McIntosh Questions Indulgent Development

[The comments below (emphasis mine), and other public comments submitted to Ruekert-Mielke regarding the NE Neighborhood, can be found in 6 PDF files on the City's website here under "Comments from 7/12/07 Public Meeting."]

My name is Melanie McIntosh and I am a resident of Fitchburg's Hatchery Hill neighborhood. I have been following the issues involved in Fitchburg's urge to develop outwardly, especially in the eastern direction. Sprawl is a problem most everywhere and it is a problem here as well. Water resources are challenged by the pressures of development and other quality issues most everywhere and they are challenged here as well. Farmland is disappearing most everywhere and it is disappearing here as well.

What is wrong with city and land use planning processes that they don't favor the preservation of natural resources and farmland? Why won't we stand up and initiate new planning processes such as have been adapted in Ashland, Wisconsin and some other communities? Perhaps there isn't the knowledge level on Fitchburg's City Council to be able to move toward such planning processes?

It baffles me that the majority of Fitchburg officials seem to be able to place economic development as paramount over preservation of land to grow food and over water to fulfill basic needs. Even if the aesthetic and moral aspects of preserving nature are set aside, and it seems that they are frequently set aside in this land use planning process, then how do Fitchburg officials square with the idea of no holds barred development of farmland?

And how do Fitchburg officials stand up for a process that puts at risk one of the lakes and wetland areas that make Dane County such a great area to live in? Perhaps it is a problem of putting other community's resources at risk not our own? Hopefully not. Perhaps it is that developers make great neighbors and community leaders? Hopefully not. Or that they are men relating well to the men of the council? Let's hope that isn't the reason. As you can see, I don't understand the dynamics involved in such indulgent approaches to development and the conversion of farmland to more residential developments. It seems the mayor and a few other Council members are impatient when it comes to the discussions of land use and natural resources. I watched part of the testimony on local access television and I learned how impatient the council is with public testimony.

I was attracted to Fitchburg because of the leadership it showed in recycling. I thought it was a community committed to sustainability of natural resources. Was I mistaken?

Please register my view that residential developments should be limited to the areas nearer to Fish Hatchery Road. Please don’t allow unlimited development in the city's northeast area.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my opinion,

Melanie McIntosh
Fitchburg