HomeMy WebLinkAboutletter against application BlockTo: Little Rock Planning and Development — Mr. Tony Bozynski
and the Little Rock Planning Commission
RE: Case LU08-19-02
While growth and development is a must in our great city; it should not be done at the
expense of existing neighborhoods where citizens have made large investments in their
homes. Rezoning of this large tract from predominately, single family to multi -family and
commercial is not in the best interests of families living in neighborhoods from Pebble
Beach to Beckenham to Villages of Wellington.
Following are many of the reasons we oppose this rezoning:
1, Values of single family properties in our area have already decreased due to
traffic volume created by the opening of Pebble -Beach to Rahling.
2. Traffic on Pebble Beach is almost unmanageable even with excellent cooperation
from city officials. Our less than one mile neigliiorhood street now has many
stop signs and speed bumps, and it has become an artery between Rahling and
Hinson instead of a neighborhood collector:;
3. Safety and quality of life are already jeopardizedJet: alone the property values
alluded to.
4. We were told the Land Use Master Plan was along term document and changes
to parcels at the whims of developers to create .possible higher values and not
necessarily highest and best use would not be done.
—5. 5. We cannot agree to Deltic Timber's almost, automatic changes to land use they
have received in the past and our Neighborhood Association will be glad to work
with them in this matter.
6. Many neighborhoods in Chenal and other areas'were created with one way in and
out or gated access, yet Deltic wants to flood Qur neighborhood with traffic they
create. - - -
7: Rezoning cannot precede roads and infrastructure which would decrease impacts
on neighborhoods.
8. The existing R2 zoning should provide Delfic'tlie opportunity to enhance the
existing neighborhoods around Pebble Beach, ;Beckenham and Villages of
Wellington instead of creating a mixed land use`plari of apartments and
commercial thereby deteriorating those neighborhoods.
In closing, we realize hindsight is always 20/20 so please don't let a problem not totally
resolved since 1996 continue. I refer to the attached -e-mail dated May 5, 2008. Thank
you for your attention to this matter and for your devotion -in doing what's right for our
city.
Regards fromll� ike and Barbara Block at 148 Pebble Beach Dr.
September 17, 2008
Print rage i or i
From; MIKE BLOCK (m.block@sbcglobal.net)
To: Bruce, Moore; Michael Keck; Frederick Gentry; Ann Coleman; Lawrence Coleman
Bate: Monday, May 5, 2008 8:12:56 AM
Subject History doesn't always have to repeat itself!
Good Maarri iYg,
I am Mike; Block and live with my wife Barbara at 148 Pebble Beach Dr. We have lived at this address
since 1981: after transferring from Dallas. Our kids were 2 and 6 mos. when we moved, and our house
was the third from the end of the street. It was a dead end into vast acres of woods. We camped and
hiked intv.this large area. Alas, progress, of which I'm not opposed, as it was my job to forecast growth
of needed telephone lines to new areas for Southwestern Bell. New subdivisions were added and our
street rerrained,a dead end for many years. Then, Chenal becomes the focus of attention in West
Little Rock. I realize I am boring you with this history lesson you already know, but we and all our
neighbors, don't want history to repeat itself. We want the leaders of Little Rock to be courageous
and help us save. our neighborhood. The Board of Directors voted to give the Chenal development a free
hand with the passage of an ordinance in mid 1996 to create a multi-purpose improvement
district, including the cut through'of Pebble Beach to Rahling. In doing this the directors
said two additional streets would also be cut to reduce traffic on Pebble Beach. This, nor anything else,
has been done to allievate this traffic situation. Oh sure, stop signs, speed bumps and limits, etc. have
been established and we appreciate those changes. But, the fact remains over 6,000 cars travel our street
daily and that number will only increase as Chenal continues to grow. At the board meetings in 1996,
Mayor Jim Daily stated that our neighborhood presentation against Pebble Beach being cut through was
the best he'd ever seen. Then, before he retired his position, he also stated that cutting through Pebble
Beach was a big mistake. Mr. Keck, you were on the board during all of this, and while your actions
mean well; there are still no resolutions. Would each of you like your neighborhood street to be like
ours? Would each of you like to_ fear. for what has happened in our neighborhood or what
could? Chenal is a great development and place to live, but why do the residents and many others chose
to cut through our street to get to PA and other points east/west and then return? Why would they
choose to -drive our. street oblivious to stop signs, speed bumps and police in order to save 60 seconds?
The only, .way,to. change habit and behavior is to make a change that gets their attention. PA letters to
parents didn't do it; so I'm assuming its up to you guys - those that have the power to,_ stop placing an
entire neighborhood in jeopardy, let alone possible injury to its residents or those cutting through. Many
of us living along Pebble Beach have feared for our safety just going to mail boxes, mowing and edging
lawrns,.ar .backing out of driveways. If the goal is to keep traffic moving, then move it away from
Pebble Beach.with its winding curves, blind hills, speed bumps, stop signs, and speed limits. It is a
neighborhood street, not a major artery. Please don't let history repeat itself by continuing to allow
.this traffic" to go unresolved. It is the right thing to do and would be a win/win for everyone.
I thank each of you for all you do and have done for our city. Regards from the Block's
http://us.f8I S.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=50v3bpa872gtl 9/17/2008