Hyde
Park discusses taking away smokers' rights
By Lexie Kite
February 3, 2005 | HYDE PARK -- Banning
the right to smoke on all city-owned property was discussed
Tuesday night by the City Council.
"We are applying for a $14,000 grant for our city
parks as part of the Health Community awards program,"
Councilman Charles Wheeler said."In order to qualify
for the grant, we need a written ordinance declaring
smoking to be illegal on all city-owned property."
During the discussion, four councilmen were in agreement
with the Smoke-Free Parks and Recreational Areas ordinance
and one was opposed.
"I'm not opposed to the intent of the ordinance,"
Councilman Robert Balls said. "But isn't it possible
to participate in the awards program without making
tobacco illegal in our community?"
Mayor David Kooyman said he is not against the ordinance,
but he is worried about whether or not his friends who
smoke would be offended by it.
"I think it is a good idea because smoking offends
people," Councilman David Suisse said. "I think we are
seeing this ordinance passed more and more often across
the nation because it is a good idea."
The council had agreed to hold a public hearing to
discuss the Smoke Free Parks and Recreational Areas
ordinance Tuesday during their regular city council
meeting.
The council approved the final plat of the Shadow
Bluff Estates subdivision phase two with little discussion
Tuesday night. Steve Ashment, property developer, presented
a brief overview of the projected development of residential
building lots in the southeast corner of the city. The
council unanimouly approved the plans.
Planned unit development housing for senior citizens
was also discussed. Suisse said he believed many Hyde
Park residents are leery of planned unit developments
because the general idea is that housing developers
will overtake all open space in the community.
"If people are leery of this ordinance, they should
learn to see this housing as a functional, nice, well-groomed
part of the city," former city councilman Reed Elder
said.
The council discussed placing a limit on the percentage
of single-family retirement housing Hyde Park will accommodate.
"I believe placing a limit on the housing for seniors
is a benefit to retaining the rural aspect of our community,"
Wheeler said.
Kooyman said the council has agreed on the development
of the senior citizen housing, but still needs the answers
to a few questions regarding the amount of acreage to
allow for the area and the number of houses in the development.
Discussion on this ordinance will continue in March
and will be analyzed by Planning and Zoning at their
next meeting, Kooyman said.
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