11/27/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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be inaccurate. Those inaccuracies resulted in a new resolution e before Council this evening repealing Resolution 2720 adopted July 20, 1977, and again authorizing emminent domain. He noted the survey in this resolution was accurate. The main question for Council's consideration was whether or not this is the best property available for park purposes in this area, and whether or not it should be acquired. Mr. Scobert, owner of the property, does not want to sell. He feels it would be a poor park site and he wants to develop the property in multi-family units. Manager noted for Council and the audience the value of the property could not be discussed other than in Council Executive Session. Public hearing was opened. Those speaking in favor were as follows: Maureen Good, 2875 Laurelwood, was an Outreach worker for Whiteaker Community Council. With the use of a land use map, she noted the lack of vacant land for park purposes in that area. She used slides to show one of the closest parks was accessible only by crossing 6th and 7th, very dangerous for youngsters and elderly people. Sl adden pa rk was one mile away and could be reached only over dangerous crossings. The Franz Bread Company property, which had been considered as an alternate site, she showed through slides to be unsuitable for a park. With a slide of the Scobert property, she indicated it was the best choice, the only piece of vacant land suitable for park purposes. She e said the community needs speak louder than individual rights. The Scobert home will not be touched and the property value will not be decreased in any way. She summarized there was no other land suitable, no other choice for park land in the Blair neighborhood, and there was a need for a park in that area. Gary Spivak, 1350 Bailey Avenue, an active member of Whiteaker Com- munity Council, expressed sympathy with the Scoberts, and noted the question of public need versus the individual rights. However, the neighborhood had been making extensive efforts to improve the area over the past several years and he felt that a park would help in that effort. He said the only objection he had heard was that this was not a suitable site for a park because transients might make. use of it. However, he did not see any prOblems that would be created by the park and felt it would be an asset to the neighborhood. Martha Filer, 235 East 3rd Avenue, read a statement from the Whiteaker Refinement Plan, Section 4, regarding public services and facilities, the adopted policy number five which stated a park was necessary for the Blair neighborhood. She noted the length of time the neighbor- hood organization had been working to arrive at finding a suitable spot and getting City negotiations going. She thought this was a very uncomfortable situation with the community needs versus individual rights. However, she felt the neighborhood need is there and the e 11/27/78--7 ''f-CI