2002-06-26 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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I -- . . Group 3 - Concerned Citizen Perspective You and your neighbors live in some of the historic 19th and early 20th century homes near downtown and next to the proposed Premier Properties development. You appreciate that someone is proposing to clean up the old Wild Bill's store and the lake. You remember with fondness the days when residents could head over to the beach for a swim. You are VERY CONCERNED, however, with the overall size of the development and the fact that it will be bringing all these new people with no prior connection to Prairie Ridge into the area. You love the existing small town feel and wony that it's going to be lost to a bunch of yuppies! The 275 new homes are just too much; where is all that traffic going to go???? Worst of all, the developer has signed purchase agreements to buy 17 existing Victorian homes that are admittedly run down, but real architectural gems. If the development goes forward, the homes will be razed to make way for a row of expensive, but in your opinion, not particularly attractive townhomes. As a way to get the best of what you want, your neighborhood group has proposed that the development be approved, but the size should be scaled back from 275 to no more than 185 units. You also want the developer to renovate and resell the 17 existing Victoria homes. You believe your position is very reasonable. Two of the Planning Commission members seem to agree with you and you are frankly rather angry with the other five. In anticipation ofthe Thursday afternoon meeting, you have been calling city council members to press your position. They have listened politely, but all five have said they will make no commitment until they hear all the pertinent information. Two of the five councilmembers are up for re-election this Fall! Some of the "concerned citizens" in your group also represent the local business perspective. The Prairie Ridge Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority are pretty excited about the proposed development. It will clean up the polluted lake, bring some new residents and businesses to a struggling downtown, and generally give the town an economic . boost. The business community is not completely unanimous, however! A few of your members are existing downtown businesses that feel threatened by the competition from the retail section of the new development. Betty Jones, 2nd Vice President of the Chamber, is the owner of Betty's Grind it Out Coffeehouse. She's convinced the new Starbucks will mean the end of her business! Existing hardware and dry cleaning stores feel the same way and are rallying to Betty's position that any business that competes with an existing Prairie Ridge business should not be allowed. Please do not share the information on this sheet with students in the other work groups.