By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Only two property owners turned up to talk at a public
hearing on a proposed zone change from R-1 to R-1-8 for
property between 300 south and 400 south from 400 East to
approximately 550 East.
It was difficult to ascertain at first just how many in
the jam-packed room were there for the hearing and how many
were there for a presentation by Jim and Sonne Greenhalgh
who expressed concerns later in the meeting.
Nevertheless, it became apparent that Jane Wilson and
Scott Coombs were there to discuss the zoning change.
Wilson, was one of the property owners who has two
parcels in the area of the proposed zone change. The other
property owners include one potential future lot in the
Walnut Grove Subdivision.
"I am totally against the re-zoning," said Coombs.
He said that all the lots in the area where his home is
located have been larger lots of the one-half acre size
which is why he determined to buy his home in the first
place.
His opinion that it was not right to allow developers to
make the lots smaller just so more homes could be built in a
subdivision. That meant, in his opinion, that the smaller
homes would actually hurt the property values of the homes
in that general location.
"My property is located between your home and the
subdivision," said Wilson.
It was also her understanding that the irrigation company
owned a right of-way in the proposed re-zoning area.
The irrigation company did not own a right-of-way just an
easement, said Coombs.
Mike Jones, mayor pro tem in the absence of the mayor,
said there actually was quite a bit of property between the
Wilson property and the home owned by Coombs.
Coombs said he was certain the council was aware of the
home he owned and understood its history. It was in run-down
condition when he purchased it, he said, and his main reason
for doing so was that it had a large lot and that the lots
around his property were also large.
"I like the room," said Coombs.
It was his intent to preserve his nearly acre lot as long
as he owned the home so it was not appealing to him to have
the opportunity of selling part of his property so another
home could be built.
"It is just not right that a developer can be allowed to
crowd in another lot just so it can make more money for
them," he said.
Wilson said her property would allow two one-third acre
lots and her property, she said, was located at the top of
Walnut Grove Subdivision between that of Coombs and the
subdivision.
"A fairly large home could be built on a lot of that
size," she said.
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