Reckless Development

5/8/25 letter to county from Madame Watchdog:

For years, this city pursued aggressive development on land known by residents and experts alike to contain expansive wetlands—144 acres in one section and nearly 500 acres in another. Despite repeated concerns from the community, the city moved forward, aligning with developers to plan thousands of homes over these sensitive areas, all without conducting a single environmental impact study. 

Let’s be clear: this land sits directly over our aquifer, the very resource that sustains our community’s water needs. And yet, the city showed no hesitation in pushing forward with plans that risked permanent damage to our ecosystem. 

Now, in a sudden reversal following the private purchase of the 500-acre parcel by a concerned citizen—someone who acted in the public’s best interest—the city is claiming that this area is no longer suitable for development because it is, in fact, a wetland. 

This is not environmental stewardship. This is hypocrisy.

For years, the presence of wetlands was ignored, downplayed, or brushed aside. The science didn’t change. The geography didn’t change. What changed is ownership. And now, rather than admitting past failures or acknowledging the efforts of community members who stepped up when the city would not, the city is taking the easy way out and pretending this was the plan all along. 

This isn’t just a reversal—it’s a cop out, and the public sees it for what it is. 

If the city is serious about transparency and accountability, it must acknowledge this history. Own the fact that development was pursued recklessly. Most importantly, commit to conducting full environmental impact assessments for any future projects—before developers are invited to the table.

 Anything less is an insult to our intelligence and our environment. Donna