Responsible changes
By Cecile Trevathan
Daily Press
May 20, 2007
In response to Amy Hobbs' letter, "Buckroe blame," May 1. Hobbs describes what she feels is a "handful of people" stopping all progress in Buckroe. The effort to save the green space had nothing to do with the private property of Gordon's Trailer Park, Todd's Cottages and Golden Sands sites and only concerned city-owned property paid for by all Hampton residents over many years.
I have stated repeatedly, and publicly, that I was only opposed to the Bayfront initiative portion of the Buckroe Master Plan and that my goal was not to leave Lots B unchanged, but to preserve and develop them for public use.
Over 12,000 Hampton residents signed the petition to keep Lots B public, hundreds attended the October 2005 meeting at the convention center, hundreds attended the October 2006 meetings with the professional park planner in attendance, 601 people participated in the city-sponsored poll of design options. What kind of handful is that?
With the support of like-minded citizens, the Buckroe Master Plan was amended. The original plan developed every bit of Lots B with 421 residential units; the amended plan calls for half of that development, preserves four acres of the B Lots for an extended park area, and saves the mature magnolias on the former amusement park site.
I say thank you to concerned Hampton residents for helping make the changes in Buckroe more responsible. Don't stop here; changes in Buckroe continue and will require citizens' input. Attend the City Council meetings.
Cecile Trevathan
Hampton
