Editor, Times-Union: There are a number of issues to consider besides money when determining what is "best for a city." Priorities define a community, and I am very pleased to live in one which seems to have priorities which are not wholly coupled to money matters. A standard of living includes a pace of life, a contentment with the population density, a sense of pride in the way your community looks, a sense of belonging to a community of people, a sense of peace with where you live. Does having another large discount-type department store complex enhance any of those aspects of life in Warsaw? I don't think so, in fact, I think they would all be adversely affected by another huge shopping center along U.S. 30. Why is it considered "good" that a bunch of people from Columbia City and Plymouth come here to shop. Let's go there and shop-clog their streets, pollute their air and make general nuisances of ourselves in their town. Maybe the residents of Syracuse would consider it "good" if we all started going up there to shop.
The fine editor of our Times-Union said, "I don't think the plan commission acted in the best interests of the city of Warsaw." If Warsaw as a city has only traffic signals and tax revenues as a primary concern or "interest" I would agree with him. But there is more to consider when determining what kind of community a people desire. Why does our editor choose to live in the nice countrified air of the Syracuse area (for that matter why do I choose to live out in the country as I do)? Because we want a certain style of life. I think those are very legitimate interests that need to be taken into consideration when deciding issues like the Meijer's rezoning request and the changes such a move would create in the community.
If I could make a suggestion (which I know will never happen because businesses do have money as a top priority), Meijer's should buy the building Wal-Mart is abandoning, for greener pastures (literally). Of course, Wal-Mart can't afford to sell it to a competitor. So in the future we are probably going to have a huge empty hulk of a shopping center out on the east side of town. Remember how long the Market Place was dormant. So I would like to slow Mr. Gerard down just a little in his praise of the commercial businesses as great community lovers. They can and often do many fine things for a community, but the bottom line for any business does remain the top priority. I for one hope Warsaw as a community continues to set its sights a little higher.
Ben Scripture Warsaw via e-mail
Volunteer Week
Editor, Times-Union: Volunteer Week reminds us once again of how grateful we are for the wonderful folks who help us at the Old Jail Museum.
From reception area to gift shop to tour guide to research library, you'll see their faces when you visit us, and you can join us in giving them all a heartfelt "Thank You."
Jeanne E. Jones, director Reta Groves, volunteer coordinator
No NIMBY Here
Editor, Times-Union: I read with much interest your News Views column in Saturday's Times-Union. My name in Larry Buckmaster and my home is located on Patterson Road. I have a couple of things to point out to you.
Number one: I am not a NIMBY! I am a NIMFY (not in my front yard), for that is where the Meijer store would be if the rezoning is approved.
Another point I would like to make is that you don't live in Warsaw, so therefore, what gives you the right to say what is good for Warsaw and to call those of us opposed to the rezoning names?
You call Meijer a good neighbor. If they are such a good neighbor, why wasn't buffering included in their proposed site plan for the south side of the property? We are only six families living on the south side of the property, so I have to assume that in Meijer's eyes it doesn't matter what they do and how it might affect us and our homes. Let me ask you, Mr. Gerard, would a good neighbor put a gasoline station/convenience store in your front yard and then do nothing to shield or protect you from the noise and lighting? I think not.
Third point: The traffic problem at Parker Street and Dubois and Parker Street/Husky Trail/Patterson Road didn't happen overnight. Why does it take somebody like Meijer to come to Warsaw to solve a local problem? Using that analogy, we have another traffic problem at Argonne and Jefferson Street. Who do you propose we entice to come to Warsaw to solve that problem? If Meijer is truly committed to having a store in Warsaw, I believe they will find another location better suited to their needs. As for you, Mr. Gerard, I think you are looking at this rezoning issue through rose-colored glasses.
Final point: This rezoning issue isn't really based on Meijer coming to Warsaw. It is based on greed and the almighty dollar and somebody getting richer. Oh yes, to the Meijer folks, just like in the movie "Field of Dreams," find another location and build and they will come.
Larry Buckmaster Warsaw
Fuming About Meijer
Editor, Times-Union: I read with interest Gary Gerard's New Views Saturday morning and I found it to be very informative and was nearly fuming at the end of the article. I am one of those people who love shopping at Meijer's and drive to the Goshen store to do my shopping as it was built two milesÊfrom our home before we moved to Warsaw. Even with the high price of gas it pays me to go out of town to Meijer's because I save a lot of money over the prices here in town. You are right to say competition is good. We all know that.Ê
I attended several EDIT meetings and heard the story "we need the EDIT tax in order to let this city grow." Now we have the tax forced upon us and the chance to grow and a few "representatives" put a screeching haltÊto it. I also attended the zoning meeting Monday night. When Joe Thallemer said everyone would get their chance to speak, he apparently did not mean everyone! The first gentlemen that got up to speak in favor of Meijer's was a gentleman from Leesburg. When he gave his address Mr. Thallemer said he was out of the area and it didn't pertain to him. When he tried to further speak Mr. Thallemer YELLED to him that he was out of order and made him take his seat, embarrassing him in front of a large crowd. I felt this was very rude from a city representative, especially when it was not previously stated beforehand that only people who owned property in the residential area affected could speak. Mr. Thallemer is wrong! This DOES affect everyone, not just those in the immediate vicinity. When I left the meeting I could sympathize with the property owners and accepted the decision without question. Now that I read Gary's article and see the map of how Meijer's was reconstructing the area it opens my eyes to more of what happened at that zoning meeting. People were asking to see theÊmap that Mr. Snyder (Meijer's attorney) had brought forth.Ê When a lady in the crowd began passing this map for all to view, Mr. Thallemer vehemently voiced his opinion that he thought the passing of the map was disrupting the meeting and put a stop to that also. Could it be that he was afraidÊpeople might change their opinion if they saw this map? I know I certainly have.
