Letters

Developer wouldn’t budge on project

I am writing in regard to the article published in The Spokesman-Review/Valley Voice on June 4.

I want to clarify why the neighbors surrounding St. John Vianney Catholic Church have stopped negotiations with the developer. The neighborhood was willing to negotiate and did meet with the developer to try and reach an agreement regarding the proposed development adjacent to the church. However, the meeting was a one-sided presentation by the developer who made it clear that a reduction in the density of the proposed complex was not negotiable.

Our neighborhood then made a unanimous decision to stop any further negotiation since the developer will not consider downsizing this project. Our neighborhood believes, as did the planning commission, the current zoning is appropriate and fits the neighborhood. We feel it’s unethical to manipulate the zoning requirements in any established residential neighborhood when an overwhelming majority of property owners living nearby are adamantly opposed to the change.

Our neighborhood is simply doing the right thing and doing what any neighborhood would do if faced with this type of zoning proposal. We will continue our struggle to stop this intrusive, oversized project. I’m proud that our neighborhood has always taken the high road on this issue and will continue to do so. We have come together as a team and will remain a team long after this issue is resolved.

Levi Strauss

North Valley Neighborhood Preservation Advocates