If you receive this twice, I apologize. My computer is having issues.

 

Concerned Trail Lovers,

 

This is a reminder that the City Council will hear and vote on the Hillside Development Ordinance tomorrow, Wednesday, October 11 at 6:30 in the City  Council chambers at Truxtun and Chester. Please, it is very important that as many of us as possible attend. To make us stand out, please wear a yellow shirt. You don’t even have to speak; your presence says a lot. Hopefully, our yellow shirts will encourage the council not to be chicken, to show some political courage and approve the ordinance.

 

• This ordinance provides for setbacks along the steep cliffs which will provide both access for emergency vehicles and protection of the viewshed.  That view of the bluffs is one many people associate with Bakersfield and if it is not protected, we will regret it when it is too late.

 

• The Fire Department testified that it needs the setbacks to safely fight fires and minimize property damage.

 

• The Planning Department spent thousands of hours working on this ordinance, and feels it is fair to both property owners and the citizens of Bakersfield.

 

• The Planning Commission studied the issue very carefully and voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance.

 

What does the opposition say?

• General Holding claims that the private property rights of one of its allies (Mr. Downs) are being violated or that the city is “taking” his land. The Planning Department thoroughly demonstrated that it is not a taking. General Holding is being misleading. In fact, the Planning Department included a clause that would allow Mr. Downs to come in with an alternate design and still develop his land. Besides, any lots he claims are being “taken” are imaginary lots, because he has nothing approved at this time. As far as “private property rights” are concerned, they seem to hold a very hypocritical attitude, seeing as Mrs. Downs was involved with the group that fought Castle and Cooke’s private property right to develop The Marketplace. If cities didn’t pass ordinances regulating development, your neighbor could open an adult theatre in his living room with parking on his lawn. All private property is regulated in one way or another, and this ordinance is very developer-friendly.

 

• They apparently do not respect the viewpoint of our professional firefighters who say they need this ordinance to better protect the public.

 

• They claim that they are being singled out, show slides of other bluffs and ask why they aren’t being protected. They are being misleading again, because the bluffs they show already have housing tracts approved in them and can’t be protected. The bluff ridgelines that are protected in this ordinance are the last ones left undeveloped. This is our last chance.

 

 

Please, if you haven’t already contacted the city council, do so before the meeting. It is probably too late for the council members to receive emails, but phone calls are very, very helpful. I’ll include phone numbers below.

 

I look forward to seeing you all in your yellow shirts tomorrow night!

 

Michelle Beck

Bakersfield Bluffs and Open Space Committee

 

Harold Hanson 664-9241

Irma Carson 325-4327

Jacquie Sullivan 834-4943

Zack Scrivner 205-7607

Mike Maggard 872-4729

Sue Benham: 325-8273

David Couch: 326-3767