04-25-05 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 25,2005 Karner Blue. No doubt that the proposed Holladay development will have a negative impact upon their survival. She also has concerns about the air and water quality should this development proceed as planned. The area gets its water from wells in German Township, no doubt there will be spills of hazardous materials if this development goes in. Holladay will argue that it will not happen, but not everyone keeps their vehicle in top running condition, antifreeze leaks, oil leaks, fuel leaks will certainly have an impact on the water quality. The trucks that inhabit the current industrial park, run their engines day and night and the diesel fumes are horrendous, diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen, it means it causes cancer in mammals and human beings are mammals. The drivers also have no concern for the residential neighbors, honking their horns day and night for reason the rest of us will never understand. Ms. Jentz stated that she notices this as early as 5:00 a.m., when she is out feeding her horses. Ms. Jentz noted that she is glad that she doesn’t live any closer to the current development, if Portage Prairie goes in, she asked is this what she has to look forward too? Ms. Jentz advised that she has been told a tale about how her property value will increase if this project goes in. Ms. Jentz stated that she has talked to numerous real estate agents who said this is not the case for residential land bordering a light industrial development, in fact they have told her to prepare to take a 30 to 40 percent reduction in the value of her land and home. Ms. Jentz stated that her home and land are a significant part of her retirement plan and as a single woman in her late forties she cannot afford to take a loss like the one she will experience if the development goes through. She planned of a retirement free of a mortgage, so she could afford food and heat. Mayflower Road is also a small county chip and sealed road that will not stand up to the kind of traffic Holladay has proposed. It is already falling apart because of the increased residential traffic. Ms. Jentz asked if Holladay is going to pay to rebuild it. It is insane to ask the residents of this County to again and again by private developers who make huge amounts of money to pay for roads that are needed for their projects. The time has come to tell these people no, we are already paying extremely high tax rates and if these developers want to put in these developments, its time to ask them to pay up or get out of the game. Ms. Jentz closed by asking the Council to listen to the people who have had the courage to speak tonight. She has petitions with almost eight hundred (800) names opposed to this development and a letter regarding the Mitchell Sader and the Karner Blue butterflies that she would like to make a part of the record. Mr. Bradley Kurzhal, 50901 Mayflower Road, South Bend, Indiana, advised that he attends school at St. John the Baptist. Mr. Kurzhal stated that he has lived at this address his entire life. He is the fifth generation in his family to live on this road. The land that Holladay Properties proposes to put offices and shopping on is his neighborhood. This is the best place to live, because he spends all of his free time playing outside with his friends. Sometimes he sets up a tent in the backyard and watch stars and bugs. He never has to go to a park, because he has the very same things in his backyard. He stated that they picnic and have campfires. If Holladay Properties moves in there will be a lot of noise pollution and crime. Mr. Kurzhal stated that he would not be able to enjoy the outdoors anymore. Mr. Kurzhal pleaded to the Council to think about what he has said. He asked the Council: What would you say if they built something around your house? Do the right thing and save my neighborhood.