Regarding the second hideous version of Chapel Ridge, which was unanimously voted down by the planning and zoning board, it has been brought to our attention that developer Brian Mertz has employed some phony letter writing campaign. Allegedly, someone on Mertz's team (Tabb Reese?) has created some generic form letters, is taking them around to various places to have people sign them (friends of the developer, real estate offices, etc.?), and is sending them to Dan Erickson to make it look like there is widespread support for Chapel Ridge. Hopefully, the county commissioners will be able to see through this scam, and realize that nearly everyone in the vicinity of the proposed Chapel Ridge is against it. Unlike Mertz's buddies set to profit from Chapel Ridge, our property values and quality of life will be devastated, and our lives and children's lives will be put at risk by the extreme doubling of traffic on K Highway and surrounding roads. Stop Chapel Ridge!
Get involved today.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Chapel Ridge goes before the County Commissioners
Developer Brian Mertz's PR (planned residential) version of Chapel Ridge (which was unanimously voted down by the planning and zoning board on Nov. 12) will now go before the county commissioners.
Meeting info: Monday, Dec. 2, 10:00 AM, County Commission Meeting Room, Platte County Administration Building, 415 Third Street, Platte City, MO. Please attend.
Let's hope that the county commissioners will side with maintaining the safety and charm of this area of Platte County, and not with some short-sighted Ponzi scheme that's completely incompatible with this area and will devastate the local property values and quality of life.
Get involved today.
Meeting info: Monday, Dec. 2, 10:00 AM, County Commission Meeting Room, Platte County Administration Building, 415 Third Street, Platte City, MO. Please attend.
Let's hope that the county commissioners will side with maintaining the safety and charm of this area of Platte County, and not with some short-sighted Ponzi scheme that's completely incompatible with this area and will devastate the local property values and quality of life.
Get involved today.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Second version of Chapel Ridge unanimously voted down by P&Z Board!
Last night, Nov. 12, the Platte County Planning and Zoning board unanimously, 7 - 0, voted down developer Brian Mertz's second Chapel Ridge proposal (the PR, planned residential, version), which was barely different from his first version.
Some reasons it was voted down:
(1) Potential flooding of surrounding areas and the destruction of local waterways, such as lakes.
(2) The doubling of traffic for surrounding area, which will cost lives.
and
(3) In terms of density, Chapel Ridge is completely incompatible with the surrounding area.
Regarding density, although the PR Chapel Ridge's "gross density" is 2.51 homes per acre (as this includes streets, flood retention structures, etc.), Chapel Ridge's real density is over 6 homes per acre. Some lots are only 7,150 ft. in size.
Here are a couple great slides the opposition used last night to illustrate the incongruity of Chapel Ridge to surrounding area.
Some reasons it was voted down:
(1) Potential flooding of surrounding areas and the destruction of local waterways, such as lakes.
(2) The doubling of traffic for surrounding area, which will cost lives.
and
(3) In terms of density, Chapel Ridge is completely incompatible with the surrounding area.
Regarding density, although the PR Chapel Ridge's "gross density" is 2.51 homes per acre (as this includes streets, flood retention structures, etc.), Chapel Ridge's real density is over 6 homes per acre. Some lots are only 7,150 ft. in size.
Here are a couple great slides the opposition used last night to illustrate the incongruity of Chapel Ridge to surrounding area.
The matter will now go before the County Commissioners. Let's just hope that the County Commissioners have to good sense to side with truth and long-term vision to maintain this area's charm, rather than siding with the short-sighted greed and poor planning of a developer.
Let's support responsible development. If land is to be developed, it should be rezoned to R-80 (to compliment surrounding area) and no lots smaller than 1 acre should be permitted.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Revisions to Chapel Ridge: Still the same hideous Chapel Ridge
On Oct. 30, Brian Mertz submitted a new plat plan [PDF], with minor revisions to his recent PR (planned residential) zoning request for the Nov. 12 meeting. It's still the same monstrous high-density plan, with just a few changes. In fact, this version is barely different from the R7 version, which the Planning and Zoning board unanimously rejected on Sept. 10.
Some facts about the updated Chapel Ridge:
- Unlike the first Chapel Ridge (seeking R7 zoning), this version is seeking PR (planned residential) zoning.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 is only 5.2% less dense than first version.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 crams 359 houses onto 143 acres.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 will result in the likely flooding of surrounding areas.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 will cause an extreme increase (over doubling) of traffic on K Highway.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 will cause the destruction of wildlife habitat, etc.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 will cause the lowering of the quality of life and property values for the surrounding area.
- Although the "gross density" is 2.51 homes per acre (as this includes streets, flood retention structures, etc.), Chapel Ridge's real density can reach as high as nearly 6 homes per acre. Some lots are only 7,150 ft. in size.
- PR (planned residential) zoning could be even more extreme than R7, as this is the zoning often used for multi-family housing. Although Brian Mertz is seeking single family PR, his plan could later be amended to a higher density, or even to include multi-family housing.
- The hundreds of students this proposal will bring to Union Chapel almost certainly will result in a drastic redistricting of Union Chapel.
- The plan does not comply with the Platte County Land Use Plan. It is not compatible in character, density or scale to the surrounding neighborhoods. It will disrupt the stability of our area and destroy the rural charm that we sought in moving here.
- If this plan is approved, it clears the way for more of the same which will result in greatly compounded impacts in the community, and an unsustainable drain on public resources.
- If area is to be rezoned, it should be rezoned to R80 to compliment surrounding area. Lots should be 1 - 3 acres with no lots smaller than 1 acre permitted.
In short, say No to PR (planned residential) zoning. It's wrong for our area. Contact the Planning and Zoning board and the county commissioners today.
Some facts about the updated Chapel Ridge:
- Unlike the first Chapel Ridge (seeking R7 zoning), this version is seeking PR (planned residential) zoning.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 is only 5.2% less dense than first version.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 crams 359 houses onto 143 acres.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 will result in the likely flooding of surrounding areas.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 will cause an extreme increase (over doubling) of traffic on K Highway.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 will cause the destruction of wildlife habitat, etc.
- Chapel Ridge 2.0 will cause the lowering of the quality of life and property values for the surrounding area.
- Although the "gross density" is 2.51 homes per acre (as this includes streets, flood retention structures, etc.), Chapel Ridge's real density can reach as high as nearly 6 homes per acre. Some lots are only 7,150 ft. in size.
- PR (planned residential) zoning could be even more extreme than R7, as this is the zoning often used for multi-family housing. Although Brian Mertz is seeking single family PR, his plan could later be amended to a higher density, or even to include multi-family housing.
- The hundreds of students this proposal will bring to Union Chapel almost certainly will result in a drastic redistricting of Union Chapel.
- The plan does not comply with the Platte County Land Use Plan. It is not compatible in character, density or scale to the surrounding neighborhoods. It will disrupt the stability of our area and destroy the rural charm that we sought in moving here.
- If this plan is approved, it clears the way for more of the same which will result in greatly compounded impacts in the community, and an unsustainable drain on public resources.
- If area is to be rezoned, it should be rezoned to R80 to compliment surrounding area. Lots should be 1 - 3 acres with no lots smaller than 1 acre permitted.
In short, say No to PR (planned residential) zoning. It's wrong for our area. Contact the Planning and Zoning board and the county commissioners today.
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