Stephanie Barrows
1101 East 27th Street
Lawrence, Kansas 66046
Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Office 6 East 6th Street
Lawrence, Kansas 66044-0708
Dear Ms. Pool,
I am writing in opposition to the changes recently proposed by Mary's Lake Properties for forested lands lying between 31st Street and the intersection between East 28`" Terrace and Harper Street. I oppose these changes because they would severely impact the forest, lake and wetland habitats adjacent to this tract of land, which in turn would undermine the services they provide for the Lawrence community.
The private and public lands mentioned above collectively serve a variety of functions for Lawrence residents and visitors. These include education, recreation, spiritual pursuits, and wildlife conservation. I expand on these uses below.
Education & Recreation
These areas are currently utilized by Parks & Recreation/Prairie Park Nature Center for a variety of activities, including Summer camps (Nature Science Camp and Adventure Camp), Spring Break camp, canoeing and fishing programs, and other educational programs. All of these help to provide participants with skills and understanding they might not be able to gain elsewhere. In addition, neighborhood residents use the trails and Mary 's Lake for fishing, boating, wildlife observation, and exercise (even walking their dogs).
Spiritual pursuits I 've seen individuals engage in meditation and, solitary walks for reflection. Even early-morning fishing and bird-watching could be put into this category.
Wildlife conservation – As a neighborhood resident and seasonal employee, I have seen and heard a variety of species near Prairie Park, Mary 's Lake and adjacent forested areas. Examples include Cooper 's and Red-Tailed Hawks, Garter and Northern Water Snakes, opossum, owls, song birds, and a plethora of insect species. I recently learned that the forest hosts a number of animals who frequently move between the Prairie Park/Mary's Lake region to the Baker Wetlands. Not only does this benefit these mobile animal populations such as deer, but it also provides a learning opportunity for children and adults visiting the park Plus, anything that impacts the wild populations coming from Baker Wetlands will also impact the universities who use the wetlands as a "living laboratory. "
I understand that the City of Lawrence will be purchasing a small portion of the forested lands currently owned by Mary’s Lake Properties. It’s a good start. However, the reduction in forest plus construction and subsequent occupation of new homes would severely impact nearby habitats, reducing the quality of their benefits as listed above. These threats are detailed below.
Noise pollution
The industrial area currently utilized by MLP already makes a lot of noise, disturbing fishermen, boaters, hikers, summer camp participants and wildlife enjoying an otherwise serene environment. The proposed construction would exponentially increase the amount of disturbance for indeterminate amount of time. Once the new residences were completed and sold, the sounds of suburbia – motor vehicle traffic and stereos, for example – would permeate the remaining forest and Mary's Lake.
Light and Air Pollution Sources would include construction equipment, motor vehicles, utility poles, outdoor grills, and residences themselves.
Pollution from chemicals and litter
This would come first from construction materials and machinery, then oilfgas, fumes from motor vehicles, run-off from pesticides and fertilizers applied to lawns, and unattended trash. All of this could end up in the forest and wetlands areas adjacent to Mary 's Lake. The effects would be felt by wildlife (including fish) and the people who observe or consume them.
As you can see, construction and occupation of a new residential area would severely impact the Mary's Lake/Prairie Park area – and area that currently serves as a tremendous asset to the community and its visitors. For this reason, I vehemently oppose the recent proposal to re-zone and build single–family homes and accompanying infrastructure in the forested tract currently owned by Mary's Lake Properties. Furthermore, I oppose any further industrial activity in that area.
Instead, I propose that Mary's Lake Properties allow the City of Lawrence to purchase the forested tract in increments, with the provision that MLP would receive first bid on city construction contracts for said properties. With or without this arrangement, the forested tract needs to be bestowed "park" or "preserve" status so that present and future generations may enjoy its benefits.
Thank you for your attention in these matters. Please let me know if you or the City Commission has any questions.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Barrows
Lawrence resident
August 18, 2005
Dr. Terry Riordan, Chair
Planning Commission
City Hall
6 East 6th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Dear Dr. Riordan;
I am writing to express my concerns with the proposal for re-zoning acreage just west of Prairie Park and east of industrially zoned land for the purpose of an in-fill single-family housing development. I reside at the intersection of East 28th Street Terrace and Rawhide Lane, so I am directly across the street from where this development would take place. I am very concerned about the impact this proposal would have on what I regard as critical wildlife habitat adjacent to the Prairie Park area. One of the benefits of living in this part of the neighborhood is the abundance of native wildlife for my children to observe and learn about. In the brief time that we have lived here, just less than a year, we have already been fortunate enough to see raccoons, rabbits, box turtles, opossums, deer and a multitude of birds. I fear the loss of this forested area will spell doom for many of these animals. I am also concerned about the proximity of residential development to the already existing industrial use to the immediate west and whether it is appropriate to expose families and children to these present land-use circumstances. Finally, I fear what the addition of I believe 39 single-family homes will do to our neighborhood in terms of additional traffic load. Each one of those homes will probably have 2 vehicles and adding almost 80 cars to the load at the intersection of 28th Terrace and Haskell in the early morning will create delays and some traffic hazards. It may well create a necessity for a traffic light at the intersection to safely control the traffic flow.
Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns. They are shared by at least some of our neighbors and I hope the Planning Commission, as well.
Sincerely,
Greg Hickam
July 12, 2005
Linda Finger, Director, Planning Department
John Haase, Chair,
Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission
P.O. Box 708, City Hall
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
RE: Mary's Lake preliminary plat Dear Linda and John,
Having reviewed the preliminary plat for the Mary's Lake Property LLC. We strongly oppose any new pedestrian easements from Harper Street, east into the existing park property, or the six-acres we intend to purchase from Mary's Lake Properties, LLC.
Our interest in purchasing the property between Mary's Lake and the development is to preserve the existing nature trail and to provide a continuous wildlife corridor between the lake and the backyards of the new housing development.
We have worked for the past 4-5 years to reduce undesirable nighttime use of Mary's Lake (used to be a big party spot). This was done by restricting public vehicular access to the area from 31 St. and by moving the parking area further away from the lake. This has dramatically improved the facility for daytime park patrons and has greatly improved the natural lake environment. We utilize this 71 acre park as a type of nature preserve which is vital to the programming we offer via the Prairie Park Nature Center.
We feel that the parking and trail entrance at Harper Street and East 28th Street Terrace is were we want people to enter the park. To provide an access point closer to Mary's Lake will encourage people to park on the neighborhood streets instead of using this entrance (much shorter walk).
We ask for a variance from this requirement.
Sincerely,
Fred DeVictor, CPRP Director
Parks and Recreation Department