HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-10-20 Public Comment - M. Kaveney - Idaho Pole siteFrom:Marcia Kaveney
To:Agenda
Subject:Idaho Pole site
Date:Tuesday, November 10, 2020 11:13:04 AM
Dear Commissioners and Mayor -
I appreciate all that you are working on these days. It's been a rough year. Thank you for your
hard work.With this letter, and as a former longtime NE neighborhood resident and Urban Renewal
Board member, I implore you to reconsider the premature development of this still toxic site. I understand that some areas might be considered developable, but I question the overall rush
and soundness of that decision.
My main objections are the following:1. Creating an urban renewal district to raise funds to allow for the city to install infrastructure
is continuing in the undesirable fast track of developing "everything we can as quick as wecan". Please stop any discussion of incentivizing or fast tracking ANY development and
especially development in any area of toxin saturated soils and where there is continuedleaching of contaminants into the groundwater above acceptable levels.
2. Any installation of underground infrastructures will disturb the soil- common sense. Any
hazmat type of handling of the soil should not result in city expense.
3. Why is the URD Plan leaving out the recently published EPA review that mentions theunacceptable levels of groundwater contamination that is continuing today? If the plan leaves
that kind of information out, what else might be left out?
4. As anyone that has sat at the RR crossing on the Idaho Pole site knows, there is a dire needfor an upgrade there such as an under or over track crossing. Recently trains have been known
to camp on the tracks for up to an hour sometimes. I understand from former years of workingon this issue that an upgrade there would be challenging and expensive, but without it, any
significant new development will create an insurmountable problem.
5. Remember when the transfer station was considered for that area and talk of an arterialcame up? I think the same thing goes for any industrial or large scale residential use of the
Idaho Pole site. I'm sure it won't be a pedestrian only business.
Once the area has been completely cleaned up and is no longer leaching contaminants into thegroundwater or surface soil, then an East Oak extension may need to be looked at seriously
again **I think the cost of this upgrade should come from the developer. I do not want my taxes to
go towards anything that supports development on such an inadequate property.
6. If Front St is already approved to be a pedestrian and bike path, then the engineers need todisregard the upgrading of that street.
7. Having been a member on the NENA Urban Renewal Board, I have seen first hand the
value of having a mix of citizens on the board. I think a board of city staff only smacks ofnon-transparency and bypasses the necessary inclusion and buy in of the neighboring
residents. NENA residents have, for decades, shown their undying support and interest inmaintaining a viable neighborhood in which to live and work and should not be ignored.
Overall, it seems like any development here is too soon and a great deal more work and
preparation needs to happen first.
Thank you for your time,Marcia Kaveney
1496 Boylan Rd.Boz. 59715
406-223-1983