North Greenacres Neighborhood

Keeping the Green - Needs you on the Team

Apr 12, 2005

America wasn't built in a day. Houses didn't just spring up like they do today. We have been fortunate that we have a good life but the state's Growth Management Act is forcing all urban development to stay within the city limits. Suburbs have been outlawed as sprawl. If there is to be any quality of life - we must recognize what we want to see around us as city life encroaches next to our homes.

We can still bake brownies, grow a garden, play basketball but a sacrifice of time is needed to leave a legacy. Without a plan - there won't be room to build anything into our community - it will be over.

Some have wondered why the city doesn't just take care of us. Why do services and needs of a neighborhood require a grassroots movement? That's a good question. All funds from City, State and Federal are in short demand. We have to be included on a six year plan for a road to be improved or you have to form your own special district and pay for it independently as a street. We have to really ask ourselves what is important and what do we want to pay for. There isn't time or room to be passive.

New Committees will be starting to address writing a Neighborhood Plan. They will be considering all the issues the city plans for. We give a detailed approach - they provide big goals. Transportation is a big issue. A committee is going to be formed to study, solve and suggest solutions to the city.

Land Use, Economic Development, Housing and Capital Facilities, These are all the next steps that we must address as we move forward in taking responsibility for shaping and protecting where we have invested the most - our homes and our lives.

We have a timeline and will work to bring this quickly before the Planning Commission. The City Council decided on March 8th that this is where they want all comments to be brought at this time.

There is something for everyone to do. If you don't go out - you could make phone calls and remind people of meetings. Research needs to be gathered. Other times we need a crowd to just come and physically show report, "Count our Feet."

Our Planning Committee has held over eighteen meetings large and small since we started December 29th. We have the unusual opportunity to help shape the Comprehensive Plan that the city will follow in all their decisions.

We have spent days and nights reading and responding to what we believe is needed to preserve the character at the city level. Policies and goals that reflect our interests.

Now we start the fun of actually writing our Neighborhood plan. Many times we don't believe we have a talent. You'd be surprised that when there's a need - a gift will spring up out of you.

We're in this together - I love my neighborhood even more than when I started. We still have room to dream. Let make it a big dream.

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Email: maryp@icehouse.net