As longtime residents of Cortez and a family who has enjoyed the peace, tranquility and natural habitat of the Carpenter Natural Area, we urge the city to say, “no!” to the rezoning and “no!“ to the conditional use permit. Choose instead to protect and preserve!
We should not be changing the zoning to benefit one business, when it doesn’t benefit the nearby residential area or the natural reserve.
We have noticed the effort Cortez has made over the past few years to improve its appeal. Shouldn’t protecting the Carpenter Natural Area and the established neighborhoods be a big part of that?
The city code zoning district regulations say Residential Districts are created:
“In order to secure for the persons who reside there a comfortable, healthy, safe and pleasant environment in which to live, sheltered from incompatible and disruptive activities.”
Our neighborhood has been a model of these for years. Until now.
This rezoning will cause “incompatible and disruptive activities,” decrease property value, and increase the dust and noise in the neighborhood along the rim – which we have already experienced.
The rezoning causes the destruction of natural habitats, and decreases the safety and family friendly environment of the Carpenter Natural Area.
The city code also states the need to “minimize conflict with other land uses.”
It is obvious to many of us who live here that the rezoning and the possible industrial use of this particular property create a huge level of conflict, for many reasons.
Efrain and Derina Vaquera
Cortez
