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Help us stop Olympian Drive: The time is NOW for action
3/3/2010 5:19pm by Leslie Cooperband or Wes Jarrell
Dear Friends of Prairie Fruits Farm:
I know many of you have been following the situation with the proposed road extension next to our farm. We are now in a critical period during which the local governments of Urbana, Champaign and Champaign County will be making decisions about whether they plan to contribute their portion of the $30 million budget to fund this road project. As I write, a delegation of public officials and business interests is in Washington, DC visiting our Congressman Tim Johnson, Senator Dick Durbin and Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation to convince them that federal dollars are needed for this project.
Please click on the link below to read more about what YOU can do to help us stop Olympian Drive. If local and federal elected officials hear that their constituents (not just a small group of disgruntled landowners, as they are casting us in the media) DON'T want this road, perhaps we can sway their votes toward a NO. Thank you for your support.
http://sfc.smallfarmcentral.com/dynamic_content/uploadfiles/167/Say%20No%20to%20Olympian%20Drive%20FINAL[1].pdf
I know many of you have been following the situation with the proposed road extension next to our farm. We are now in a critical period during which the local governments of Urbana, Champaign and Champaign County will be making decisions about whether they plan to contribute their portion of the $30 million budget to fund this road project. As I write, a delegation of public officials and business interests is in Washington, DC visiting our Congressman Tim Johnson, Senator Dick Durbin and Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation to convince them that federal dollars are needed for this project.
Please click on the link below to read more about what YOU can do to help us stop Olympian Drive. If local and federal elected officials hear that their constituents (not just a small group of disgruntled landowners, as they are casting us in the media) DON'T want this road, perhaps we can sway their votes toward a NO. Thank you for your support.
http://sfc.smallfarmcentral.com/dynamic_content/uploadfiles/167/Say%20No%20to%20Olympian%20Drive%20FINAL[1].pdf
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 08:37:28 -0600
From: Clint Popetz
Subject: Re: [Heuna] Input sought on Olympian Drive
To: Dennis Roberts
Cc: HEUNA
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Dennis,
First of all, thanks for your detailed letter. The argument I'm hearing
for this road is:
(1) Champaign built half of it already.
(2) It's been planned for a long time.
(3) There's federal funding for it.
(4) It's the best possible east-west route.
(5) We've eaten up farmland before, so there's precedent.
(6) We can't sprawl south, so we need to sprawl north.
(7) No one complained until now, so these people complaining are
reactionary.
(8) Champaign is growing more than we are in this way, and it looks bad.
None of that is incredibly compelling to me. You write "We are forced to
look for growth opportunities and expansion for our city" because of falling
revenues. I'm sorry, but revenues fall by nature during recessions, and I
fail to see how that makes this kind of land grab ok. By the time any
potential (and at this point hypothetical) development has happened on the
proposed extension, this recession will be distant history. But once
destroyed, that land can't be taken back. I don't support this extension,
and no one I've talked to about it (and I've talked to a lot of Urbana's
citizens, including many in your ward) supports it. I'm sure supporters
(besides Clint Atkins) exist, but your implication that those complaining
are not Urbana citizens is false.
Farmland matters. Even corn and beans. What's more, it's not all corn and
beans anymore, and land that is corn and beans can be transitioned to grow
other things, whereas land covered in concrete cannot. I urge you to
reconsider your support for this project.
-Clint
On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 5:24 PM, Dennis Roberts <
drobertscitycouncil@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> ------------------------------
> Dear Members of HEUNA
>
> I hope this discussion will be seen and allowed as relevant to the members
> of HEUNA, though the topic is outside the immediate boundaries of the august
> neighborhood association.
>
> I am seeking wider public opinion feedback on the Champaign-Urbana area
> Long Range Transportation Plan now being reviewed by the County and the City
> Councils of Urbana and Champaign. Specifically, completing and developing
> Olympian Drive in north Urbana. I have seen a lot of arguments in the local
> paper, and of the 23 emails I have received on this topic so far, only one
> person was from my ward. (Five people were from Chicago, Peoria, or other
> communities completely outside the C-U area.)
>
> I understand the concern of the community about this project. However, as a
> member of the City Council, I have an obligation to seriously consider long
> range city planning and in securing whatever funding is possible to offset
> the city's financial obligations related to road planning, engineering and
> construction.
>
> An East-West route for north Urbana, connecting it to the expressway I-57,
> and Cunningham Avenue has been proposed for the last 16 or so years. Just as
> Windsor road serves south C-U, and connects our cities along its southern
> boundary, establishing a dedicated road to do this across the northern
> perimeter was envisioned quite a while back. This road was not opposed until
> recently.
