Central Property Owners Beware!

    I fully support the Master Plan and always have, but I fear the next proposed steps to implement the plan may be ignoring the rights of property owners.  
    Central needs to ensure controlled growth that preserves our quiet lifestyle while allowing reasonable economic development.  However, on May 27th Central’s City Council will take a vote as to whether to rezone every piece of property in our 66 square mile city, all at once, and many if not most of the property owners will be completely unaware that it is happening.
    Central’s ordinance requires that if your neighbor wants to rezone HIS property, YOU must be sent a certified letter notifying you of this, because it may affect your enjoyment of your property.  However, there is a clause in that ordinance allowing the City of Central government to rezone YOUR property without sending YOU a certified letter.  Knowing that your property is proposed to be rezoned is what gives you the right to come before our City Council and object to the action.
    Some of the proposed rezoning of property will have little effect on the property owners, but one large change is that owners of rural property who can currently build a home on one acre would be limited to one home per three acres under the new zoning.  An example would be a couple who lives on five acres and wants to subdivide the property to allow their son to build a home on the property.  With a limit of one house per three acres, that would not be allowed.
    My fundamental concern is over property rights in general.  I do understand that the legal basis for all land use regulation is the police power of the city to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of its residents.  However, to claim that 100% of the city must suddenly be rezoned “to protect the public health, safety and welfare” all at once, seems to be a governmental over-reach.  I am a fan of limited government whenever possible.
    I will explain this stance further next week, but the simple answer may be to rename the proposed “Zoning Map” and call it a “Land Use Map” to be used as a guide for all future rezoning requests, and not do a mass rezoning at all.  This would control and direct Central’s future growth without infringing on the property rights of our citizens.
    I will leave you with two questions and a challenge.  While it may be legal, is it right for our city government to rezone the property of its citizens without specifically notifying the property owners of the action to be taken?  Should property owners be “grandfathered in” and retain the rights they had when they bought the property?  Your challenge is to consider this proposed mass rezoning and either contact your council members or show up at the council meeting at 6PM on May 27th and express your concerns.