[Winona Online Democracy] Thanks Phil for your comments. I understand that you are a developer and look at things a little differently than I and some others do. However not everything is black and white as you purpose. Either people live in the cities, or live on farms? I highly disagree, there is lots of room for gray area. Do you then purpose we do away with all our townships and that people only have the choice of farm or city? If we only offer high density living to people we take away choices and lifestyles. If people do not have a choice of lifestyles within a growing area, we will loose them, they will go elsewhere to find that area.. There are hundreds of people a day moving out of cities to get away from the chaos city life has. Now, I realize that many people like and thrive in this chaos. I do not judge their lifestyle because this is what they choose. But what about the hundreds a day who choose not to live this way. There must be a balance and there certainly must be choices.
Regarding the traffic issues you raise, spreading, lets say 1000 people over a 10 mile area versus a 2 mile area, certainly disperses the traffic differently, offers alternative routes and changes the time table of traffic congestion. If we travel all the way up Hwy 17 to Witoka, people have the option to cut across to Hwy 90 or down another smaller Cty Hwy (it may be 15). Hwy 17 is just one option in 3. Now if you have all 1000 people coming from the lower end of Hwy 17 they will all travel Hwy 17 rather than back tracking Your logic on traffic density fails to click with me, but I admit this is not my level of expertise, only my level of experience through living. Also, regarding property owners who buy outside the city limits creating an environment they do not want anyone else to share, this is directly opposite of what us "country folk" want. On the contrary, this is exactly what we want. We want people to experience the country life and share this with us, if this is the lifestyle they choose. However, if you build a "city", in the "country", there no longer is the "country", is there? You take a way the choice of lifestyle. You take a way the potential for growth and a quality of life that other may enjoy, including those who are leaving the city to try and live in less denser areas. Most of my neighbors own 1-4 acres each. We are not opposed to even 1/2 acre lots to maintain the lifestyle we have chosen. We are not saying "no growth". Growth can occur in less dense developments, just in a different manner. I have read your editorial and comments on this site regarding "high density" areas being more economical and so forth. Money should not be the primary issue. Quality of life in Winona should be. Offering choices should be. Growth will happen, hopefully it will happen with lifestyle options, balance and safety in mind. Also, just one last question to you Phil, and being new to this site, I don't know if this is a correct question or not, I will leave it up to you to answer or not answer. I believe you have been hired by the city of Winona in the past as a consultant, I am wondering if they have hired you on the Hwy 17 Annexation? Janice Turek _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
