The Rockridge Elementary school property’s proposed rezoning reminds me of the age-old phase “you sleep in the bed you made.” The school district knew from the get go what building zones the schools are in. It also knew the market has its ups and downs. We are now in a down cycle. Why didn’t the district’s budget include a more conservative estimate just in case the market went down?
Homeowners are investors in neighborhoods as well as taxpayers. They deserve a voice in how their investment will be affected by rezoning. The school district forever changed some neighborhoods by closing schools. Now it wants to rezone the properties, which is more change for the neighborhood. Who knows, rezoning may help a neighborhood but it could also make it into something the neighbors did not buy into years ago.
Rezoning will make it easier to sell, the district thinks. Is it the neighborhood’s responsibility to make it easier or is it the school district’s responsibility to budget and plan better?
I’m so glad to see some city councilors slow down this rezoning process to see if the homeowners in this area can meet with prospective buyers to see how their neighborhood will change. Of course there is no guaranty it will turnout as advertised but at least they will have a bit more insight into what their investment will look like.