>
> Champaign has already completed construction on its part of the roadway,
> and awaits Urbana's completion of the eastern section. Common sense suggests
> that, with one half of the project done, the road should be completed as
> envisioned. This serves the future of not only Urbana but the entire C-U
> community. This is a long range planning project, just as the extension of
> city sewer services, sanitation pumping stations, and fire protection
> services are planned for city expansion and development. These plans are
> based on expected commercial and residential development and population
> growth projections.
>
> I have talked with Community Development Director Libby Tyler specifically
> about the route of the proposed completion of Olympian Drive. We reviewed a
> detailed aerial photo map of the route with the property owners and their
> properties clearly marked, and Libby went over the full route with me. It
> became obvious that the route as proposed was basically the best possible
> pathway across north Urbana.
>
> My concern was that the route would follow existing property boundaries and
> divisions as much as possible to avoid cutting any farm in half. Also, I
> wanted to know why the road could not follow an existing road, which would
> make best use of current travel routes and existing pavement. Looking at the
> topography, the way the Saline Creek cuts through these farmlands, the
> widening of the railroad tracks immediately south of the proposed route, and
> the number of homes built right along the existing roads in this area made
> me realize that these established roads were actually very problematic.
>
> Using the exiting Olympian Drive is problematic due to 18 homes which are
> built along the existing roadway. This makes enlarging the road width here
> to accommodate the highway easement requirements impossible without moving
> the houses away from the road, or demolishing them. This route would also go
> right through the woodlands along the Saline Creek, on property owned by
> Katherine Grierson, Terrence ONeill, and Bill Cope. This route would
> require a longer bridge to cross both the Saline Creek (which would have to
> be crossed at an angle here) and the RR tracks, which expanded to multiple
> tracks directly south of the Olympian Road location proposed in the plan.
> This fact about the RR tracks splitting into multiple lines as they approach
> Urbana's rail yards effectively prohibits the construction of the highway
> anywhere to the south of the current proposed route.
>
> Looking to the north, there is a clean division of property lines one
> quarter section further north, which might afford a very appealing route.
> The only problem would be that it brings the road within about 40 feet of
> the home of property owner Wesley Jarrel and Prairie Fruits Farm. If the
> road were placed here it would be even *closer* to their business.
>
> Ford Harris Road is the next existing roadway to the north which might
> serve as the proposed route. However this road is outside the service area
> of the Champaign-Urbana Sanitary District. There is no sewer line service to
> this area. Any development this far north would also require the
> construction of a new sanitation pumping station.
>
> As Alderman for not only East Urbana, but also for North Cunningham Avenue
> as far as the city limits along E. Airport Road, I am very interested in the
> development and commercial growth in the northern section of town. I am
> especially interested creating the possibility of locating light industry,
> new technological parks, and commercial shopping here for the residents in
> north Urbana, where new subdivisions have mushroomed up in the past four
> years. North Cunningham Avenue and a new Olympian Road above Frasca Field
> provides a great location for future development of this type. This area of
> Urbana has virtually no commercial shopping venues to support necessities
> like food stores, drugstores, restaurants, or other needs, yet is sits right
> off an exit on our interstate. If we do not want all our retail tax income
> to always go to the City of Champaign, this is an area needing inspired
> development and our serious support.
>
> Incidentally, all of the new subdivisions being built now off E. Airport
> Road have been or will be annexed into the city, adding value to the city
> property tax roles which support our schools, parks, and Parkland College.
> Just 18% of this is earmarked as city revenues.
>
> The Future Land Use map (#1) of the City of Urbana Comprehensive Plan
> Update, 2005, draft 11/2004, earmarks this area of north Urbana as "Light
> Industrial," and "Rural / Argi Business along 45." To the west: "capitalize
> on access to RR," and at the Creek: "Saline Branch: protects stream,
> provides trail area, buffers industrial and residential uses. Explore Future
> park acquisition small scale.""
>
> Light industrial and strong commercial development is better suited to this
> area and for the extension of N. Lincoln Rd. than along S. Philo Road or
> even South 130 and the Menard's store site (which actually includes large
> segments of residential planned developments).
>
> Development here does not have to even resemble North Prospect Avenue. We
> have a better planning example: The Pines and other recent construction on
> South Windsor, which provides wonderful shopping choices in a refined
> setting, including lots of landscaping, attractive retention ponds, custom
> lighting, and sculpture.
