We just received an urgent email request and feel it is important to pass along.Even though none of the neighbors and most Ogden Valley residents do not want the Green Valley Academy to be located in Ogden Valley, there are VERY STRONG FORCES within the county who are pushing for the academy.
We understand that the Ogden Valley Planning commissioners were taken on a field trip to the Oakley School recently. Rest assured they are receiving plenty of propaganda and correspondence from the Petitioners.
Our valley seems to be under a continuous attack from outside threats and now is the time to step it up to protect our valley. Write the Planning Commissioners today and let them know your thoughts of the proposed school.
Here is the email:
FOLKS, WHERE ARE YOU!!!! SO FAR, 2 PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN DOWN TO THE COUNTY WITH ISSUES ABOUT GREEN VALLEY ACADEMY!!! ONLY 2!! WE NEED YOUR OPINIONS AND CONCERNS TO GET TO THE COMMISSIONERS BEFORE THE JUNE 22 MEETING. THIS IS IMPERATIVE.
WE STAND THE CHANCE OF HAVING A BUSINESS IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IF WE DON'T ALL GET ON BOARD AND LET THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THIS. WE NEED TO TELL THEM WE DO NOT WANT THE ZONING CHANGED. THIS BUSINESS IS WELCOME TO THE VALLEY AS LONG AS THEY ESTABLISH IN AN AREA ALREADY ZONED FOR SUCH A THING.
PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES AND SEND AN E-MAIL DOWN. HERE IS THE ADDRESS:
E-MAIL TO SHERRY ASAP!!!!!!
Include instructions to distribute your letter to all Ogden Valley Planning Commission members.
ALSO PLEASE REMEMBER TO ATTEND THE OGDEN VALLEY PLANNING MEETING ON JUNE 22 AT 5:00 AT THE WEBER COUNTY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
(2380 WASHINGTON BLVD).
"SPEAK UP FOR WHAT YOU WANT OR TAKE WHAT YOU GET!!"
If you prefer to deliver in person, then here is the address:
Ogden Valley Township Planning Commission Office
Ogden Valley Township Planning Commission Office
Attention: Sherri Sillito,
Planning department
2380 Washington Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84401
Telephone:
Sherri Sillito 801-399-8791
Just sent the Commissioners an email. You are right. Why can't Green Valley Academy just use existing properties with the needed zoning.
ReplyDeleteThe Monastery area is such a Valley treasure.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI have been a regular visitor to Ogden Valley for about five years and have been following this and other conversations on the Forum. I agree with everyone that the Valley is a special place and that development of all kinds needs to be thoughtfully considered and planned. I don't ordinarily participate in online forums but after reading about the proposed development as well as the some of the facts and other comments being made, I would like to offer an outsider's perspective on the conversation.
I am attempting to make an informed opinion about this issue. To do so, I have read the comments and postings on both sides. For the side in favor of the development, I have read the staff report to the Ogden Valley Planning Commission, the various letters of recommendation, positive comments written by community members from their other projects, etc. Based on this information, I get the sense that they have a track record of solid and respected work in the area. It seems to me that many respected community members have stated on the record a wide variety of positive things -about their work, its impacts on the lives of young people and the larger community. It seems pretty straight forward.
Reading the posts by the opposing side, I get the sense that they believe that a project like this simply does not belong in the Valley, period. To justify this position, it looks like they are willing to post whatever it takes to block it, including scary and very serious accusations. For example, I was alarmed and saddened to read two posts about a rape but after reading further, I found that the person who posted this information offered no evidence to back it up. I also followed up on their description of the negative comments written by kids on various social networking media sites. While I see negative comments are present, it took only a moment to stumble upon other, positive comments written by young people whose lives were changed for the better. Additionally, several of the comments on the online petition are just cruel. ("Shoot them, let God sort them out" and "they are criminals" for example.) Comments such as these coming from members of the community who are concerned about the community's safety and the conduct of the students seems odd or worse. Isn't it correct that the staff report states that the Academy will not accept dangerous kids or sexual offenders? If that is accurate, I wonder if their approach is as much about spreading fear as it is about public safety and preserving the Valley.
While I know there is more to come and more to learn about both sides of the issue, I am just not convinced that the folks behind the development are "VERY STRONG FORCES" who are "attacking" the valley. Based on what I'm reading on this Forum, it seems possible that those who oppose the development are the ones who are on the attack.
Dan Leibowitz
San Francisco, CA
Dan, I respect that you have taken the time to do your own investigation. I also agree that there are some comments that are slap stick and does nothing but hurt what the local people are trying to do... that is, MAINTAIN the zoning that was developed in the Master Plan.
ReplyDeleteThe citizens of the Valley and paid consultants developed the master plan. It is quite simple really, and I think you would agree if you studied it carefully, the zoning is in place for a reason.
If the zoning is to be changed, the community most vote on the change. You must enjoy visiting the Valley since you took the time to let us know how you feel. Do take the time to get in touch with the good people who are fighting for their zoning/property rights and I think you will agree that they are not trying to "attack" the G.V.A. They have spend countless hours gathering FACTS.
Mr. Leibowitz, I appreciate your comments, and am saddened by some of the negative things that are untrue and as you said cruel. The truth is, most of the residents here in Ogden Valley welcome the Green Valley Academy, with open arms. We would just like it to be placed in an area already zoned for such a facility, and for the FV3 zoning to be left as it stands.The FV3 zoning is one of the few buffers we have left with the encroaching developments coming from Powder Mtn. and now Snow Basin. There are many properties available in the valley where this business could establish with proper zoning already in place. The only reason this is an attractive site for such a facility is that it is a distressed property, with the opportunity to purchase at much below market value. It is in the middle of a neighborhood, and does not have the infrastructure to support this. It is also, as mentioned a commercial entity, for that reason alone, it should be placed in a more suitable site than this one
ReplyDelete