Letters to the Editor 01-21-2000
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- LRC Petition - Sacred Institutions - Variance Opposed - School Security
LRC Petition
Editor, Times-Union:If LRC Products' "use variance" petition for Rolling Hills Subdivision which is before the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals is approved, why have a City Planner.
The City Planner gives the impression it is a "slam dunk" to deny a neighborhood of 66 residences the protection of R-1 zoning. When we invested in our property, we counted on the integrity of the R-1 residential zoning. Jeff Noffsinger, the City Planner, is supposed to be the umpire enforcing the city's zoning. This variance should have been thrown out at the outset. Evidently, Jeff Noffsinger, the umpire, has taken sides. His position would penalize the 66 homeowners who have depended on the residential zoning, in favor of LRC Products Inc. In sports we call that a fix.
The 66 homeowners in Rolling Hills neighborhood have paid high taxes because of that zoning. LRC Products Inc. should find property that is already zoned to fit their needs at their expense instead of the bonanza they would get by trying to change residential property to commercial. There are cases where zoning changes might be acceptable and the reason for a board of commissioners is to see that this is done properly and without hurting anyone. This is the primary reason for zoning. I hope that the board will view our plight with an open mind and not be led by the city planner's indication that this is a "slam dunk." If our City Planner is wide open to a zoning change that financially benefits one entity but is to the disadvantage of many others, why have zoning or a City Manager at all?
The general public would be paying for part of the LRC bonanza in the loss of taxes. As a former real estate broker, I am well aware of the loss of tax values due to the increased traffic and noise, the loss of curb appeal and the loss of the natural beauty of the area.
An R-1 residential zoning should have a #1 priority in any zone plan. It is our buffer area from the traffic of Detroit Street. It should be preserved as is. A zoning change would also be detrimental to the covenants that have been enforced since the beginning of Rolling Hills and would be injurious to the safety of our children.
Approval of this variance would be detrimental to the 66 Rolling Hills homeowners and to all residents of Warsaw who depend on the integrity of our city leaders.
Ken and Paula Stringer
Warsaw
Sacred Institutions
Editor, Times-Union:There are a few sacred institutions about the American way of life that have endured the test of time, rallied citizens through tenuous times and become the dream of millions around the world.
Home ownership is one of those institutions. It goes along with pride and self-determination. It is our respect of the past and belief in the future. It is, for most, a 30-year commitment.
Another of those institutions is a government comprised of everyday citizens. Elected or appointed to serve the interest of the majority, in a fair and impartial manner. Sound judgment, respect for individual rights and above all, effort for the common good, has made our system virtually unchanged for over 200 years.
Property owners of the Rolling Hills subdivision are faced with a rezoning request from LRC to encroach upon a residential neighborhood. The questions must be asked: Who profits from this request? Is it for the common good? Are the interests of the majority served?
Considering the impact on property values, the number of people and their families adversely affected by noise, traffic and the unsightly storage of building materials, it seems only obvious that this request be denied.
Greg Miller
Rolling Hills property owner
Warsaw
Variance Opposed
Editor, Times-Union:The officers and board members of the Rolling Hills Property Owners Association write this letter to voice our strong opposition to the granting of a "Use Variance" to LRC Products Inc. and to its Petition for Vacation of the Plat of Rolling Hills Subdivision 4. LRC Products Inc. wishes to use a portion of Subdivision 4 for the outside storage of building materials.
Rolling Hills has maintained its character over the past 25 years. Past and current homeowners appreciate Rolling Hills for its well-designed homes positioned amidst gently rolling hills, natural woodlands, blue heron nests and the lakes and ponds filled with fish on the shores of Center Lake. In short, it would be a travesty for a commercial business to encroach upon this neighborhood for the sake of economic growth. Other factors would include:
1. This property is zoned R-1 and the City Planners zoned it this way to protect the neighborhood from commercial encroachment from State Road 15.
2. LRC's current property is zoned C-2. Even this zoning does not permit outside storage of materials, yet they do so anyway. Now they wish to use R-1 property for the same.
3. Open storage of building materials will diminish the attractiveness of the subdivision and the view of Center Lake residents, and could adversely affect property values in Rolling Hills.
4. Granting the Plat Vacation and Use Variance will open the door for an access road off of Gilliam Drive, creating truck traffic and excessive noise within the subdivision.
