Editor:
On June 4 I attended the Planning Commission meeting regarding the request of Danny McCubbins for approval of a subdivision at Kalmia and 45th Ave.
The plans are to build 16 homes in this proposed subdivision. He already has separate permits for 4 other homes in the same locality. That makes an addition of 20 homes in that area. While I have no objection to the subdivision itself, I do have concerns regarding the additional water run off that will be directed down 45th Avenue and the increased traffic on 45th Avenue.
Re: water run off
There are 24-inch culverts along the north side of 45th Avenue. During periods of heavy rain they cannot handle the current run off and consequently there is water running over driveways and flooding the yard of the corner lot. The proposed plan is to shunt all the run off water from the new development down 45th Avenue as well, which obviously is going to compound the problem. We were told that it is not the developer’s problem. The city planners did not offer any plans for the city to fix the problem.
Re: traffic
45th Avenue is very narrow, only 17 1⁄2 feet wide, not even a legal street width. The new development will bring increased traffic and increased hazards on an already substandard street. Again we were told that it is not the developer’s problem. The city planners did not offer any plans for the city to fix the problem.
I received a letter later in the week stating that the proposed subdivision had been approved. There were no stipulations to address the concerns we had brought to the commission. The Planning Commission seemed to have made up their minds before the meeting even took place and ignored the concerns of the neighbors.
Again, I have no objection to a subdivision, provided the city planners make provision to protect the property and interests of those already living here. They need to increase the drainage capacity with larger culverts and drainage ditches and widen and improve the street to allow for two-way traffic. These improvements are the responsibility of the city in conjunction with the developer and should precede the development of the subdivision. The subdivision is not an entity unto itself – it affects everyone around it.
Don Austin
Sweet Home