65809 Community Association Presents FOR YOUR INFORMATION It appears our beginning focus for 2003 will be set for us due to several community concerns facing our neighborhoods. #1-Wal-Mart expansion or land development #2-City Utility Surcharge increase proposal #3-Loan Pine rezoning case #4-Vision 20/20 calls for concentrated (in-fill) development. #5-Ashley Park's new concerns #6-Pending School Closings #7-Annexations in our area. Emerald Park's concerns 1. Barbara Snell (Blackman Woods) recently received notice that Wal-Mart has asked for a vacation of the road bed platted in the old Shanks & Stead home place now owned by Wal-Mart. That road bed was key to preventing Wal-Mart from replacing Sam's Club a few years back. Barbara is currently working with her neighbors to determine if the new owners of specific homes adjoining this property are interested in responding to the vacation request. The date of the hearing is March 6th, the place will be the P & Z meeting at City Hall 3rd floor, 7:00 pm. Please stay alert to any announcements concerning this situation, we may need area support on a short notice. We have also heard that Wal-Mart is interested in locating a store in the new Battlefield Crossing development at Hwy65/Battlefield/Blackman. 2. City Council woman, Terri Hacker has proposed a bill which would increase the amount of added charges on utility bills for county residents. Should the bill pass, county residents will pay an additional 10% bringing the total to 15% on each bill. Presently, county residents pay a 5% surcharge. This surcharge is not specifically identified on billing statements, so, many county residents were not aware they are paying an additional amount. Hacker explained her rational for this approach at a recent Council Meeting. She believes that businesses and industry will consider this surcharge when considering to locate out side the city limits and will opt to locate within the city limits due to savings on utility bills. She said she believes the savings will prevent urban sprawl. We can't help wonder what is being done to encourage those same industries to locate in the industrial parks which were designed for that purpose and developed through the use of tax dollars. Could this be just another back door way to implement a punitive taxes? Perhaps rates based on the distance from the source of power could be implemented and the city/county concern could be eliminated. 3. Rezoning of property along south Lone Pine in order to build a funeral home. This application for rezoning of residential property along a nature trail, a natural stream and in a flood plain has been an interesting case. The Council was caught between it's own adopted philosophies of encouraging higher density infill and commercial development and preservation of green space. Ozarks Greenways has established the nature trail in that area which is currently utilized heavily by people from all parts of our city. This situation had the surrounding neighborhoods willing to declare themselves a special tax district in order to purchase the property for green space preservation and flood control. Offers for donations and help obtaining grants and loans were abundant. The offer to purchase was reported as greater than the anticipated price the owners would have received from the sale of the land for development. Participation in self-governance was beginning to boom just as our fore fathers must have envisioned. Council voted down the re-zoning request (as they have many times in the past). The owners, Mr. Hammons and Mr. McLean, immediately started to clear the land for the purpose of selling it to housing developers and/or builders. Most of the land is in a flood plain and severe flooding has occurred in recent years. It will be interesting to see just how much pocket change these two men will actually gain through their ability to demonstrate power over the very people who purchased homes from these same developers. We are told that these purchases were made at the time these men were getting their start in the development business. Civic pride, responsibility, and appreciation seems to have bit the dust of power. Or, should we say it seems to have drowned. Real estate agents must be considering commissions on these properties with great caution. #4. Concentrated development as directed by Vision 20/20 This philosophy of concentrated infill was written into the City's growth plan and guidelines as set forth in a document called the Vision 20/20 project. It is amazing how many residents of Springfield are just now beginning to wake up to the reality of how harshly these new policies are affecting their quality of life. Portions of this "citizen driven" project are currently undergoing a revision by special "in place" committees who's members have special interest in these specific areas. We sincerely hope the Environmental Committees will be able to voice themselves loud and clear and gain the respect they deserve in this project. As we learned through our programs last year, we live in a highly environmentally sensitive area where massive sink holes are numerous. They are a direct communication to our water supply! Will you enjoy thinking about drinking the cleaned up water from petroleum products, etc.?--just food for thought! Has anyone considered that our land structure itself should limit development if we are to protect a quality of health?? The Feb. 6th Planning and Zoning agenda was challenging to commissioners and citizens alike . One of the several interesting cases hit close to home. It concerned a proposal for a large apartment development at Catalpa/Hwy 65/Eastgate. 5. Some of our Ashley Park residents spoke with concerns about allowing more apartments in this area due to storm water control, increased traffic, over crowding of already at-capacity schools and a saturation of apartment building nearby on Ingram Mill. The area concern has a very large sink hole which has already demonstrated it's power to flood. The commission felt they had no choice but to recommend approval to the City Council. Their reasoning seemed to be based entirely on in-fill policy. It is strongly suggest that we get back to the work of developing a area/neighborhood plan with the County (and City) in order to have some influence on how development occurs "out here". However, that process will depend on the willingness of people who live here. They must have the vision to see the value and willingness to invest their time in the work. All of our last year programs were geared to providing foundation information in preparation for this work. In order for this project to take place, it will require enough residents speaking up and making the commitment. Anyone interested can contact me. 6 . Pending School Board action concerning the closing of neighborhood schools. Pershing is one of those on the list to be considered for closing. It appears there are some serious trends occurring in this process. Looking at cuts from the State budget we need to be educated concerning this process and stay on top of the situation. Currently, the School Board is working on their proposed bond which we will vote on in April. They have backed off of the aggressive approach to closing schools until they can evaluate better use of the buildings. One current consideration is to transfer students from capacity loaded schools to nearby under capacity schools. 7. Annexation of new sub-divisions around Sunset Street, east of Hwy 65. Emerald Park is just one of the new developments in our area to be annexed. As proposed, only the southern half of the sub-division will be annexed because it was built after the City required builders to sign the right of refusal to annexation away in exchange for bringing City Sewer to their development. This approach will do nothing to correct a safety problems for this area, the least of which is the ever present confusion about where the city-county lines are and where and when and which safety service will respond. The president of Emerald Park stated at the hearing that his neighbors were most concerned about losing their safety services from the County. Specifically, the routine daily patrolling by the Sheriff's Dept. The City Police Chief has told them that he does not have the resources to maintain the level of surveillance currently provided by the County. Snow removal and Fire Protection are areas the City staff is working on to support this annexation. There are many factors to consider, pros and cons, when faced with annexation. We need to look at these and be prepared to respond when and if the "opportunity" comes along for your neighborhood. Most of the newer sub-divisions have no choice in the matter but MAY have a lot to lose when it come to safety issues. If there are new officers for your neighborhood association, please have them contact me or give me their names and numbers so we can make contact. Any neighborhood in the 65809 area is encouraged to send a representative to meet with us. Contact me for meeting plans. We welcome neighborhoods outside the '09 zip area also. Last year our programs brought people from a wide variety of groups. Our meetings are open to anyone interested in neighborhood issues. We strive to provide education and communication. Aleta (887-08267)

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