We the undersigned residents of Osceola County petition the St. Cloud City Council to deny development of the 25 acres west of Lakeview Elementary School and north of Fourth Street, parcel # 032630072500010840. Additionally, we petition the city council to deny any zoning change from school AC to residential, commercial, industrial, or professional. We request the land be deemed GREENSPACE, park, or recreational field for athletics. We oppose any changes for the following reasons:

• Over-development of our neighborhood and the city in general
• It would create hazardous traffic flow for children attending Lakeview Elementary School
• It will create or excessively increase traffic congestion or otherwise effect public safety
• It would materially alter the population density pattern and thereby increase or over tax the load on public facilities such as Lakeview Elementary School, streets, storm and sewer systems
• It will adversely affect living conditions in the neighborhood

At this time, Lakeview Elementary School traffic begins to line-up on Fifth Street blocking traffic flow from Columbia, Fifth Street, and Robinson from around 1:30pm to 4:00pm. The proposed plan to access this property involves cutting through the school property off of Columbia Ave. If the city allows 200 townhomes to be built on this property, the approximate addition of 891 parking spots and cars traveling on these roads would create severe traffic congestion and impact the safety of children and the neighborhood.

UPDATE: The land is currently under contract with Starlight Homes, to be called Heritage Crossing. Plans have been submitted to the Saint Cloud Planning dept for 200 2-story town homes including parking for 891 cars. The school will be giving up the north end of their property so a road can cut through to Columbia. The other entrance will be at the end of Robinson, which is already the school pick-up line. The area is single residential R1, R1A and R1B. Starlight will be asking re-zone to PUD. The Land Development Code 3.4.3.C.2.A item 3, 7, 8 and 15 raise concerns about the impact and how this proposed development is not in line with this area.

Starlight has retained the services of Akerman, a National Land Use Development Law Firm. Let’s not let the rich and powerful have the upper hand. When the property is close to the zoning request, there will be signs posted for Public Hearing and then a date set for zoning. We will keep you updated with dates.