Overflow
crowd of Providence residents protests Hillcrest development
By Emil Dixon
November 25, 2005 | PROVIDENCE -- Temporary Councilman
Stan Checketts offered to donate $20,000 to help residents
buy property from a developer near their community at
the City Council meeting Tuesday evening.
The council met to discuss the approval of a preliminary
plat for the Hillcrest Subdivision located generally
at 870 South and 400 East, but tabled its approval until
they have addressed citizens' concerns and settled on
solutions.
Residents living near the proposed development filled
the council chambers and spilled over onto the sidewalk
outside, waiting for a chance to voice their objections
to council members.
Many residents said they are concerned about the safety
issues of widening the road for development, and said
they didn't want to sell their property so the city
would have enough room for the road.
Eleanor Hansen said the subdivision property currently
has horses on it and is beautiful. "I'm not against
the development of the property," she said, "I'm against
small homes on quarter acre lots." Hansen said the neighborhood
currently is made up of nice homes with large lots.
She read a letter from a neighbor who couldn't attend
the meeting, but wanted to voice her opinion. The letter
said the writer and her husband moved to Providence
so they wouldn't have to live "elbow-to-elbow with their
neighbors" and asked the council not to "Loganize" Providence.
Checketts said he thinks the bottom line is that "no
matter what," citizens near the area don't want people
to build. He said, "If us older folks felt that way
most of you (Providence residents) wouldn't be here
right now."
As a compromise, he proposed that the neighboring
residents pool their money together and offer to buy
some of the land from the developer. While there were
no immediate takers he said he wants to talk privately
with the community and the developer to see if he can
"work this out."
In other business the council:
-- presented Employee of the Quarter awards to Dee Barns
and Rob Stapley.
-- tabled an ordinance that would change the allowable
size of electronic signs from 15 square feet to 39 square
feet.
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