Neighbors' concerns ignored

We live on Meadowlark Lane half a block east and below Tamarck Ridge which is a new area John Collins and his son Ian plan to develop.

They came to the city council Oct. 21 asking for a zone change so they could more than double the number of homes the property was originally zoned for.

Property owners from Old Town, Icehouse Ridge, Haugen Heights and Meadowlark Lane came to ask the council not to approve a zone change.

They came with estimates from the city about the projected number of vehicles that would use Haugen Heights Road daily to access the development after completion. That number was 360 plus. That is a lot of cars through a neighborhood of mostly young families with children and pets. The road is narrow and has a steep incline to Tamarack Ridge. It is indeed a concern for safety.

Tamarack Ridge has a lovely meadow, old growth trees and a large animal habitat. It also has many natural springs and a high water table.

The engineer hired by Collins told me the day he was measuring and surveying that the area had a high water table. My neighbor was present during the discussion.

After comments and much researched information from the concerned neighbors, former mayor Mike Jensen stood to influence the council by expounding about the sterling character of the Collins and encouraging the council to approve the zone change.

John Collins then stood and told the council the information from the people of the neighborhood that will be impacted was blown out of porportion.

I can assure the developer the fears of homeowners below the development about flooding are well founded.

The spring before last a builder was digging a foundation on a lot above us. The lot is adjacent to the property to be developed. I told the builder who was operating his equipment that he was digging out a natural spring. He said, “Sure seems real wet.”

The following spring after construction was completed we were flooded as water had been diverted onto the lots above us and a gush of water was running down Meadowlark Lane over the boulavard and sidewalks onto the lots above us.

It took two days to pump out our crawl space. The repair and loss of stored items was expensive. New insullation, new vapor barrier, labor and new sump pump did not come cheap.

Were the people heard?

The zone change was granted.