Atlas Twp.-Debate is heating up over the proposed five acre minimum lot size in portions of Atlas Township.
Some officials, including Rick Misek, vice-president of the township planning commission, say the change to a larger minimum lot size has been part of the township’s master plan since 1991, and is necessary to preserve the rural landscape.
Dennis Storrs disagrees.
Storrs, 54, says he’s lived in Atlas for 24 years, and fears the exclusionary nature of such a high minimum lot size.
‘One of the big issues that I have is we have a close family,? says Storrs. ‘I don’t think there’s going to be very many kids who’ve grown up in this town who are going to be able to afford to live in it. With young people starting out? they’re not going to be able to buy five acres of land.?
Storrs has concerns the increased minimum lot size will stall community growth in a negative way.
‘For any town to be healthy, it has to grow,? says Storrs. ‘I believe in ‘slow growth?, not ‘no growth.??
Storrs said the growth issues he warns of will also impact other aspects of the community, including, he says, the educational system.
Not only will the increased minimum keep out potential new students and the funding they bring with them, says Storrs, but will make it increasingly difficult to move teachers into the community as well.
Misek said this is not the case.
‘The land can be priced affordably or unaffordably depending upon the land owner and the developer,? said Misek.
And as for Storrs? argument regarding the educational system, Misek says he strongly disagrees.
‘The efforts of planned growth in Atlas Township have kept the growth numbers in the school district at a very reasonable level,? said Misek.
Additionally, Storrs says the rights of land owners would be negatively impacted if the rezoning takes place.
Land owners ‘may never split their property, but they should have the right to do that if they wish,? says Storrs. ‘I understand people want to keep a rural atmosphere’I do, too’but we paid a lot of money for a good sized piece of property.?
Property that Storrs says should be able to be sold in such a way as to maximize profit. By forcing land owners to sell property in bigger chunks, they are unable to sell as many parcels, limiting their potential profit.
Misek counters that contention by saying the needs of the community outweigh the needs of the individual to profit as much as possible from a land sale.
One of the major reasons behind the proposed plan is to minimize stress on township roads, Misek told The Citizen in October.
‘There’s not enough funding to maintain the level of existing roads,? said Misek.
By changing the minimum lot size, Misek predicts a decrease of 67 percent in generated traffic, citing information that a single lot in the township generates about 15 trips down the road per day.
Despite concerns voiced over slowing growth in the community, Misek said the township will continue to grow, but in a more controlled way if the proposal is approved.
‘The idea that if you’re not going forward you’re going backward? is not true in this instance,? said Misek. ‘Growth is still occurring.?