ÊIt was stated at the meeting several times and also in Gary's article that part of this land is already zoned for commercial use and sooner or later it will be developed, which means traffic will be increased and roads rerouted at taxpayer's expense. I can imagine the strong opposition to this after hearing the arguments against the EDIT tax. This EDIT tax is minute compared to the cost of restructuring this area to the taxpayers in the future. It is ludicrous to let this happen when we have the opportunity for Meijer's to stand the expense of it.
ÊIf you haven't read Gary's column, I URGE you to read it, get all the facts, then try to talk some sense into your city council members before their final vote Monday night to override the zoning board's decision or be there at the meeting to voice your opinion.Ê This could be our last chance ...
Linda Berger Warsaw via e-mail
Battle Flag
Editor, Times-Union: In April 1861, a group of friends in California were having a party. It wasn't a happy party. It was a farewell party. Three of those men were Lewis Armistead, Richard Garrnet and Winfield Hancock. They had been friends for 20 years. Armistead and Hancock had become closer than most brothers. Now they were going back East and had no idea when or if they would see each other again.
At around 4 p.m. on July 3, 1863, troops under Armistead and Garrnet seriously wounded Hancock and troops under Hancock killed both Armistead and Garrnet.
The war raged for four horrible years and before it was over hundreds of such tragedies had occurred. Friends killing friends. Brothers killing brothers. Fathers sending sons to their death in a meat grinder of the first modern war. Before it was over 620,000 Americans were dead and hundreds of thousands had been wounded and maimed. And for what?
Well, the South said it was for states' rights; the North said for the preservation of union. But the bottom line was if there had been no slavery there would have been no war.
139 years down the road and the argument continues. South Carolina flies their battle flag. Part of their heritage, they claim. Should Germany be proud of the swastika? It's part of their heritage.
We can't forget. We must never forget, but does that mean we should be proud? If you do maybe you should review your ideas on human bondage.
Harold Kitson Warsaw
Land-Use Issues
Editor, Times-Union: First of all I want to express that for years I have followed your Saturday morning column with great anticipation, and sincere appreciation for your ability to "paint the picture" of many of the issues that face Kosciusko County and the nation. I must say that I am aligned with most of your comments. But on April 15th you brought to the attention of all Warsaw and Kosciusko County residents with your most recent "News Views" the rezoning request that will be decided tonight at the council chambers. But it is unfortunate that you have not acquired all of the details surrounding the facts in respect to the rezoning issue at 900 Husky Trail before you wrote your Saturday morning edition.
First of all the issue of as you said the plan commission, "acted in the best interest of the NIMBYs." This is hardly the case, Gary; the petitioner for the developer presented their request to the board with the guidance of the best local "real-estate attorney." With someone as skilled and proficient at addressing issues surrounding rezoning, they covered about every conceivable and debatable concern that could have obstructed the passage of this request. In doing this they lead the commission beyond the "NIMBY" effect.
Next the comment we have heard too many times and repeated in your article "We have no other land options in Warsaw." I don't believe it prudent to give you the names of people who (private and government) know what is available and that discussions between Meijer and other property owners/developers have taken place, and that "misinformation" has been given to the public about these other locations. They do have other strategic choices that would provide consistent zoning, and the needed buffering and supporting infrastructure, i.e., roads, sewer and water.
"NIMBY" folks concerns about traffic that you talked about. Gary, we must research in more depth beyond the Meijer presentation from sources such as INDOT and our local sources. The first point is Meijer selected the certified firm and paid for the study (which was professional prepared). As far as "exhaustive," yes, but only on a micro scale. This study did not go out into the effects on the arterial roads that feed and that support the traffic flow into this specific area, and did not make adjustments for summer "laker" traffic increases. This is a big issue when Kosciusko County has somewhere around 72,000 plus or minus residents, and with only 12,000 plus or minus Warsaw residents. One of the fastest growing corridors in the county is the area between Warsaw and Syracuse, which the conduit being county roads such as 100E, 450N and so on, which are already overburdened. Meijer's contribution to "relieving" the traffic problems at Husky Trail, Patterson Road and Parker Street, is very minimal at best. They selected this site because of traffic flow, cost of land and development cost, very prudent on their part but unfortunately nonconforming R-1 zoning in place currently (rezoning request would place C-5 zoning next to R-1, without buffering). They in many other cases would spend significantly more to develop at other alternative sites.
And yes, your comment about Joe Thallmer. Joe did have an informational meeting at the church for the public. I believe if you would have attended the plan commission meeting you would have said that Joe walked down a very thin line to not be biased, and made his decision on facts, not the "NIMBY" influence. Joe should vote in the best interest of the city, and I am sure he will. If there is a "conflict of interest concern" maybe it is whether or not the Times-Union would benefit from advertising dollars from the Meijer?
It is time the city of Warsaw and the Kosciusko County planners take the "long look" in their land use issues. The Meijer issue is only a small part of the much larger problem facing this city and county and our future.
Kip and Pam Tom Warsaw via e-mail
Unwanted
Editor, Times-Union: I say it is a good thing that, as you put it, sir, "it's tough to force yourself on people who act like they don't want you."
