Washington’s City Council ended a year long controversy on the City’s east side when they defeated a proposed ordinance that would have rezoned two lots in White Ridge by a 3-4 vote.
The proposed ordinance would have rezoned the lots to Residential-2 Family from its current Residential-Single Family so Lengacher Construction could build duplexes on the lots facing Eastside Park Road. As a condition of the rezone, Lengacher Construction would have been required to build a much needed second access road to the White Ridge Subdivision. City leaders have discussed the need for a second access route to the area. Estimates for building the road range as high a $500,000.
Prior to Monday’s meeting the City Council held a open hearing to get public input on the proposed ordinance. While some residents agreed that a second road entrance to the White Ridge area is needed, every resident who spoke at the meeting was against the zoning change despite the fact it would have required the developer to provide the second road. All of the residents expressed concern about the negative effect the proposed duplexes could have on property values and the change the duplexes would make in the character of the neighborhood. Ray Lengacher, the owner of Lengacher Construction attended the meeting but did not speak.
