Retaining our Open Landscape is Sustainable

We must work with private and government interests to retain the undeveloped areas of our community. To further encumber our environment and natural ecosystems with additional sprawl development will further condemn us and our children's future. We must plan for our future and carry out sustainable discussions we had portrayed in the Master Plan of the late 1990's.

Recently, we heard the uprising of our citizens in the western neighborhoods complain about over development, traffic congestion, flooding issues, and overall concern of further deterioration of our environment. I fully agree that we need to move on this issue.

Preservation of our open spaces depend on legislation action by our City Council to enact what we have already articulated in our City Master Plan. A collaboration with the school districts, park district, and our private country clubs will move forward zoning changes that will give us more certainty of retaining a great majority of these open spaces.

It is also incumbent of our citizenry to fully participate in these hearings and discussion to cause the implementation of these zoning changes. We can't be satisfied with just complaining about new development proposals as they are put forward under existing laws using a NIMBY approach. We must have a holistic approach that is community wide and fair to all parties. We must also allow the time for all interests involved to testify on this matter so we can determine the best zoning amendments to facilitate open space retention. The public needs to get involved in this matter to communicate with the City Council how important these sustainable issue are to the future of this community.

Clean water, clean air, survival of native species, flooding issues, public safety, sustainable economics of our government operations are all tied into our future development planning of our community. These issues are important and deserve your voice. Please comment......