HomeMy WebLinkAboutletter from Ready opposition JuneRECEIVED
JUN 4 2000
BY;
-M
June 14, 2000
Mr. Brian Minyard
Department of Planning and Development
723 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
Mr. Minyard,
As I told you in our conversation approximately 5 weeks ago, I will be out of town for
the June 22, 2000 meeting of the Planning Commission. I am sending you this letter to
reaffirm the fact that I am opposed to changing the zoning of 12800 and 12824 County
Line Road from multi -family to commercial or to a conditional -use permit. My reasons
are the same as before. I trust you still have a copy of the letters from residents in your
original file on the matter. As a result of a meeting Mr. Loftin held on June 13, I wish to
address the following:
I did not receive a letter about the meeting but was advised by a neighbor who attended
the meeting of the fact that Mr. Loftin, by his own admission, does not intend to leave
any trees on the property. Does this mean he is going to clear cut the property? A
drawing of the proposed development handed out by Mr. Loftin shows that a "buffer
zone" will consist of what looks like a large drainage ditch directly behind our back
yards. Based on our experiences with developments in this area, we have come to
understand that clear cutting is standard practice as is radical alteration of the land
regardless of the affect on nearby property. "Buffer zones" consist of a few spindly trees
that will probably die as a result of being run into and gouged by vehicles and earth
moving equipment. And drainage designs that are supposed to control storm run-off are,
more often than not, open ditches that are breeding grounds for snakes and other pests. I
was also advised by my neighbor that Mr. Loftin told those who attended the meeting that
the zoning change was not on the agenda for the June meeting. If this is true, would you
please be sure to advise the residents of Irish Spring Estates. We need to be sure we are
represented.
As I have stated in the past, the property is full of very large oak and pine trees and also
contains many dogwood trees. The sound buffer afforded to the residents is invaluable
and irreplaceable. A few saplings and bushes surrounding a parking lot or playground
certainly can't replace it. The property in question is considerably higher than the
residences on Irish Rose Circle and a privacy fence would do nothing to shield our view
or to stop the noise from a commercial enterprise. I would like to ask that members of
the board come out and look at the property from the point of view of our back yards and
also to discuss the already pervasive drainage problem that has never been fixed by the
city. The drainage problem was addressed in the March meeting, but it has never been
corrected. Workmen came out 5-6 times but nothing was resolved. My property flooded
worse than ever in the heavy rainstorms on June 3-4.
Mr. Loftin has stated more than once in the past that he intends to develop the property
one way or the other, and I realize that a property owner has the right to try to make a
profit from his investment. But does it have to be at the expense of everyone else around
the property? Do we not have the right to ask that adequate buffer zones consist of
untouched and unaltered trees and other native plants and be of a width that would
shield us from said development. And do we not have the right to ask that the
development be kept as residential as it was always intended?
I realize this is a rather lengthy letter and addresses several issues, but I feel very strongly
that a commercial zoning or conditional -use permit would have a detrimental affect on
our neighborhood as far as quality of life and property values are concerned. Again, I ask
that the property be left zoned as MF6 and that development of the property be such that
it shows some consideration for surrounding homes.
Thank you,
Michelle L. Ready
21 Irish Rose Circle
(501)455-5295
Minyard, Brian
From: Michelle Ready [ready50@earthlink- net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 6:26 PM
To: bminyard@littlerock.state.ar.us
Subject: June 14, 2000
Mr. Minyard,
I have sent a hard copy of the attached to you. I will be out of town until June 25, but please send
me an email if you have any info.
Thank you,
Michelle L. Ready
ready50@earthlink.net
June 14 Minyard Itr.doc
June 14, 2000
Mr. Brian Minyard
Department of Planning and Development
723 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
Mr. Minyard,
As I told you in our conversation approximately 5 weeks ago, I will be out of town for
the June 22, 2000 meeting of the Planning Commission. 1 am sending you this letter to
reaffirm the fact that I am opposed to changing the zoning of 12800 and 12824 County
Line Road from multi -family to commercial or to a conditional -use permit. My reasons
are the same as before. I trust you still have a copy of the letters from residents in your
original file on the matter. As a result of a meeting Mr. Loftin held on June 13, I wish to
address the following:
I did not receive a letter about the meeting but was advised by a neighbor who attended
the meeting of the fact that Mr. Loftin, by his own admission, does not intend to leave
any trees on the property. Does this mean he is going to clear cut the property? A
drawing of the proposed development handed out by Mr. Loftin shows that a "buffer
zone" will consist of what looks like a large drainage ditch directly behind our back
yards. Based on our experiences with developments in this area, we have come to
understand that clear cutting is standard practice as is radical alteration of the land
regardless of the affect on nearby property. "Buffer zones" consist of a few spindly trees
that will probably die as a result of being run into and gouged by vehicles and earth
moving equipment. And drainage designs that are supposed to control storm run-off are,
more often than not, open ditches that are breeding grounds for snakes and other pests. I
was also advised by my neighbor that Mr. Loftin told those who attended the meeting that
the zoning change was not on the agenda for the June meeting. If this is true, would you
please be sure to advise the residents of Trish Spring 1✓states. We need to be sure we are
represented.
As I have stated in the past, the property is full of very large oak and pine trees and also
contains many dogwood trees. The sound buffer afforded to the residents is invaluable
and irreplaceable. A few saplings and bushes surrounding a parking lot or playground
certainly caWt replace it. The property in question is considerably higher than the
residences on Irish Rose Circle and a privacy fence would do nothing to shield our view
or to stop the noise from a commercial enterprise. I would like to ask that members of
the board come out and look at the property from the point of view of our back yards and
also to discuss the already pervasive drainage problem that has never been fixed by the
city. The drainage problem was addressed in the March meeting, but it has never been
corrected. Workmen came out 5-6 times but nothing was resolved. My property flooded
worse than ever in the heavy rainstorms on June 3-4.
Mr. Loftin has stated more than once in the past that he intends to develop the property
one way or the other, and I realize that a property owner has the right to try to make a
profit from his investment. But does it have to be at the expense of everyone else around
the property? Do we not have the right to ask that adequate buffer zones consist of
untouched and unaltered trees and other native plants and be of a width that would
shield us from said development. And do we not have the right to ask that the
development be kept as residential as it was always intended?
I realize this is a rather lengthy letter and addresses several issues, but I feel very strongly
that a commercial zoning or conditional -use permit would have a detrimental affect on
our neighborhood as far as quality of life and property values are concerned. Again, I ask
that the property be left zoned as MF6 and that development of the property be such that
it shows some consideration for surrounding homes.
Thank you,
Michelle L. Ready
21 Irish Rose Circle
(501)155-5295