Resident urges council to reconsider Double Oak trails and nearby development, raises neighborhood impacts

During the community forum at the Jan. 6 meeting, resident Jenny Hodges (222 Pen Oak Drive) urged the Chelsea City Council to reconsider a trails project at Double Oak and to revisit the council's earlier actions relating to a proposed Target/GBT development.

Hodges said she appreciates council members who spoke in favor of protecting land and said open, undeveloped land is important to preserving Chelsea’s character. She acknowledged she had not been fully informed earlier, met with the mayor, and said she is not in favor of the Target/GBT project. Hodges asked the council to consider whether the change of zoning is final and if the council has the authority or tools to reconsider the decision.

She raised specific neighborhood concerns including traffic, light pollution and the loss of what she described as "the essence of what is Chelsea," and questioned the use of tax incentives for the developer. Hodges asked the council to explore any method that might derail or revisit the decision and also noted that her neighborhood needs resurfacing.

Later in the meeting a questioner asked about the mayor's veto power on that matter. Mayor Cody Saunders responded that a veto must be filed within 10 days and that overriding a veto would require a two-thirds majority — in this council's five-member body that would require four votes to override.