Save Cedar Creek - Allen County - Fort Wayne, Indiana
Save the nature around Cedar Creek - from development and local government - make your voice heard!
UPDATE June 19th: UPDATE June 12th: Plan Commission Vote Delayed One Week -- fortwaynepolitics.com The June 12th meeting yielded a delay in the vote by the Allen County Planning Commission. However please continue to contact the involved people and make your voice heard before the new Thursday, June 19th meeting this week when the new vote will be made. The executive committee will meet at 11:30 a.m. June 19th to decide the Minor Plat Ordinance issue, and the plan commission will meet at 1:30 p.m. to consider lifting the restrictive covenant.
Email: Open Letter to the City of Fort Wayne, Allen County Plan Commission from The stage is set and the plans are ready to turn one of Allen Counties natural treasures into a housing development (with single lots rumored to be offered around and in excess of $200,000 in some cases). Turning this luscious and unique ecosystem into a maze of concrete, just another subdivision in a local housing market continuing to falter and weaken. Far away from Harrison Square and downtown revitalization, with the same government that seeks to revitalize downtown, they are also seeking to destroy one of Allen Counties natural treasures located on one of its farthest reaches. Even the school bus routes have already been planned and are in place. But maybe you are unaware of this silent destruction set for this local treasure? How will the proposed sewer line under Cedar Creek effect the local ecosystem, what will happen if and when the pipe breaks? How much land around Cedar Creek will need to be destroyed and altered to install the sewer? How will the destruction of 139 acres impact the present ecosystem and surrounding 17 private parcels of land adjoining Cedar Creek that have special distinction as State Nature Preserves, Allen County Parks, ACRES land preserves, as well as special forested land used for Girl Scouts and the Izaak Walton League? This project will have significant and detrimental impact upon these and surrounding areas. All of this proposed along a river (Cedar Creek) that is one of 3 in the entire State of Indiana designated as an Indiana Natural Scenic and Recreational River. So are we seeking to revitalize or destroy Allen County ? Will this be "A great place to live" as we claim, when generations to come will have only subdivisions and the trees in someones yard as nature? When generations to come will have to drive hours to find such beauty as the beauty that lays along the Cedar Creek... Conflict of Interest? Charles Bodenhafer is: Connect the Dots for yourself -- See Image Mr. Bodenhafer's connections are nothing new - Read Here Even though Mr. Bodenhafer, may remove himself from voting there is no denying that he will receive personal financial gain from this development. No matter how he removes himself he still stands to benefit greatly from this development. Has he been removed from all past votes and ordinances that have lead to this development becoming reality ? Or has he been directly and indirectly involved in fast tracking the ordinances and will then step aside for the final vote before the financial gain occurs? Regardless this could not have reached this point of discussion without Mr. Bodenhafer's direct or indirect involvement. Seemingly its hard to imagine that a conflict of interest has not resulted over time (years) in this sequence of events leading to the development of Canyon Cliffs with both of Mr. Bodenhafer's interests as land owner and Chairman of the Allen County Planning Commission. ------------------------------------------------------------ Has the Allen County Ethics Commission (link) reviewed this properly ? Coincidence (or) Fast Track to Development? 2007 February 2008: A change in the planning ordinance passed by County Council. February 2008: Charles Bodenhafer and Sharen Bodenhafer and Oakmont Development Company III LLC form a limited liability company - Coldwater Estates LLC, to develop the property. March 3, 2008: As of March 3rd 2008 - Fort Wayne Land Use Management and Zoning Department and the Allen County Department of Planning Services became one department. March 3rd 2008: Minor Plat Ordinance May 1, 2008: Oakmont Development Company III LLC files application for 5 contiguous minor plats to be known as Canyon Cliffs. May 23, 2008: A public hearing is scheduled for June 12 for the minor plat of Canyon Cliffs and notice is sent to interested parties. May 27, 2008: Yoder Farm LLC and Cedar Creek Wildlife Project request a continuance of the June 12 public hearing. May 27, 2008: Oakmont Development Company III LLC, managing member Coldwater Estates LLC, hand delivers a letter dated May 27 to Ric