[Winona Online Democracy] John and others,
I would like to add to the discussion the fact that the zoning laws in Winona Township, prior to the annexation, did not allow this and the township was successful in getting people to donate to the township natural areas, public easements, park land and bluff areas so as to prohibit development when logic and long term visioning indicated potential problems and a better planning model. The township refused to use eminent domain powers to enable the road to be built past Garvin Heights Lookout as one example. It also restored one subdivision in the same general area back to a single parcel which to this day still only has one home. The council has yet to offer any data to support the need for more housing due to industrial growth in the city. The only logic provided thus far is that while population growth is flat the family units are smaller requiring more houses. The decline of an adult population ages 25 to 45, affordable housing for them and jobs that enable them to raise a family are not being addressed. How many new housing starts, full time living wage jobs are attributed the taxpayer's substantial investment in the Shakespeare Festival? Wouldn't it be a better to lower taxes thus increasing the purchasing power for all of us or to invest in those sectors which create full time jobs with hourly rates high enough to attract a new family to Winona? How many single family homes or industrial acres would be available if Westfield was made available for development and the Country Club made into the public golf course? Will the city use their eminent domain powers to convert Latch Island into high priced condo's country for the rich and retired as a better "public use" as being done by other cities? Some see the bluffs as a wall to climb, some a wall to contain but in either case without a long range public plan they serve no purpose except to impede consensus. Paul Double Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 12:03 PM This appears to be a quote taken out of context and/or really sloppy reporting or editing on the part of the Winona Daily News in today's article on the City Council's meeting last night. But what if it's not? G. Borzyskowski: "From here on out, all our development will be on bluffs, streams or sensitive land. We've got nowhere else to go." It seems to me that we have a lot of underutilized space, both residential and commercial/industrial, on the "island". But I guess it depends on whether or not your notion of development means big-city suburban type sprawl. John N. Finn _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
