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Neighbors urge Bolivar R-I to preserve buffer behind Hartford neighborhood during ECLC rezoning
Summary
Residents told the school board they want a 4.39-acre field and existing trees left undeveloped as the district consolidates lots for the ECLC addition, asking for the chance to buy adjoining parcels or a written commitment to maintain a buffer.
John Letman, who lives on North Hartford Avenue, urged the Bolivar R-I Board of Education to leave a 4.39-acre field behind his neighborhood undeveloped and to stop further tree removal as the district proceeds with an ECLC (Early Childhood Learning Center) consolidation and construction process. "My request is that the school not develop the 4.39 acre field...and not to remove any more of the trees on that property so that we can maintain our view," Letman said.
Other neighbors echoed that appeal. Eric McCaslin said the homeowners who border the school property would like an opportunity to buy the land west of an existing fence so they would hold a deeded assurance that the land would not be developed. "I am asking the school to sell all the property that lies west of the existing fence...to the present homeowners of Hutchwood Subdivision," McCaslin said. Karen McCaslin described long residency and the loss of tree buffers, imploring the board that "just because you can doesn't mean you should."
District operations staff acknowledged ongoing work with the city to resolve zoning matters and consolidate multiple district-owned lots into a single parcel as an administrative step related to the ECLC addition. Executive director of operations Mike Pitts told the board staff and city officials have been meeting to "clean up the documentation of this district-owned property" and said construction milestones (windows installed, insulation and drywall underway) mean interior work is progressing.
Board members thanked the speakers and said they would consider the neighborhood concerns as the district moves forward with planning. The public-comment speakers asked either for a written commitment that the small field remain undeveloped, or for the district to offer the adjoining homeowners an opportunity to purchase portions of the land. The board did not take a formal vote on those requests during the meeting; the district announced it would continue coordination with the city and consider the materials presented by neighbors.
The matter is part of the district's broader ECLC construction planning and zoning work; the board later recessed to closed session for separate business. The district said it aims to keep the process transparent and to work toward a positive result for both the school and nearby residents.
