Red Oak Planning and Zoning Board/ Ordinances -Part 2

[Amy Hedtke]

and for the record, i *do* understand that these are really good guys that are devoting a HUGE amount of time to serve the city, I just wish they would do it in a manner that saved the citizens MONEY, TIME, and personal property rights. Right now these types of decisions are costing Red Oak citizens investment money, tax money, jobs, and RIGHTS.

i would rather see a peaceful landscaping business along the highway than Yet Another Concrete Building and Parking Lot. The P&Z guys are looking at the bigger parcels of land and griping that these littler pieces –like the mobile home park on the other side, that they have little direct control over– are scaring off Bigger Fish like Tanger Outlets. Well…ya know what? If a business was serious about settling here, they can use their Bigger Profits to Personally BUY those smaller pieces of land. It’s been done before. I leaped for joy when Texaco bought up and RAZED TO THE GROUND the trailer park i grew up in down in San Antonio.
Talk about a wretched hive of scum and villainy.
BUT! They did it with PRIVATE funds, not taxpayer dollars.

Owning property is a RISK, not a guarantee of skyrocketing property values in the future.

Some of us –many, i dare say– moved down here to get AWAY from the hustle and bustle of the Dallas Type of Highway system. I really don’t mind driving a ways to SHOP.

And when i see cities like Red Oak trying to court Big Businesses as fast as they can get them down here, my blood starts boiling.

Please, PLEASE let’s try to preserve some NON-CONCRETE areas of Red Oak, and get ordinances back on track so businesses can act w/ more freedom to put Real Entrepreneurship and Fresh Ideas into play on how to set and run their business. i may not agree w/ the used car lot down the road from me, but i will defend to the death his right to PUT it THERE on HIS property.

and for any city officials reading this, I’m sure you’re saying “oh, if she only knew the history!”–well, let me assure you that if *I* started digging into the “history” of how and why these ordinances and plans came to be [and I might -gimme a few years], I am probably NOT going to come to the same conclusions you did. There’s more to history than the last few years and Red Oak. We are seeing the fruit of YEARS of gvt intrusion and gvt “planning” in our current economy. Your idea of “managing growth” and MY idea of “managing growth” are likely at different ends of the spectrum ;)

/personal sidetrack/
And I understand that if I wanted to build a BARN on my property, i have to make its facefront match the front of my house.
**I don’t want a barn that looks like a house**!!
I want a barn that has the traditional, homey look and feel of a BARN. If i want to use wood instead of hardiboard –knowing it will need to be maintained at my expense– then i should have a right to use whatever COSMETIC building material i want as long as it is SAFE. i don’t need the gvt watching out for MY property values, thankyouverymuch.
Recommending and informing are way different from REQUIRING.
I’m kinda enjoying the lower TAXES right now as prices plummet. next thing you know The City will be passing an ordinance that you can’t sell USED cars cuz they will cost car owners more money down the road and wear out faster.
sheesh.
/end sidetracked rant/

and finally:
when our P&Z guys mentioned that they aren’t “pleased” with the plans they see, then I reminded them that
it is NOT the PEOPLE’s job to please the GVT –
it is the GVT’s job to please the PEOPLE.

ok, now y’all can tell me what a silly idealistic girl I am.
At the next meeting. ;)

[Fed up in Red Oak]

Oh, Amy, I love you!!! You are expressing the frustrations I have had for 8 long years so well. I look forward to meeting you at the city council meeting in July.-the other Amy