Atlas Twp.- With a vote on the five acre minimum in the rural estate district looming, township officials are accusing a vocal opponent of the re-zoning of flip-flopping.
The Citizen obtained a copy of a letter resident Susan Arnold? who has been at the forefront of the debate as one opposed to the change? wrote several years ago which township officials say is contradictory to what she now publicly argues.
The letter was written to the township in response to attempts to bring a mobile home park to the area. In the letter, Arnold says she supports the township’s master plan. Township officials say this is contrary to her recent opposition to the minimum, which was part of that plan.
‘The township has a plan; it was created to define its pattern for growth… We, the residents of the township, are counting on you…to uphold your master plan,? wrote Arnold.
‘I think that it’s interesting that a short time ago we were faced with a mobile home park and they were all singing out of the songbook that…you must live up to your master plan,? said Township Supervisor Paul Amman. Now they’re saying exactly the opposite.?
‘Sue Arnold stood up in the middle of a planning commission meeting (years ago) and said ‘live up to a master plan.’Now, today she’s saying, ‘don’t, ?? said Amman.
Arnold disagrees.
‘That letter was written in response to the planning commission’s attempt to rezone Porter’s Orchard as a mobile home park. At that time, the master plan spoke of a five acre density which is completely different than a five acre lot size. My point is, in that letter, that rural estate property should not be used for high density property like mobile home parks,? said Arnold.
Additionally, Arnold argues it is the board who is suddenly changing their opinions, having once considered allowing a high population mobile home park and now arguing the rezoning must be upheld to preserve the rural nature of the township.
‘This same planning commission tried to put a mobile home park on Porter’s Orchard…now all the sudden, they’re saying we need to have a five acre lot size,? said Arnold.