Parkview Oaks Civic Association

Letter to the Residents

From the President of the Civic Association

I am sure by this time you are all aware that we defeated the proposal to build a SPUD development containing 80 townhomes on the Harrell Estate. I wish to thank the Parkview Oaks Civic Association Board of Directors for their hard work on this project. These folks are volunteers. They receive no pay or benefit in representing the neighborhood. Their efforts in coordinating emails, newsletters, meetings, and research was invaluable to our cause. Without these folks working “behind the scenes”, the results may have been different.

I also wish to thank the residents of Parkview Oaks who came out to the meeting with the developer. First hand information is always the most valuable, and by showing the developer we were willing to attend a meeting to voice our opposition proved our resolve. Additionally, I appreciate our neighbors who came out in the bad weather the night of the meeting AND spoke to the P&Z commission assisting us in our position. Without the support of our neighbors, the Association cannot survive. I sincerely thank these folks...your efforts are appreciated.

To bring this chapter ‘to a close’ here is where we stand at this point:

1. Since the proposal was unanimously defeated, Mr. Cappo cannot attempt another SPUD for one year and this current proposal will not get to the Metro Council.
2. The estate is currently zoned for 7 units per acre, and we all know Mr. Cappo has threatened to demolish the current house, remove all the trees, and simply sell off the lots. While he CAN do this, my understanding is he must go back to the P&Z (or the Metro Council, I am not sure which) in order to build a connecting roadway into the subdivision. Mr. Cappo has stated that he will not use the Coursey site as an entrance for this type of project because “it was too expensive”.
3. I have had no discussion with Mr. Cappo or his representatives since the P&Z meeting, so I am not sure what he will attempt to do at this point.

We will continue to monitor the situation, as the saying goes “it ain’t over yet”. Mr. Cappo has made it clear to all of us he will build something on this land. The Civic Association DOES NOT oppose development, we simply believe that development must be smart and use common sense regarding current infrastructure. We will alert the neighborhood as we have new information.

In closing, if I may, to those who did not believe it could be done...I would hope that this event shows what we can do if we join TOGETHER as a neighborhood and speak with one voice.
While you don’t win every game you play...you most assuredly lose the one you don’t even suit up for.

Once again, thanks to all that assisted with this project.

Mark Menou
President
Parkview Oaks Civic Association