Dear Mayor Roe and Council: 

We note that  the City Council Agenda for May 18 includes an Agenda Item 9d, which calls on the Council to approve an extension for Final Plat Approval for Midland Legacy Estates, which was originally approved by the Council on June 3, 2019.

The Agenda Packet notes, "Staff would also note Midland Legacy Estates final plat request for extension is not related to ongoing discussions regarding future development of the parcel at 2395 County Road B." 

However the packet also notes, ".While the developer is the same, and land of Midland Legacy Estates could be explored for meeting the park land needs of the proposed plat of 2395 County Road B, the merits of the projects are different."

Since the plat extension is "not related" to the 2395 County Road B development, and is not included as an agenda item, we would expect any such discussions by the council or staff at the May 18 meeting should not be in order would not occur.   

However, we believe that Director Gundlach raised this issue again in a recent letter to Mayor and Council.  

We wish to be on record with the Council that we believe that use of the Midland Legacy Estates land for park would be very inappropriate.  Constraints of topography and traffic noise related to the property elevation make this not suitable.  To use this land as park while converting the very high amenity land at the 2395 location would be a terrible land use decision.  We would vehemently oppose such a conversion.

Further, we are opposed to the proposed rezoning of the 2395 property to Medium Density.  Such rezoning and development would jeopardize wetland(s) on the site, adversely impact other significant vegetative resources and wildlife habitat, and produce a number of other adverse impacts to the neighborhood.   

We intend to strongly oppose that rezoning and higher density development.  We will present our detailed position to the Council and Planning Commission at the appropriate meeting dates.  The City should vigorously explore all means to acquire the 2395 property and to bring it into public ownership and use.