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APPENDI)( A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPEMENT REZONING: STONEGATE WHAT ARE 'THE ISSUES? S_TONEGATE 1S THE FIRST_LARGE SCALE_DEVELOP_EMEN_T OF L_ARGE_-L_OT_(_AC_TU_ALLY._, SOME_WCI_!I_D_SAY_MnSSI'J_F,_L(I'r)_ SUBDIVISIONS _(I,Ems_IT_IS_NOW _'THE _POLICY _OF - LAND USES), 1) DOES STONEGATE OR, FOR THAT MATTER, A DEVELOPEMENT POLICY OF 3.3 ACRE MINIMUM LOT SIZES MEET THE TEST OF RURALNESS THAT ALL FACTIONS MAINTAIN THEY WANT TO PRESERVE? 2) WILL THESE FUTURE HOMES CARRY THEIR WEIGHT IN TERMS OF TAXES PAID? 3) ARE ADJACENT USES UNNECESSARILY INTIMIDATED OR COMPROMISED BY SUCH A DEVELOPEMENT? 4) WILL THERE BE A LONG TERM BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE? THAT IS, HOW DOES IT SERVE THE EXISTING RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AND HOW DO THEIR NEEDS STACK UP AGAINST THE RIGHTS OF LANDOWNERS TO HAVE APPROPRIATE USE OF THEIR LAND? IN SHORT, ARE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE NEEDS OF THE CITY SERVED BY THE PROPOSED DEVELOPEMENT? RURAL SUGGESTS TWO THINGS TO ME: A. FIRST, IT SUGGESTS OPEN VISTAS OF GRASS OR TREES AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURE OR, AT LEAST, MUTUAL HABITATION BY MAN AND SOME OF THE OTHER CREATURES WE SHARE THIS EARTH WITH. AN AVERAGE LOT SIZE_ OF 3.3 ACRES OF ADJACENT HOUSING DOES NOTHING TO PRESERVE THE RURAL. IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT WE PUICKLY EAT UP THE AVAILABLE LAND IN PARCELS THAT ARE TOO BIG TO MOW AND TOO SMALL TO PLOW! IF THERE IS ANY DESIRE IN THIS CITY AT ALL TO MAINTAIN RURAL PHYSICAL FEATURES FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME, THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER! THIS R.E. ZONING METHOD, SPREAD ACROSS 'THE CITY, TAKES LAND OUT OF RURAL AND INTO SUB -URBAN 2 TO 3 TIMES FASTER, THAN THE PREVIOUS R-1 ZONING CLASSIFICATION. FOR -WHAT PURPOSE? SIMPLY TO HAVE DEVELOPEMENT THAT IS LESS DENSE? HOW DOES THAT SERVE OUR INTERESTS IN THE RURAL. IF THERE IS ANY THOUGHT THA1' THE WEEDS THAT WILL INEVITABLY GROW UP IN THE UNMAINTAINED PARTS OF SUCH LARGE_ PARCELS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS OR THEIR CHILDREN TO FROLIC IN, FORGET IT! IF THERE IS ANY THOUGHT THAT THIS WILL SOMEHOW PRESENT A MORE. AESTHETICALLY PLEASING ENVIRONMENT OR THAT THESE HOMESITES WILL BE SUPERIOR SOMEHOW TO MANY OF THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS OF 1 TO 1.5 ACRE HOMESTEADS IN I._Ak:E ELMO, FORGET IT! IF THERE IS SOME THOUGHT THAT THIS WILL ULTIMATELY PREVENT MUNICIPAL SERVICES (SEWER AND WATER) FROM E','ER BEING ECONOMICALLY EXTENDED TO RESIDENTS WHO MAY FIND 'THEMSELVES IN NEED - YOUR RIGHT! THE MILLION DOLLAR EXTENSION OF WATER FROM OAKDALE TO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR WATER. COMPROMISED BY THE LAZE JANE LANDFILL MIGHT WELL HAVE RESULTED IN THE CONDEMNATION OF THEIR PROPERTY HAD THAT PROJECT DOUBLED OR TRIPLED IN COST DUE TO MASSIVE FRONTAGES. SEWER AND WATER IS NOT EXTENDED INTO EXISTING COMMUNITIES BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST LIKE IT! I'T IS SIMPPLY TOO EXPENSIVE TO DO ON 0 WHIM!