OCR Text |
Show I . ! Are 2359s 'polluting' the City? Rumor floating around has it that the dreaded "mark of the beast" spoken of in holy writ isn't really 6-6-6 after all, instead it is the horrible stamp of 235! Yes, it's true. There are numerous people roaming all over Cedar City (unchained and untied) with the number 235 stamped upon their foreheads. The fine print in front of the ghastly number happens to say FHA. legitimate concerns about declining property values? That feeling certainly seemed prevalent at the commission meeting. Also, while I'm a firm believer in voicing feelings to government leaders, it should be done with some semblance of order and respect. That wasn't overdone at last week's meeting by any means. There have been no dollar and cent figures given to show the effect that these smaller homes would have on concerned neighborhoods. Some facts, not just general bologna about 235 homes and their owners, would be much more impressive. Perhaps an examination of attitudes, as well as methods of handling the problem, will bring an abrupt and cooperative end to the situation. It takes a lot more than 1,250 square feet and a two-car garage to insure good neighbors. By Mike Cannon referred to), would lower property values in a neighborhood as a whole. Not being an economics or real estate wiz, I would agree that this could likely be possible. Restrictive covenants would seem to be a better manner of controlling these types of things than zoning changes. However, the group opted for the latter and such was granted by the Planning Commission, pending approval by the City Council. Covenants are standards of do's and don'ts established by the developer of a subdivision and agreed upon by property owners in that particular neighborhood. Areas with strict covenants have not had difficulty enforcing en-forcing them. The Ridge Road area has no such covenants according to city officials. Thus, several smaller homes, all meeting zoning requirements, have been or are being built in the area, upsetting owners of larger homes. Some Cedar Knolls residents are concerned that less-desirable homes will be built in neighboring Southwest Knolls, an area currently under development. One might wonder about several things. Could part of the problem be caused by attitude towards "lesser" homes, and maybe even people, in addition to Sitting in on last week's Cedar City Planning Commission meeting left one with the impression that anyone owning an FHA-subsidized dwelling is afflicted with the plague, dropsy, Bohemian gombu and poveritis. Over 50 citizens from the Leigh (West) Hill, Three Fountains and Cedar Knolls areas of town presented a petition with about 90 signatures to the Commission stating that they desired to have some minimun building standards enforced in specific developments. Underlying these requests was the concern that construction of smaller, supposedly less attractive homes (FHA 235 was specifically and constantly |