Post by unlawflcombatnt on Feb 18, 2010 4:44:36 GMT -6
CBS News first ran this story on Tuesday, February 16th, where the desires of developer KB Homes trumped the will of nearly all the people in the town of Menifee, California.
A city council meeting was held (and shown on CBS) where the citizens of Menifee voiced almost universal opposition to a new housing project in their area. Despite the well-known and vocal opposition of the People, however, the city council voted to approve the land-grabbing deal by KB Homes.
Again, the city council was completely aware of the near unanimous opposition by the people they represent, but still approved the deal. (Think TARP.)
from the Press Enterprise:
Menifee approves deal on housing development
Tues, Feb. 16, 2010
By JULISSA McKINNON
"In exchange for 20 acres of land, the Menifee City Council freed a housing developer from having to do any further environmental study on a 166-acre project site off Murrieta Road in rural southern Menifee.
The council's 3-1 vote Tuesday -- with Vice Mayor Fred Twyman dissenting and Mayor Wallace Edgerton absent -- came after "several" area residents beseeched the council to stop the 513-home project. (CBS reported that nearly all present at the meeting were opposed.)
City officials explained that because of a previous approval in 2004 by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, developer KB Homes already had the right to build the Hidden Hills subdivision.
The question was whether the council could seal a deal in which the city would give the builder an 80 percent discount on developer fees and guarantee it would not ask for more environmental study. In exchange, the developer will donate a 20-acre site just east of the project for a future park or recreational facility, according to officials. Currently, the city is extending a 65 percent discount to all developers.
However, some residents still pushed the City Council to try to undo the county approval and reconsider allowing a high-density housing tract amid ranch properties where horses and other livestock are common.
"This area was always intended for larger lots. Just because the county violated the Sun City-Menifee Valley Community Plan does not mean this body should," said Kathleen Evans, an area resident since 1978, referring to a community plan that was supposed to guide development and county approvals in southern Menifee"
A city council meeting was held (and shown on CBS) where the citizens of Menifee voiced almost universal opposition to a new housing project in their area. Despite the well-known and vocal opposition of the People, however, the city council voted to approve the land-grabbing deal by KB Homes.
Again, the city council was completely aware of the near unanimous opposition by the people they represent, but still approved the deal. (Think TARP.)
from the Press Enterprise:
Menifee approves deal on housing development
Tues, Feb. 16, 2010
By JULISSA McKINNON
"In exchange for 20 acres of land, the Menifee City Council freed a housing developer from having to do any further environmental study on a 166-acre project site off Murrieta Road in rural southern Menifee.
The council's 3-1 vote Tuesday -- with Vice Mayor Fred Twyman dissenting and Mayor Wallace Edgerton absent -- came after "several" area residents beseeched the council to stop the 513-home project. (CBS reported that nearly all present at the meeting were opposed.)
City officials explained that because of a previous approval in 2004 by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, developer KB Homes already had the right to build the Hidden Hills subdivision.
The question was whether the council could seal a deal in which the city would give the builder an 80 percent discount on developer fees and guarantee it would not ask for more environmental study. In exchange, the developer will donate a 20-acre site just east of the project for a future park or recreational facility, according to officials. Currently, the city is extending a 65 percent discount to all developers.
However, some residents still pushed the City Council to try to undo the county approval and reconsider allowing a high-density housing tract amid ranch properties where horses and other livestock are common.
"This area was always intended for larger lots. Just because the county violated the Sun City-Menifee Valley Community Plan does not mean this body should," said Kathleen Evans, an area resident since 1978, referring to a community plan that was supposed to guide development and county approvals in southern Menifee"