Originally, the city planner (Mr. Jeff Noffsinger) recognized some of the factors noted above and recommended that the Board of Zoning Appeals deny the LRC petition. Now, Mr. Noffsinger changed his position and is an ardent supporter of granting LRC Products' petition. We're wondering what happened to change Mr. Noffsinger's mind? Rolling Hills homeowners plan to turn out in force to voice their concerns at Board of Zoning meeting this month and hope the Times-Union will be there to report on this proceeding.
Officers and Board Members
Rolling Hills Property
Owners Association
School Security
Editor, Times-Union:I am eighteen years old and currently a senior at WCHS. As many people know there has been great emphasis on school security in response to the all too common school shootings. To create a sense of security in our school, officials have stated that they are taking great precautions and spending incredible amounts of money on "securing" our school. I used the phrase "create a sense" because that is exactly what they did. In my opinion our school is no safer this year then it was my frosh year. And now we have a full-time police officer that roams the halls. I base a great deal of my opinion on the event that took place on Monday, January 17th. My cousin, who is from Kokomo, stayed the weekend at my house and did not have school on Monday in observance of MLK day. When he was heading home, South on U.S. 15, he decided that it would be fun to come into our school during lunch. He was not aware of our "high tech security." He proceeded to walk into the doors by Paul Crousore's office, where he was under video surveillance. He then walked down the hall and found his way to the cafeteria and started wandering around trying to find someone he knew. This whole time he was wearing a mid-thigh length black leather trench coat, which is "illegal" to wear in our "high security" school. After finding me and some friends he got some food and ate with us. After we ate we were in the hallway when Paul Crousore walked by and said hello, not saying anything to him about who he was or why he had a coat on. No more than a minute later Dr. Brumfield came up and carried on a short conversation with us standing no more than 6 inches from him and directing some of her comments to him. Later as we were leaving we passed Officer Morales who failed to say anything about who he was or what he was doing. My point in this letter is to prove that our school is not so invader-proof as some people have led us to believe. Again in my opinion, if we (and this is we, because I also pay taxes) are going to pay for full-time police officers and video surveillance, we should either actually "use" them or let the officer go back to the street and hock the video equipment at the local pawn shop.
Micah LeMasters
via e-mail
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- LRC Petition - Sacred Institutions - Variance Opposed - School Security
LRC Petition
Editor, Times-Union:If LRC Products' "use variance" petition for Rolling Hills Subdivision which is before the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals is approved, why have a City Planner.
The City Planner gives the impression it is a "slam dunk" to deny a neighborhood of 66 residences the protection of R-1 zoning. When we invested in our property, we counted on the integrity of the R-1 residential zoning. Jeff Noffsinger, the City Planner, is supposed to be the umpire enforcing the city's zoning. This variance should have been thrown out at the outset. Evidently, Jeff Noffsinger, the umpire, has taken sides. His position would penalize the 66 homeowners who have depended on the residential zoning, in favor of LRC Products Inc. In sports we call that a fix.
The 66 homeowners in Rolling Hills neighborhood have paid high taxes because of that zoning. LRC Products Inc. should find property that is already zoned to fit their needs at their expense instead of the bonanza they would get by trying to change residential property to commercial. There are cases where zoning changes might be acceptable and the reason for a board of commissioners is to see that this is done properly and without hurting anyone. This is the primary reason for zoning. I hope that the board will view our plight with an open mind and not be led by the city planner's indication that this is a "slam dunk." If our City Planner is wide open to a zoning change that financially benefits one entity but is to the disadvantage of many others, why have zoning or a City Manager at all?
The general public would be paying for part of the LRC bonanza in the loss of taxes. As a former real estate broker, I am well aware of the loss of tax values due to the increased traffic and noise, the loss of curb appeal and the loss of the natural beauty of the area.
An R-1 residential zoning should have a #1 priority in any zone plan. It is our buffer area from the traffic of Detroit Street. It should be preserved as is. A zoning change would also be detrimental to the covenants that have been enforced since the beginning of Rolling Hills and would be injurious to the safety of our children.
Approval of this variance would be detrimental to the 66 Rolling Hills homeowners and to all residents of Warsaw who depend on the integrity of our city leaders.
Ken and Paula Stringer
Warsaw
Sacred Institutions
Editor, Times-Union:There are a few sacred institutions about the American way of life that have endured the test of time, rallied citizens through tenuous times and become the dream of millions around the world.
