On June 6, I attended proceedings to review Independent Log Co.’s application to rezone its 10-acre parcel from commercial to industrial.
Photos were presented to show the location of the property on Lebanon Road and illustrate how it related to the surrounding area and neighborhoods. I felt that the presentation was biased by several important omissions: No photos were taken from the hill in the Carpenter Natural Area looking west toward the 10 acres. No photos were taken from the adjacent, well-established residential area overlooking the 10 acres from the south.
By omitting these perspectives, the company presented a skewed view in favor of the applicant’s rezoning request and not how the rezoning would negatively affect these two surrounding areas. The addition of these photos would have made it apparent that heavy industrial would significantly affect green space on the eastern border and well-established residential communities on the southern boundary.
Both areas adjacent to the proposed rezoning were in place well before this rezoning application was presented and creeping industrialization would negatively affect them.
Pamela Telleen
Cortez
