With another Veteran's Day approaching, our thoughts turn to those who willingly sacrificed their own well-being for ours. For some Veterans, the physical and mental sacrifice is permanent and on-going. It's an easy thing to pay lip-service to. However, do we really care about our Veterans?
My thoughts turn to my neighbors. The Pecan Hill Subdivision is a neighborhood particularly dense with residents who served. Of twelve homes, six are occupied by Veterans. Several are retirees who are disabled. Despite that fact, the City and County are facilitating a major residential development on an adjacent parcel. The rezoning being considered would facilitate the potential construction of over 80 homes. If the three homes currently under construction on Elliot Dr are an indication, the construction is a departure from what already existed. They are smaller homes with little variation, most or all having no brick façade, no vaulted ceiling, no fireplace and no bay window. They are a compromise and, by no means, comparable.
The lives of these veterans will be impacted by these decisions. Who cares? Who cares about their compromised quality of life and home values? Who cares about the increase in traffic on an already narrow Waukeenah St? Who cares about that traffic dumping out onto US19, increasing the risk of an accident? Who cares about the possibility of a traffic light? Who really cares?
Rezoning decisions are not purely a matter of legality. Rezoning is a matter of discretion and judgement. If you care, please ask your Commissioner and Planning Department representatives to reconsider any support for this rezoning and development.
Ralph E. Turnipseed