I offer one final thought. You can build a medical complex most anywhere. There is plenty of land on the edge of the city to do this. We also believe there is room in the downtown area for more doctors. But you can never, never, never replace a neighborhood of older homes that is part of the great heritage of this city. This is something worth saving. We ask you to please help us protect and preserve what we cherish about living here in this part of the city. Page -3- a November 7, 2002 Winston Dyer, Chairman Rexburg Planning and Zoning Commission Rexburg City Hall Rexburg, Idaho Dear Mr. Dyer and commission members: Unfortunately, we cannot attend your hearing tonight because we are working. We own a home at 71 South Second East that is currently zoned residential. We lived in this home for many years, but have since moved to Lyman. Today, we rent our home to a very nice family. am opposed to any attempt to rezone this area of the city. I do not want these homes purchased by doctors and turned into offices. Thank you for your concern. Sincerely, Margie Waldron 1503 West 5000 South Rexburg E. K. Grover 280 East Main Street Rexburg, Idaho 83440 Hn .. November 1, 2002 Rexburg Planning and Zoning Commission Rexburg City Hall Rexburg, Idaho Dear Commissioners, I, E.K. Grover, of 280 East Main Street amupset to'think that after having lived here for 26 years that someone has the right to make living here a totally unacceptable living condition. The proposed rezoning of most of our block would have the effect of it no longer being a place for homes, but a place where noise, people and unwanted types of business could make my home not marketable as a family residence and reduce it to a less desirable business lot. It is too bad to think that anyone, including the city, has the right to make my home undesirable as a family home all in the name of progress. East Main has been a desirable and lovely place to live for many years. Your rezoning plan would be retrogressing. No one would want a home here. It would soon become an undesirable neighborhood with increased traffic and noise. Please reconsider this rezoning plan for East Rexburg. Sincerely, ze'O� E.K. Grover October 28, 2002 City of Rexburg Box 280 Rexburg ID 83440 To Whom It May Concern: This letter is in regards to the Public Hearing regarding the property of Parcel I and Parcel 2 regarding a Zone Change from Low Density Residential to Central Business District. It is a nice residential area and they don't need any clinics there. If they knew what they were doing, they would go North of town and buy farming ground, as Idaho Falls did. Idaho Falls went South on Sunnyside Rd and built a hospital. Thank you in advance Ron Bird 58SPE Rexburg ID 83440 Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of Rexburg To Whom it may Concern: Recent decisions for an increase in student enrollment at BYU-I has caused a great influx in traffic and noise in the area of Main Street and 2nd East. There has also been an interest in Real Estate for the location of professional offices The area known as the Professional Plaza and extending to 2nd East forms a perfect buffer zone between existing houses on 3rd East. We concur with the P & Z commission regarding the zone change outlined in the Notice of Public Hearing dated October 4, 2002 and we believe the proposed change would be for the best use of this property. Yours truly, Terrell and Margaret Arnold 206 East Main Street Rexburg, Idaho 83440 Page 1 of 1 Barbara From: "Florence I. Bowman" <jaflobo@mstar2.net> To: <bquirl@ida.net> Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 8:41 PM Subject: Neighborhood organization Dear Barbara. I would like to have you add my name to any petition, or anything that the organization is involved in. I don't like the idea of being in the middle of that commercial venture. Sister Florence Bowman 131 W. 200 N. # 1 Salt Lake City, Utah 84103 r r<af{/i