Home ownership is one of those institutions. It goes along with pride and self-determination. It is our respect of the past and belief in the future. It is, for most, a 30-year commitment.
Another of those institutions is a government comprised of everyday citizens. Elected or appointed to serve the interest of the majority, in a fair and impartial manner. Sound judgment, respect for individual rights and above all, effort for the common good, has made our system virtually unchanged for over 200 years.
Property owners of the Rolling Hills subdivision are faced with a rezoning request from LRC to encroach upon a residential neighborhood. The questions must be asked: Who profits from this request? Is it for the common good? Are the interests of the majority served?
Considering the impact on property values, the number of people and their families adversely affected by noise, traffic and the unsightly storage of building materials, it seems only obvious that this request be denied.
Greg Miller
Rolling Hills property owner
Warsaw
Variance Opposed
Editor, Times-Union:The officers and board members of the Rolling Hills Property Owners Association write this letter to voice our strong opposition to the granting of a "Use Variance" to LRC Products Inc. and to its Petition for Vacation of the Plat of Rolling Hills Subdivision 4. LRC Products Inc. wishes to use a portion of Subdivision 4 for the outside storage of building materials.
Rolling Hills has maintained its character over the past 25 years. Past and current homeowners appreciate Rolling Hills for its well-designed homes positioned amidst gently rolling hills, natural woodlands, blue heron nests and the lakes and ponds filled with fish on the shores of Center Lake. In short, it would be a travesty for a commercial business to encroach upon this neighborhood for the sake of economic growth. Other factors would include:
1. This property is zoned R-1 and the City Planners zoned it this way to protect the neighborhood from commercial encroachment from State Road 15.
2. LRC's current property is zoned C-2. Even this zoning does not permit outside storage of materials, yet they do so anyway. Now they wish to use R-1 property for the same.
3. Open storage of building materials will diminish the attractiveness of the subdivision and the view of Center Lake residents, and could adversely affect property values in Rolling Hills.
4. Granting the Plat Vacation and Use Variance will open the door for an access road off of Gilliam Drive, creating truck traffic and excessive noise within the subdivision.
Originally, the city planner (Mr. Jeff Noffsinger) recognized some of the factors noted above and recommended that the Board of Zoning Appeals deny the LRC petition. Now, Mr. Noffsinger changed his position and is an ardent supporter of granting LRC Products' petition. We're wondering what happened to change Mr. Noffsinger's mind? Rolling Hills homeowners plan to turn out in force to voice their concerns at Board of Zoning meeting this month and hope the Times-Union will be there to report on this proceeding.
Officers and Board Members
Rolling Hills Property
Owners Association
School Security
Editor, Times-Union:I am eighteen years old and currently a senior at WCHS. As many people know there has been great emphasis on school security in response to the all too common school shootings. To create a sense of security in our school, officials have stated that they are taking great precautions and spending incredible amounts of money on "securing" our school. I used the phrase "create a sense" because that is exactly what they did. In my opinion our school is no safer this year then it was my frosh year. And now we have a full-time police officer that roams the halls. I base a great deal of my opinion on the event that took place on Monday, January 17th. My cousin, who is from Kokomo, stayed the weekend at my house and did not have school on Monday in observance of MLK day. When he was heading home, South on U.S. 15, he decided that it would be fun to come into our school during lunch. He was not aware of our "high tech security." He proceeded to walk into the doors by Paul Crousore's office, where he was under video surveillance. He then walked down the hall and found his way to the cafeteria and started wandering around trying to find someone he knew. This whole time he was wearing a mid-thigh length black leather trench coat, which is "illegal" to wear in our "high security" school. After finding me and some friends he got some food and ate with us. After we ate we were in the hallway when Paul Crousore walked by and said hello, not saying anything to him about who he was or why he had a coat on. No more than a minute later Dr. Brumfield came up and carried on a short conversation with us standing no more than 6 inches from him and directing some of her comments to him. Later as we were leaving we passed Officer Morales who failed to say anything about who he was or what he was doing. My point in this letter is to prove that our school is not so invader-proof as some people have led us to believe. Again in my opinion, if we (and this is we, because I also pay taxes) are going to pay for full-time police officers and video surveillance, we should either actually "use" them or let the officer go back to the street and hock the video equipment at the local pawn shop.
Micah LeMasters
via e-mail
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