It's been a busy week. I feel as though I'm running behind on everything. Hopefully over the weekend I'll get a bit more on track. Usually, I take the weekends to just relax a bit but there are some things I want to get done so that I can start off next week on good footing. I will do some relaxing and fun things.
On Thursday night I attended a Zoning Commission Meeting for our city. Not something I've ever been to before. To cut a really long story short, at one end of the place where I walk is a plot of land that the owner wants to get rezoned to commercial to (potentially) put a carwash there. The local community doesn't want it and The Asylum Lake board that I'm on has been trying to help rally people to write and attend the various meetings. The Zoning meeting was a big one. It was really well attended. The main room was filled including standing room, the overflow room was full and there were people in the hallway. When it came time for comments the queue was around the room and out of the door! The meeting started at 7pm and got done around midnight! It took that long for everyone to be heard. I couldn't stay longer than 9pm but watched the rest on the Youtube channel.
The Zoning Commission voted unanimously to deny the zoning request but unfortunately that's not the end of it. It has to go to another committee that can (stupidly!) be able to overturn their decision. It really seems to me that these people who work for us really don't want to listen to what we say. This is the third time he's applied for rezoning within the last 4 years! People were quite angry.
I'm really glad I went! The next meeting isn't until December 1st, so we've got a couple weeks to plan.
It's such a beautiful place. Lots of people spoke of how walking there has got them through some tough times. It certainly helped me when Mum was ill and after she died and walking there helps me now. It's lovely to walk and enjoy nature and not think about all the bad things in life.
Not sure of other plans for the weekend - apart from playing catch up - the weather forecast is calling for the dreaded S word. I hope they are wrong.
Do you have plans for the weekend?
Oh, wow, that was a long meeting! You did well to attend it. Asylum Lake is such a lovely place; it would be a pity to have a commercial development adjoining it.
ReplyDeleteEveryone who spoke was against it, but in the end I don't think it will matter. It's all about the money. Sadly
DeleteWe have similar crazy planning here; there's a piece of land known as the Goring Gap on the South Coast which is the last bit of undeveloped land along the sea front where there are green fields from the South Downs to the sea. A housing company is determined to build on it, I've lost count of the number of appeals so far. Otherwise there is continuous ribbon development from Brighton to the other side of Worthing
ReplyDeleteIt is ridiculous. No should be no and that's the end of it.
DeleteIt's amazing how people's wishes can clearly be heard and yet still be ignored or overridden. It's usually because someone on one or other of the committees stands to benefit.
ReplyDeleteOh definitely. The developers aren't even from our city and the currently owner doesn't even live on state. Apparently he has a habit of going against planning permission and just paying the fine later.
DeleteI'm glad you went too and fingers crossed. Good luck with the dreaded s**w. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks. I am glad I went. It was interesting to watch and participate in!
DeleteOften here the "public consultation" is a waste of time as things are already decided, so hope the decision doesn't get changed for you.
ReplyDeleteI also hope the S word doesn't happen! Far too early
That's exactly my thought on it. In the end it's just so they can say they 'listened'.
DeleteSuch a beautiful picture.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like it doesn't matter where you are, planning permission complicated, convoluted and arcane. I hope that you can avoid the car wash!