Friday, July 15, 2005

CHECKMATE!

Both the Morning Call and the Express Times reported today about last night's Planning Commission meeting. They detailed the conundrum facing our planners, a trade off for more goodies and dense housing versus a traditional and compliant Farmland Preservation district plan. Both Sarah Mausolf and Fred Walter wrote "must read" pieces. They have both done excellent reporting. Kudos. One hopes that Forks residents will take an interest in what could be the absolute death knell of our ability to move a car through the Township and make an effort to free some time on August 11th at 7:30 PM to let the PC know one way or the other how you feel. We know that some of you are on vacation but it's time to get involved.

2 comments:

It's a FAC said...

Two recent letters in the Express Times, one from 7/21/05 and one from 7/18/05 may be helpful to both new and old residents looking for answers. In both letters, we are urged to attend meetings, both PC and BoS, as things happen TO us at both. The upcoming Planning Commission meeting (August 11, 2005 at 7:30 PM) promises to be especially important as both proposed plans for 400 acres in the FP district are likely to be presented. One plan calls for a zoning overlay to allow 800 +/- dwelling units in the FP district where lot sizes are restricted to minimum 2 acres per single family house. In this super dense plan, the Township is promised a "free" public works garage (on Township land) and some recreation/open space. The other plan grids the property into 2 acre parcels and is compliant with the FP zoning. It yields 162 single family houses on large lots. It has no dedicated open space and no "free" garage. Each project will add additional cars on the roadways, additional kids in the school system, additional strain on our public services, etc.

Please do your best to be there. Bring your neighbors. Bring your family. There is nothing on television that's as important to your quality of life as these meetings.

It's a FAC said...

Wait, there's more! Yes, today's (7/24/05) Express Times has a thoroughly researched article by Sarah Mausolf describing the effects, especially, COSTS (AKA "taxes"), associated with the large proposed development(s) and our schools. She writes that we could need up to FIVE new schools in five years if either version of the KINGS plan goes forward. Yikes. Where would these schools be built? All of the land will have houses and there will be NO ROOM for schools. Well, they could go next to the new Armory I suppose...