It was heartening to see the huge turnout of support for our North Greenacres Area.
Fred Beaulac, one of our City's Planning Commissioners attended the meeting and expressed interest in reading our Neighborhood Recommendations on the City's Draft Comprehensive Plan. We presented him with a copy that he took home and read and has been circulating to other planning commissioners. He expressed enthusiasm for the work we have done - Many of the recommendations would improve the quality of life across the city - they were not just a neighborhood issue.
Mike and Marilyn Pearson have been long time members of our neighborhood. Mike took time to prepare us for the changes and needs of the school district in planning new schools. They are currently bringing a recommendation forward for impact fees to be assessed to help with funding new schools that must be built to acccomodate and unprecedented amount of growth targeted throughout the east end of the district.
Neighbors expressed alarm that despite completion of two new high schools that they are already overcrowded. It seemed on the surface that the district should have included more classrooms when many of the remodels were constructed. A local teacher, remarked that under the guidelines for remodels, they are prohibited from adding additional classroom space. The High School is at capacity but Mike stated, "We decided not to have a high school any larger than housing 1,800 students."
Our community is facing growing pains and we must actively encourage and support impact fees and help the school district provide the necessary space for each student.
New School planned on Mission and Long will use the plans they already have paid for when they constructed the Liberty Lake elementary. Mike Pearson believes this is sound fiscal planning to not duplicate the cost of architectural building design.
Transportation is a big issue facing our roads that will soon be exploding with new traffic. A committee will be starting work on this important area. Neil Kersten the head of Public Works is recommending in the city's Comprehensive Plan that there be a transportation study of our area. Land Use, Economic Development, Housing and Capital Facilities are all areas we can to a greater or lesser degree make decisions on what is important to include in our neighborhood plan. We will beging study and drafting of our neighborhood plans as our next steps.
As always our Vision remains that,
North greenacres Neighborhood is committed to framing a plan to improve and preserve the quality of life, customs, traditions, and culture that reflects our past, has the courage to face the challenge of change, and shape a neighborhood that will inspire future generations.
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info@northgreenacres.org