Zehr, president of the board of Allen County Water and Sewer District requesting that the ACWSD lift moratorium on north-ward expansion of sewers. May 28, 2008: Allen County Water and Sewer District by unanimous voice vote to lift moratorium (Original restrictive covenant was put in place in 2000 to not allow the sewer service to be extended northward - until 2015). May 30, 2008: Yoder Farm LLC, and Cedar Creek Wildlife Project's request for continuance is DENIED. June 12th 2008: The Fort Wayne Allen County Plan Commission will vote to approve or deny the Water and Sewer Boards action. June 12th 2008: If the Fort Wayne Allen County Plan Commission votes to uphold the action of the Water and Sewer Board, then under rules outlined in the minor plat ordinance, only the executive committee of the Plan Commission will hear the arguments and vote to approve, modify or deny the minor plat application. Conflict of Interest, Coincidence (or) Fast Track to Development? Destruction of Allen Counties Natural Habitats? Let your voice be heard before local government destroys one of Allen Counties most beautiful natural resources. Further Reading (NEWS Articles):
News - AFTER - the June 12th meeting:
A few informative emails that were sent:
How much will this cost you? Besides the loss of a natural scenic area, never to be recreated again, or seen by generations to come, how much will this impact you? (Oakmont Development, LLC - Previously Been Fined For Sewage Violations) In the surrounding areas property tax will increase when the NEW development enters the area and raise the present property values in the area. Fort Wayne has spent millions tying to meet requirements and recently signed a consent decree to avoid a federal court battle over its gross water pollution discharged into the Maumee River. It has over two dozen combined sewer overflows and can not take on any more sewage customers without exacerbating the overflow problem. Ratepayers will have to incur an increase to pay for new sewer separation construction and pollution control. Is this the best way to spend our dollars ? Once destroyed, no amount of money by local government will bring along another ice glacier to make such a natural wonder in our community. It will simply be gone for the generations to come. Please speak out to the Fort Wayne Allen County Planning Commission and let your voice be heard. The June 19th meeting yielded another delay in the vote by the Allen County Planning Commission. However please continue to contact the involved people and make your voice heard before the new Thursday, July 10th public meeting. Also please plan on being present to show support during this meeting and allow your voice to be heard. One East Main Street Are your elected officials serving you with this decision? Does this fit into Allen Counties Strategic Master Plan?
Before the June 12th vote, an open letter has been sent out to the Allen County Planning Commission, state and local government officials, various news and media outlets, many members of the local community and surrounding counties an many more concerned individuals. It can also be read here: | (The following news videos have since been removed by WANE TV) Stay Involved! The June 19th meeting yielded another delay in the vote by the Allen County Planning Commission. However please continue to contact the involved people and make your voice heard before the One East Main Street Contact your Local News Outlets: News Sentinel: http://www.news-sentinel.com http://www.journalgazette.net Wane TV: http://www.wane.com Indiana News Center: http://www.indianasnewscenter.com WOWO Radio (news) Call your elected officials and let your voice be heard: Allen County Planning Commission (link): Allen County Commisions: City and County Planning: Allen County Council: Members of the Allen County Ethics Commission: Attorney - Tom Hardin Mike Thomas Associates - Oakmont Development Company (entity) Please let your voice Thank you for taking the time to read this important information and for having an interest to save one of Allen Counties most scenic and beautiful areas along Cedar Creek. Learn More About Cedar Creek Cedar Creek Wildlife Project --> Links 312 IAC 7-2-3 Cedar Creek in Allen and DeKalb Counties -- designated natural scenic and recreational rivers Before the June 12th vote, an open letter has been sent out to the Allen County Planning Commission, state and local government officials, various news and media outlets, many members of the local community and surrounding counties an many more concerned individuals. It can also be read here: |
* Brought to you by concerned citizens with an ethical conscience of our depleting natural resources
and an constant eye on local government to uphold their public offices without compromise.