Duneland First

Duneland First Opposes GK

WHY WE ARE OPPOSED TO GK DEVELOPMENT

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DUNELAND FIRST
An association of concerned citizens

Mission Statement: We are residents and business owners of Duneland. Our mission is to promote and sustain our economic development in harmony with our hometown and surrounding natural treasures.

Currently we are opposed to the GK development because:

1. The GK development is not in harmony with our hometown feeling, and does violence to our community.
2. This development will adversely change our small town community forever. It will decrease the property values of our homes and will make it less desirable for families to remain. There is no other community like Duneland. We provide families a place to live without the high traffic and burdens of commercial development. We are the respite from everyday living.
3. This development will put more traffic into surrounding neighborhoods causing safety hazards to our children, school buses, and all citizens who travel our roadways. We should not move traffic from the 49 corridor to our side streets, in order to cater to an ill-planned traffic pattern.
4. This development is in direct conflict with the Chesterton Comprehensive Plan. The PUD (Planned Unit Development) is designed to allow deviation from the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan can be accessed online at: http://chestertonin.org/images/Comprensive%20Plan.pdf.
5. The Comprehensive Plan calls for a balanced development of the business districts of Chesterton. The town has made no effort or expenditure to follow the directives that are in the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan states, “…. The preparation of a comprehensive plan empowers the community. This comprehensive plan offered the residents of Chesterton, the opportunity to work closely with town officials and staff to develop a harmonious, unified vision for growth and development. The town of Chesterton’s comprehensive plan is more than a general outline of policy statements; it is a plan of action for development and growth management.”
6. The comprehensive Plan states (p.46), “the existing business area in the historic downtown will continue to be the business center of town…. The central business district is defined as Calumet Road from Porter Ave to Indian Boundary, and Broadway from Calumet Rd west to Eighth Street. This area must continue to be protected and maintained.” The plan further states “… In general business areas, it is recommended that business land use activities be guided into developments that integrate with surrounding land use and/or provide for future integration wherever possible, and that strip business development be avoided.”
7. The failure to follow and promote the Comprehensive Plan has and will cause decrease in business values in the existing business districts as defined by the Comprehensive Plan. In addition, that failure will lead to a deterioration of the current business community for purposes of taxes and development.
8. There has been no visible effort of the town to encourage light industrial businesses to locate here, which would bring in high tech jobs that provide decent livings.
9. There are environmental factors that have not been adequately addressed, including, but not limited to water quality, debris, green space, drainage, and the natural beauty of our community. The Comprehensive Plan states, “The physical characteristics of the natural environment have influenced the development of Chesterton.”
10. There are additional costs that remain unpaid that will become the burden of the taxpaying citizens of Duneland. These costs include inadequate traffic development both now and in the future, increased police and fire protection, and other town services. There is also the human cost to the residents of Duneland of increased crime, overcrowding, loss of property value, increased travel times, and a deterioration of their sense of community.

What can a concerned citizen do?

1. Attend meetings: Town Council (2nd & 4th Mondays, 7:00 pm), Planning Commission (3rd Thursday each month, 6:30 pm)
2. Read the Comprehensive Plan at Thomas Library or at: http://chestertonin.org/images/Comprensive%20Plan.pdf.
3. Read the Big Box Economic Impact Studies at: http://www.HometownAdvantage.org
4. Call and voice your opinion with the Town Council and Advisory Planning Commission members.
5. Sign a petition opposing the GK Development
6. Write to your Town Council and Advisory Planning Commission members or print out, sign and mail or drop off this statement to:

Chesterton Town Council
726 W. Broadway
Chesterton, IN 46304 OR

Duneland First drop box
209 W. Indiana Ave
(right across from the Library)

Signed:_________________________________

Address: ________________________________

Links

Chesterton Comprehensive Plan
Gk Development
Sprawl-Busters
Picture Smart Growth