Saturday, July 22, 2006

Bosque Farms comprehensive plan sent back for review

Clara Garcia News-Bulletin Staff Writer; cgarcia@news-bulletin.com

Bosque Farms After nearly a year of working with the Mid-Region Council of Governments on a 20-year comprehensive master plan, the Bosque Farms Village Council postponed taking action on the document until they could fully discuss it in a workshop.

During its regular meeting Thursday night, the council voiced its concerns about the comprehensive plan, saying it wanted to be able to talk freely about the subject and possibly make changes before signing off on it. The decision to delay the final action didn't set well with several members of the steering committee who worked on compiling the plan with MRCOG.

Councilor Bob Knowlton, who made the motion to postpone taking action, said he felt the council and the public should be able discuss it in a workshop.

"I think there's a substantial amount of information that this body needs to discuss," Knowlton said. "The master plan is a very important document for this body and there's a number of things in this plan that I'd like to freely discuss with the council in a workshop."

Councilor Dolly Wallace, who seconded the motion, agreed with Knowlton, saying that she has several suggestions for the plan and has problems with certain parts. She also agreed that a workshop be scheduled before voting.

Donna Baker, the village's planning and zoning officer, reminded the council that it had already approved the goals and objectives in December. She said that it would be one thing if the council only wanted wording changed, but if the council plans to change the goals and objectives, it would be throwing away a year's worth of work.

According to Mayor Wayne Ake, the money from a grant the village acquired to work on the comprehensive plan with MRCOG has already been spent and, if the council decided to go back, it would have to come up with additional money.

"This something that has been worked on for a year," Ake said. "We've had committee meetings on it, we've had questionnaires on it and all they (the steering committee) has done is tell us what the wishes of this village are. I want to remind the council that this is not an ordinance — this is a plan and plans change. I don't want this dragged out for another year."

Randall Falkner, a regional planner for the MRCOG, told the council that if there are changes to the goals and objectives of the plan, it would more than likely change the entire document. He told the council that the committee has worked many late hours discussing the plan.

"They did a great job," he said. "But we can make some modified changes in the wording of text if that's something you'd like to pursue."

Knowlton did say that the previous governing body did do a good job in identifying the goals and objectives, but felt that the new council should have the opportunity to also take a good look at it.

The council approved the goals and objectives in December by a 2-1 vote. Knowlton did not attend the meeting, Wallace voted against it and former Councilors David Linthicum and Ginger Eldridge, who headed up the steering committee, approved it.

During the December meeting, Wallace said she was uncomfortable approving the goals and objectives because the plan precluded senior housing from being established in the village.

"I attended two or three of the (steering committee) meetings ... but this is what I was waiting for — to see it totally compiled," Wallace said Thursday. "Looking at it piece by piece, it's a little different. Personally, I don't have any problems with the objective and goals, but, text-wise, I think we need to take a look at some things such as wording. There are a couple of things in there that are against our ordinance such as water usage."

Eldridge, who was at the Thursday's meeting, told the council that she was disappointed that it decided to postpone the vote and felt that the delay was a way of telling the committee that what it accomplished wasn't adequate.

"I guess I'm a bit saddened that two councilors are doing this," Eldridge said. "My committee has spent a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of energy (on the plan) and we're essentially being told that it wasn't good enough.

"I would be happy to attend this meeting (workshop) and I would be happy to answer any questions regarding what this committee did," she added. "We worked very hard and I just think what you're doing is a shame."

Resident and committee member Lillie McNabb also told the council she was displeased with the inaction of the council. She said the committee has worked diligently for months and made sure that the plan is complete.

"I am just downhearted by the lack of faith this council has, or had, in the hard-working committee," McNabb said. "We were so dedicated. What you see here is the input from the whole village, not the council — this whole village put this together. All we did is took their words and went forth with it.

"This whole committee worked their hearts out and I really believe you have no faith in what this village wants because you're questioning what they want," she added. "Let's get this thing going — let's not stop. I resent the fact that you won't accept it."

After hearing the comments from several members of the committee, Knowlton said that postponing acting on the village's comprehensive plan is not to disparage the committee, but a way for the council to get a chance to discuss it.

"I think the committee did an excellent job in putting this information together over the last 10 months," Knowlton said. "But the council does need a chance to discuss this and whatever changes are made will be necessary."

The workshop to discuss the Bosque Farms comprehensive master plan is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the council chambers.

In other action, the council: