HomeMy WebLinkAboutA004 - Letter from Shirleen Formaker dated June 7, 2011 June 7, 2011
Dear Zoning Board of Adjustment Members Mr. Calhoun, Ms. Erbes, Ms. McJimsey, Mr. Taylor, and Mr.
Weber,
Stephen Bohlen has requested a permit to conduct a counseling business in his newly-acquired home at
2507 White Oak Drive. It would be ill-advised for your board to grant such a request for many reasons.
Mr. Bohlen shoulders the responsibility to make a showing of compelling, substantive reasons for allowing
him to conduct business in a residential neighborhood versus a commercial zone. He cannot do so.
First and foremost, it is entirely unnecessary to locate his business in any residential neighborhood. A
simple drive around the town of Ames proves there are many vacant, available commercial
spots/professional offices better suited to a counseling business. Simply because Mr. Bohlen wishes the
convenience of not leaving his home to conduct business -or because he chooses to avoid paying rent in
a commercial space - is not sufficient reason to alter the normal residential character of the Oakwood
Subdivision. He just moved into the neighborhood. He should have considered the existing zoning laws
before purchasing the property and expecting long-term residents to accept his request to alter the
existing land use.
Secondly, neither his newly-acquired home nor the parking in front of it are amenable to a business.
Parking is quite unwieldy in this situation. Mr. Bohlen's home occupation immediately and automatically
impacts his new neighbors, because the house in question sits on a curve, and there is so little curb
length, it is impossible to legally park directly in front of the applicant's home. Please also be aware that
the neighbor opposite him on that curve has six mailboxes fronting his property. The counseling clientele
will be forced to park in front of someone else's home further along the street. We, on White Oak Drive,
already contend with inconsiderate drivers who block our driveways and mailboxes; we are loathe to
purposely add to the problem. If Mr. Bohlen is contemplating allowing his clients to park in his own
driveway, that also is objectionable. Multiple cars parked in that driveway(and we have noticed there are
already one or two vehicles routinely parked there) would lead to a "stacking" situation, wherein vehicles
would inevitably be parked over the sidewalk.
Thirdly, I am, admittedly, concerned about the type of clientele Mr. Bohlen would be inviting into our
residential neighborhood. On his website for his business at his former location, he advertises counseling
services for, among other things: anger, depression, anxiety, stress, marriage, and financial issues. By
the very nature of the business, many of his clients will probably be seeking his services because they
have been court-ordered to do so. They may even be resentful they are being compelled to enter our
neighborhood to visit their counselor. Is this the type of person who will be courteous and respectful of Mr.
Bohlen's neighbors and their properties? Likely not.
Fourthly, it is unnecessary and unwise to set a precedent for locating a business in this neighborhood
zoned as residential low density . We do not wish to see our neighborhood deteriorate into a congested,
semi-commercial zone.
It is your duty to maintain the integrity of the real estate zones as defined by the citizens of Ames and to
protect the neighboring property owners who will inevitably be impacted by this permit. I strongly urge you
to deny Mr. Bohlen's request.
Sincerely,
Shirleen Formaker (2612 White Oak Drive, Ames, IA)