>
> Just a few days ago the newspaper informed us that the Pells Experimental
> Farm and apple orchards along E. Windsor Road at Philo Rd. is about to be
> purchased from the University Foundation by a family famous for not placing
> properties into development. This potentially limits our growth potential in
> a key economic development area of the city.
>
> The route of a new Olympian Road as outlined in the Long Range
> Transportation Study coming before Council review later this month is
> supported by all but two of the property owners along its length.
>
> I believe there is a way we can assist Prairie Fruits Farm to survive the
> construction of the roadway along the southern edge of their property:
> provide vegetative screening and high berms to eliminate the sight of the
> roadway from their barns and to reduce any traffic noise. From a marketing
> point of view, I believe having property near Olympian Drive as extended
> will offer a direct increase to their business by many additional customers
> who will be able to access their business more easily. Will it be possible
> to continue to feed and milk the goats and make the cheese on this property?
> I believe so.
>
> Finally, I want to talk about the argument about the loss of valuable
> farmland to development. It is known that there is no part of Urbana which
> was not first a farm. Originally there were the Busey and Webber farms.
> These farmers donated 40 acres to plat the original site of "Urbana". They
> and their heirs divided these holdings, subdivided them, and sold sections
> to residential development for a profit. This was how Urbana grew. In the
> 1920's the city limits to the south was Washington Street, all the rest was
> cornfields. Recently most of southeast Champaign and northern Savoy has been
> developed into extensive residential developments, even across the west side
> of the interstate. Who has questioned any of this development?
>
> Probably 95% of all the farmable land in this county is devoted to growing
> yellow dent corn and soy beans. This is not eating corn, it is production
> corn. Its ultimate actual use is in the creation of feed lot silage, corn
> syrup, etahol, and soy food additives. If the farm land in question (other
> than the admirable Prairie Fruits Farm) which would be reduced
> in acreage by this road construction actually produced edible bounty like
> tomatoes, chard, green beans, potatoes, wheat, peppers or even flowers, this
> argument certainly would have greater veracity. The fact is that these farms
> are planting the highest yield cash crop they can, and this is duplicated in
> every county in Central Illinois, not to mention most of Missouri, Indiana,
> Iowa, and Kansas. During some years commercial grade corn production in
> Illinois is so extensive that it cannot be held in grain elevators, it can
> be seen stacked in huge mountains to wait for future delivery. This is not
> "organic farming".
>
> The City of Champaign is outgrowing Urbana by about 3:1. Urbana in the not
> distant past had a flat growth in population over one full census period.
> The City is trying in every way possible to bring growth to the community.
> Since we cannot actually really control private property use or how
> development happens here other than through offering business incentives,
> our statutes and zoning, or through development and annexation agreements.
> With the serious shape of our present economy we need to prepare every
> possible avenue for our future financial success.
>
> Personally, I am much more invested in infill development, and I and city
> staff have placed hours of personal time into projects which I hope will
> stimulate economic success in our downtown and nearby areas like 5 Points
> Gateway Shops at University and Cunningham Avenue. Currently we are starting
> to see the fruit of this effort as more businesses move into our downtown
> and open at Lincoln Square Village. There is much more that can be achieved
> here, but encouraging development elsewhere is also a priority, certainly
> one of every prosperous city. You must also realize that this year is the
> first where city revenues have fallen short of city expenses. We are forced
> to look for growth opportunities and expansion for our city. This is an
> economic necessity.
>
> For these reasons I do support the completion of Olympian Drive, not this
> year, but certainly in the fairly near future. I support the drafting of
> engineering plans now, which would include:
>
> 1. Efficient and economical planning
> 2. Most economical way to bridge the Railroad tracks
> 3. Crossing the Saline Creek with smallest disturbance to forested areas
> and riparian passages
> 4. Earth berms, landscaping, and green-scape design to lessen impact on
> local farms
> 5. Inclusion of a recreational multi use pedestrian and bike pathway along
> the entire route
> 6. Landscaped, restricted access points to commercial and residential areas
> 7. Residential subdivisions which include greenways and trails
> 8. Public access and parking at Saline Creek for recreational use, mini
> park or nature area
> 9. Urbana Arts Commission involvement in features of bridge design, and
> public art opportunities where appropriate.
> 10. Sustainable engineering: design, lighting, materials, and construction
> 11. Archaeological inventory of possible historic sites before construction
>
> I would be very happy to get your input on these suggestions.
>
> Sincerely,
> Dennis Roberts
> Ward 5 City Council
>
> drobertscitycouncil@yahoo.com
>
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