Letter: Many are concerned about proposal

Regarding The Gazette's Sept. 11 editorial 'A clear decision” supporting the proposed Crestwood Ridge apartment development:

One statement mentions that CommonBond sent notices to neighbors and held a 'sparsely” attended meeting in early February. The Gazette fails to mention that the notices were only sent to 6-8 homes, located within 100 yards of the proposed site. When CommonBond sent notices to a larger audience in regard to a public information meeting to be held July 28, some estimates listed the attendance of concerned neighbors at 150-200 people. An article in The Gazette the next day stated that 'more than 50 residents attended.” Technically correct, but also misleading.

Another statement mentions that 'Until late April, when the project came before the Cedar Rapids Planning Commission for a routine rezoning, there was no evidence of community sentiment against it.” How could the community display sentiment against this development when they weren't aware of the project before this time?

Is The Gazette editorial staff more qualified to evaluate the feasibility of this site then the zoning commission, who voted against this site by a 6-1 margin in May? Developers have inquired about purchasing this property in the past and were told multifamily development there would not be looked upon favorably by the city. What's changed now?

Another fact in the article that needs corrected wasn't the fault of The Gazette. Five hundred and forty-nine signatures from the 'noisy chorus” in opposition have been turned over to city officials, not 214.

Boyd Severson

Cedar Rapids