SIGNING OUT FOR NOW

This is the last article regarding Farm Road 170, dated May 18. "....Although Farm Road 170 will be considered in the future, it will be considered with other county roads, not exclusively."

Many many thanks to the countless hours of activism of concerned neighbors and property owners with a big shout-out to Dr. and Mrs. Neblett and Sara Ray. Their dedication and expertise was priceless in this decision. Our neighborhood/area of Farm Road 170 must remember Greene County Presiding Commissioner Jim Viebrock kept his word and support his efforts going forward.

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011105190338

Until we have the opportunity to commune again, .....

PEACE, OUT!

It's TIME to FOCUS again........

Winter is past, those of us with basements have dried out the remnants of last weeks flooding, and now the Parks Department is wanting a sales tax increase to help pay for the land DONATION in the flood plain property of the 60/65 development.

This tax issue is COMPLICATED. The Parks Department petitioned the Greene County Commission for a 2/8 cent tax increase, pushing the total over and beyond what is already PERMANENT to the maximum allowed by Missouri State statute 1/2 [one-half] cent.

Based on past performance, this would generate 20 millionish in revenue. The additional 1/8 tax increase request to be on the August ballot will bring the total to 3/8 cent tax increase to provide storm-water funding in the flood plain property of 60/65. One doesn't need a calculator to determine the 900-acre 'gift' in the flood plain is going to be costly to the residents of Greene County/Springfield.

The two issues [totally separate] have now been tied together because of actions of the previous Greene County administration.

The first VOTE will be Monday by the Greene County Commission when they will decide to place [or not] the parks/storm-water issue on the August ballot. The writer of this blog is against any tax increase at this time. Most property owners received notice of property tax increase. Energy costs are up [especially painful for us whom decided to live outside Springfield when gas was below a buck and propane was .49 cents a gallon] and our property values have declined impacting personal overall net worth.

The second VOTE our community needs to be aware of and involved in is the Greene County Planning Board meeting on May 17. Please plan to attend the meeting.

Contact information for the Greene County Commissioners is:

JViebrock@greenecountymo.org
HBengsch@greenecountymo.org
RBentley@greenecountymo.org

Please contact the GCC immediately with your recommendation/thoughts on the Monday vote.

We Like Dialogue

This question was recently submitted from a Farm Road 170 property owner:

Why wouldn't it be of best interest to everybody to have a major connection from the newly built 65 3 lane to the 60/65 development?

As Sara Ray is whom I Google with regards to property development, the following is her response:

Summary: Question is not whether they should be able to access 65. The question is the financial viability of the project, as zoned in 2009, and the potential negative impact to MANY private property owners as a result of that zoning classification.
1. A major connection from 65 to the 60/65 proposed development is just one issue. MODOT has granted a "conditional approval" for that event to occur (via a new interchange THEY will not pay for). One condition is connection to the county road system. It is now a debatable issue where and how that is to occur. And the city mandated in PD 330 a connection to FR 164.

ANY connection to the county road system has negative impact to many residential property owners. The vast majority of the area north of 60 and east of 65 has developed, over the years, in low density residential.

It is important to understand MODOT made that a requirement because of the very close proximity in distance to the Battlefield/65 interchange and the 60/65 interchange. It is there preference the distance for on/off traffic at those points be greater than this "potential" developer driven interchange provides. In the past they have set 2 miles as their minimum....preference being 5 miles.

2. With an understanding of current demand in the marketplace, challenges of financing, and the very huge upfront cost of the required infrastructure expense to this "proposed" development with the very HIGH density rezoning they requested, the big picture question is the viability of the development. Let's not forget this has been going on for 20 years....through good times.

I imagine the majority of us feel the property owner of the 500 acres should have the right to market their property to a developer. The rub comes with the lack of access and the environmental concerns of it draining to the James River when you attempt to go for the very high density (higher profit) scenario.

How Do YOU Interpret This Cartoon from the Community Free Press?

Please respond to this post by making a COMMENT at the bottom of this post.
UPDATE
During the last City Council meeting the vote on PD 330 (amendment to allow for a city park and changes to wording in the previous document) was tabled.
City, county and park department staff were to meet to discuss the situation, however, the snow situation may have pushed it lower on the list.
Some of us have continued to email/call council members and the County Presiding Commissioner, as well as the County Administrator.
Those actions should continue.
The Mayor has requested the PD 330 Amendment remain tabled and not be voted on at the Feb 7 meeting.
The Greene County planning commission has yet to resolve the issue on the designation of a road.

2011 Meetings Scheduled for Monday, January 10 and Tuesday January 11

Monday, January 10, 6:30pm, corner of Chestnut and Boonville (City Hall), Council Chambers the City Council will conduct a public hearing on PD 330 Amendment. Sources suggest our efforts [emails, phone calls, letters] have gotten attention. Keep up the heat! There has been a great deal of communication with members of City Council relative to the amendment.

Tuesday, 7:00pm, corner of Central and Boonville (Historical Court House), Room 212 the Greene County Commission will conduct a Listening Session......a desire by our new Presiding Comm. to address the concerns of his constituents. (See Press Release front page of the GC website]. http://www.greenecountymo.org/


It is important we show our support and voice our concerns at the Tues. night meeting. As county residents, we now have the opportunity to be heard. Mother Nature may be uncooperative but most of us living in the county have 4-wheel drive vehicles and don't let snow stop us.

P.S. Tuesday, January 11, 7:30 am to 9 a.m. Q&A Breakfast with Jim Viebrock - sponsored by the Springfield Business Journal Editor Eric Olson. $15 per person [includes Breakfast]. Go to sbj.net for reservations.