HomeMy WebLinkAboutWRITTEN RESPONSE 9 - JoAnn Greene - 22-00100 - (S of Hidden Valley PH7 & PH8) - Rezone 3 parcels from LDR1 to LDR2Dear Rexburg Planning and Zoning Commisioners, Because I will be out of town during the next month, I felt a need to express some concerns about the proposed use of land in the Hidden Valley area. I understand the discussions have been tabled a couple of times and assume it will again be on the agenda soon. I know many of the residents in the developed part of Hidden Valley are against the building of higher density housing adjacent to the single family residential homes and I don’t understand why the present developments are even zoned LDR2 in the first place. I have heard many comments which I am sure you are aware of, that the current residents prefer future development to be consistent with the present neighborhoods which seems logical and I don’t understand why higher density housing which would certainly draw families and students connected to the college could not be built in outlying areas of Rexburg. In a related matter, I can understand why it would seem desirable to make 2nd South continue east past Mill Hollow into the Hidden Valley area. Donna Benfield has told me that they have been told to expect that sometime in the future. I can only see the detrimental affects it would have on the neighborhoods between Mill Hollow and the college to increase traffic measurably on that street. I think almost every single block between Mill Hollow and the college has homes directly facing the street, unlike 7th South which has just the side or fenced backs of a few homes facing the street. It seems that 7th South would be a much better major arterial from those neighborhoods towards the temple and the university. I have personally been sitting in our daughter’s yard on 2nd South watching cars speed down the street at 45 mph or more with the newly surfaced road and incline, only slowing down when they are right at Lincoln Elementary School! There are many children in that area that are close to the road, not only from homes facing the street but from the surrounding neighborhoods. In talking with the police last year I was told they only had three patrolmen on duty at one time and it was difficult to monitor the street. The street department also said it was not possible to build speed bumps to slow down the traffic because of snow removal machines in the winter. I hear about portable speed bumps and streets that are designed with dips that snow removal trucks can navigate but nothing seems to be done about the present problem of racing cars. I can only imagine the affect on those neighborhoods not to mention the increased danger to children to greatly increase the traffic from the Hidden Valley area instead of circumventing it around the outskirts of established neighborhoods. I certainly do not have the knowledge you board members do about these matters but appreciate you allowing me to express my questions and concerns. Respectfully, JoAnn Greene greenesjj@gmail.com