Viewpoints
Bear Valley Pride Despite
Zoning Ruling
By Lynne Miller
April 28, 2006
Friday
In all my experiences of attending meetings over the years in
city council chambers I have NEVER witnessed such a meeting as
the one held on April 25, 2006 - never. True, it was my first
time specifically attending a ZONING COMMISSION meeting, but
truth be told, it was the most surreal civics experience of my
life.
Robert's rule were quoted, gavels were employed, votes were taken
and everyone at the council table was all smiles, never mind
the packed house of disinvited participants shut out from any
process of inclusion in this topic, anyone from the "public"
other than a singular Bicknell spokesperson. 123 names from a
petition on behalf of opposing Bear Valley residents, a packed
house of concerned Bear Valley residents in attendance in the
chambers that night and the result was an overturning of a previous
ruling that will only continue to bolster the ideation that "industrialized"
concrete and asphalt operations on one day or all year round
is acceptable and appropriate within CLOSE (too close) proximity
to this residental neighborhood - a neighborhood that never asked
for industrialization/"commercialization" from the
zoning commission in the first place. Never.
What was present and not noted at that meeting and not chronicled
by Mr. Van Essen in his letter or put upon any other public record
was the level of expressed PRIDE and mutual appreciation for
each other's neighborly concerns and for each other personally
that was present upon those caring Bear Valley residents in attendance
at that zoning meeting. All good and well intentioned tax paying
persons, many of them having spent as much time researching this
asphalt/concrete issue as most of those sitting on the zoning
commission itself. Disinvited from public process but stellar
in their committment to "try" to stop this overt attack
upon their neighborhood and their neighbors. So Bravo Bear Valley
Residents for respectfully "trying". I am proud to
call you my neighbors and to live amongst you.
Lynne Miller
Ketchikan, AK - USA
About: Lynne Miller is a 20+ year resident of Southeast Alaska.
Related Viewpoint:
 Integrity
& ethical behavior lacking By Jon T. Van Essen - Ketchikan,
AK - USA
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