I have a developer that makes Mr. Potter from "It's a Wonderful Life" look like Kermit the Frog. this guy wanted to put a 200 unit apartment complex dead center in the middle of a quiet, established residential neighborhood with no access, no parks, and no drainage. This would have added 900 cars a day to a street that is crowded with young students walking to three schools. Everyone else's property values, safety, and noise levels be damned. He even told people that had bought his houses next to the development that they would have a single family neighborhood behind them (lie)
Well...my mother taught me to fight for what I believe in and fight for my family. Our entire subdivision mobilized, petitioned, won the Planning and Zoning Comission battle and finally...
Stoabs denied College Boulevard zone change
By Kurt Madar The Daily Times
Posted: 08/11/2011 12:48:45 AM MDT
FARMINGTON — Developer Craig Stoabs is having a hard time building apartments.
At a City Council meeting Tuesday, packed with neighbors angered by his plan to build a 100-unit apartment building at the intersection of College Boulevard and Victoria Way, Stoabs presented the first phase of his project.
After nearly three hours of testimony from both Stoabs and the neighbors seeking to block the development, the Council voted unanimously to deny the petition.
As the vote was called, the audience burst into spontaneous applause.
This is the second time city officials have denied Stoabs' attempts at creating large apartment complexes along College Boulevard.
The first attempt, denied in June and being challenged in circuit court, was a good enough reason for one councilor to deny the developer's second rezoning request.
"We had a ruling here at this Council, and you appealed that decision," Councilor Dan Darnell said. "If we give you approval on this (new) site, and the appeal goes through, would you still build apartments up there?"
Stoabs reassured the Council that he would not build apartments at the previous site.
"I'm not sure what to say or what not to say," he said. "But if I was able to put the apartments down here, I probably would not continue with that appeal at that time."
The litany of worries from neighbors regarding Stoabs' second proposed apartment complex were very familiar; as were claims that the developer sold houses without
telling potential buyers of his plans for multi-family units.
Worries ran the gamut from apartments ruining views and lowering property values to increased traffic changing the quiet nature of the neighborhoods. The more than 20 people who addressed the Council submitted letters and went door-to-door collecting signatures against the proposal.
The most common complaint revolved around what some neighbors called dishonest business practices.
"Residents of this neighborhood have paid a lot of money for these houses, for them to be spread out," said Bryce Hunter, whose house is across the street from Stoabs' last proposed development off Messina Way. "Many of us would not have made such a significant investment if we had known there were going to be apartments across the street."
Stoabs categorically denies the allegations that his firm sold houses under false pretenses. He claims multi-family housing was always part of his plans.
"We've done this master plan in a very organized way," Stoabs told the Council. "I think this will be another nice addition to the Silver Ridge area. We want office and multi-family around the perimeter. You wouldn't want to put single-family zoning on College Boulevard, it would be unsafe having driveways backing out onto that street."
Stoabs also responded Tuesday to comments from the audience.
"We need apartments in Farmington," he said. "But as we all know, whenever an apartment complex comes up in Farmington, people come out and protest. At some point, we have to come out and quit doing that. We need these apartments."
Stoabs' opponents argued he was more worried about his bottom line.
"He's got number crunchers," said neighbor Derek Rawson. "You're sitting on this property, what can you do? You're not making any money because houses aren't selling, so what can you do to make money? Build rentals. That's the truth of what's really going on here."
Rawson had another worry that went unaddressed, he said.
"I live at the bottom of Porter Arroyo," he said. "If that water had been any higher last August, my house would have washed away. If these apartments get built, the impervious surfaces will create more runoff. The whole development hasn't got a proper hydrological plan."
Ultimately, councilors denied Stoabs' petition but said they are willing to reconsider the issue if he submits a planned development petition with a master plan.
Stoabs denied College Boulevard zone change - Farmington Daily Times
Vindicated! Even if he decides to spend the thousands of dollars a master plan would cost, we'll all be back to fight him again!
My Dumbledore's Army Defeats Voldemort!
My Dumbledore's Army Defeats Voldemort!
Well...my mother taught me to fight for what I believe in and fight for my family. Our entire subdivision mobilized, petitioned, won the Planning and Zoning Comission battle and finally...
You're a goddamn Bolshevik.
You're a goddamn Bolshevik.
My Dumbledore's Army Defeats Voldemort!
Scrat;1364853 wrote: You're a goddamn Bolshevik.
Heh. Thanks. I love fighting City Hall and winning.
Heh. Thanks. I love fighting City Hall and winning.
My Dumbledore's Army Defeats Voldemort!
this guy wanted to put a 200 unit apartment complex
his plan to build a 100-unit apartment building
???
his plan to build a 100-unit apartment building
???
My Dumbledore's Army Defeats Voldemort!
SnoozeAgain;1364951 wrote: ???
That was just his "Phase 1" , he had another 123 units next to it planned for Phase 2, and his previous "old folks home" is now a condo complex so who know what he'd really do.. Once a zone is rezoned "multi-family" without a master plan, the developer can put anything he wants to on it up to and including a trailer park.
That was just his "Phase 1" , he had another 123 units next to it planned for Phase 2, and his previous "old folks home" is now a condo complex so who know what he'd really do.. Once a zone is rezoned "multi-family" without a master plan, the developer can put anything he wants to on it up to and including a trailer park.