NIMBY-Somethings never change

As so often happens, the request for approval of a new business or some other development on a piece of property, will bring protests from surrounding residents. They may use petitions to try and sway local city officials to their point of view or go to meetings with a list of reasons why that entity would be wrong in that place. The most common reason residents claim will cause disruption is increased traffic. This traffic reason comes up all the time whether in opposition to a gas station at an intersection or a day care center, a big box store, or in this case, a private library in Sunset Hills.

The land in question was originally part of country estates owned by the Griesedieck and Busch beer baron families and then became a subdivision 700,000 dollar plus homes and a golf course/country club. 

"The Moore Library, the residents say, is not a book repository but a business that will send unwanted traffic through the Tapawingo Place, Manors at Tapawingo and Tapawingo on the Greens subdivisions.

The library “will be nothing short of disruptive to all of our lives and it presents a significant safety threat to all of the children in our neighborhood,” resident Chris Rothrock told the Sunset Hills Board of Alderman in February."

Alwal Moore, the owner of the property has lived there since 1957 and hopes to open a private library where, in addition to reading and checking out books, patrons could avail themselves of violin lessons, yoga and gardening classes. 

Compared to a golf course with country club, this sounds pretty tame when it comes to future traffic. It may be that the Sunset Hills City Council will side with the residents, but traffic as a reason is not a good enough reason to refuse Moore. The mayor asked these homeowners what they would accept on the property and a chorus of "Don't answer, don't answer" rang out. One man then said, "They want us to define what’s going to go in there and it’s not our property."

That's exactly right, it's not their property. They won't say what they would accept being there but they do want to have a say in what they don't want there. And it looks like from here that they don't want anything to go in there. Most likely they enjoy living near an undeveloped lovely piece of countryside and maybe even use it for walks and runs and want things to stay the same. 

But at one time the homes they're living in were part of a countryside. Did anyone complain when plans were drawn for their subdivisions that traffic would ruin the peace and quiet or make things unsafe?

Comments

[Rand]

If the area is zoned residential, then the rules were clear when residents paid $700,000+ for their homes. Why should they be expected to allow changes now? Maybe another neighbor could build a gas station to service the traffic? The golf course was undoubtedly part of the plan from the beginning.

[Diane Meyer]

I was long winded but I really believe using traffic as an argument against something is not a winner.

[Rand]

That may be true, but if it is zoned, they don't need a reason beyond they don't want to change the chemistry that they bought into. And maybe traffic, no matter how insignificant, is enuf to oppose changing the zoning laws. It would be for me.

[Brad]

The only question I see in your piece, Diane, is whether or not anyone complained when they subdivided the land and my hunch is yes. As former Chair of a municipal P&Z commission I can assure you somebody ALWAYS complains.

To the point at hand, the P&Z commission has very little latitude when it comes to applying the city comprehensive plan and ordinance.

You did quote an alderman, who by virtue of being elected, is free to vote as he sees fit and as he believes is in the best interest of the city.

IMH the whole traffic thing is worn out and overused ;)

[Diane Meyer]

Not to be hurtful to Mr. Moore, but I don't see a cultural library becoming at all viable or attracting much interest.