The Planning and Zoning Commission meeting tonight in Ames was only a
partial success for environmentalists.

Instead of addressing the city's concerns the developer took considerable
time to complain about the process, especially the negotiations intended to
protect the quality of our groundwater.  Environmentalists learned about
the process late in the negotiations, and Brian O'Connell, Director of
Planing and Housing went back to the developers and brought up those
concerns.  From the attitude we saw last week and tonight it was clear the
city has had a difficult time with them.

A good number of experts testified on water quality and riparian areas.  A
retired Fisheries and Wildlife man gave a speech recommending leaving this
area in a natural state that was poetic.

The decision was to recommend to the city council that they deny the
request for annexation and rezoning with the proviso that certain problems
be solved before approval was granted.

This will have to be fought out before the city council now.  Thanks to Kay
Nyio of Audubon who brought many concerns to the attention of the city and
recommended a list of experts to help guide the process.

There was no mention of endangered or threatened species in any of
this.  It seems unlikely that there would be none in an unaltered landscape
such as this.  If anyone knows anything about  T&E in this area please, can
you contribute to this process?

Peggy Murdock
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