UPDATE June 19th:
The Allen County Planing Commission’s executive committee did not come to an unanimous decision Thursday June 19th. Thus the project will now be sent back to the full plan commission for another NEW Public Hearing July 10th -- See the new News articles below.  Stay involved, please continue to contact the involved people and make your voice heard. Be sure to attend the July 10th public meeting as well and make your voice heard.

UPDATE June 12th:

Plan Commission Vote Delayed One Week -- fortwaynepolitics.com

The June 12th meeting yielded a delay in the vote by the Allen County Planning Commission. However please continue to contact the involved people and make your voice heard before the new Thursday, June 19th meeting this week when the new vote will be made. The executive committee will meet at 11:30 a.m. June 19th to decide the Minor Plat Ordinance issue, and the plan commission will meet at 1:30 p.m. to consider lifting the restrictive covenant.

Chronological overview (live blogging) of the June 12th, 2008 Allen County Planning Commission's public meeting concerning Canyon Cliffs, provided by Fort Wayne Politics. - READ HERE -

ACRES Land Trust - Offers to buy property:

Email: Open Letter to the City of Fort Wayne, Allen County Plan Commission from
Cedar Creek Wildlife Project (CCWP) (  READ HERE  )
Email: to Charles Bodenhafer -- Friday, June 13th 2008 (  READ HERE  )
Email: Open Letter to the City of Fort Wayne, Allen County and the Allen County Planning Commission --  Wednesday, June 11th 2008 (  READ HERE  )
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Overview:
Canyon Cliffs Housing Development (139 acre development) at the corner of Chapman and Coldwater Roads, is swiftly and quietly making its way through the Fort Wayne Allen County local government and legislation. The bulldozers, heavy machinery and trucks loaded with building materials lay in wait to rip through and gut one of Allen Counties most beautiful and pristine wooded and prairie areas as the Allen County Planning Commission quietly alters and passes the needed ordinances to destroy this land and its surroundings.

The stage is set and the plans are ready to turn one of Allen Counties natural treasures into a housing development (with single lots rumored to be offered around and in excess of $200,000 in some cases). Turning this luscious and unique ecosystem into a maze of concrete, just another subdivision in a local housing market continuing to falter and weaken. Far away from Harrison Square and downtown revitalization, with the same government that seeks to revitalize downtown, they are also seeking to destroy one of Allen Counties natural treasures located on one of its farthest reaches. Even the school bus routes have already been planned and are in place. But maybe you are unaware of this silent destruction set for this local treasure?

How will the proposed sewer line under Cedar Creek effect the local ecosystem, what will happen if and when the pipe breaks? How much land around Cedar Creek will need to be destroyed and altered to install the sewer? How will the destruction of 139 acres impact the present ecosystem and surrounding 17 private parcels of land adjoining Cedar Creek that have special distinction as State Nature Preserves, Allen County Parks, ACRES land preserves, as well as special forested land used for Girl Scouts and the Izaak Walton League? This project will have significant and detrimental impact upon these and surrounding areas.

All of this proposed along a river (Cedar Creek) that is one of 3 in the entire State of Indiana designated as an Indiana Natural Scenic and Recreational River. 

So are we seeking to revitalize or destroy Allen County ?
We cant do both!

Will this be "A great place to live" as we claim, when generations to come will have only subdivisions and the trees in someones yard as nature? When generations to come will have to drive hours to find such beauty as the beauty that lays along the Cedar Creek...

Conflict of Interest?

Charles Bodenhafer is:
A.) Owner of the property that is proposed for development
B.) Chairman of the Allen County Planning Commission

Connect the Dots for yourself -- See Image 

Mr. Bodenhafer's connections are nothing new -  Read Here
Same names involved as seen above.

Even though Mr. Bodenhafer, may remove himself from voting there is no denying that he will receive personal financial gain from this development. No matter how he removes himself he still stands to benefit greatly from this development. Has he been removed from all past votes and ordinances that have lead to this development becoming reality ? Or has he been directly and indirectly involved in fast tracking the ordinances and will then step aside for the final vote before the financial gain occurs? Regardless this could not have reached this point of discussion without Mr. Bodenhafer's direct or indirect involvement.

Seemingly its hard to imagine that a conflict of interest has not resulted over time (years) in this sequence of events leading to the development of Canyon Cliffs with both of Mr. Bodenhafer's interests as land owner and Chairman of the Allen County Planning Commission.

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 UPDATE:
It should be noted that since Coldwater Estates LLC was formed (February 2008) between Charles Bodenhafer, Sharen Bodenhafer and Oakmont Development Company III LLC (Mike Thomas associates) and since Mike Thomas along with the legal team were present at the June 12th meeting, one would easily assume that Mr. Bodenhafer's direct interests were being directly represented during the meeting also, even given his absence, due to this partnership and representation by his business partner (Coldwater Estates LLC - Oakmont  Development - Mike Thomas) and the legal team. One would also assume the legal team is the same legal team or law firm that represents Coldwater Estates LLC. Tom Niezer the Oakmont attorney from Barrett & McNagny LLP, area of practice states "Concentration in real estate law, land use planning and real estate finance law, with a dual emphasis in commercial transactions and residential real estate development, sales and purchases" so its not hard to imagine that Barrett & McNagny LLP would also be the legal representation of the Coldwater Estates LLC partnership. But even if they are not, its very hard to imagine Mr.Bodenhafer's interests were not being directly represented during the meeting even in his absence due to this partnership and the presence of Mike Thomas, Mr. Bodenhafer's business partner. Its hard to not question the issue of "conflict of interest" concerning these two issues being decided upon by the Fort Wayne, Allen County Planning Commission.
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Has the Allen County Ethics Commission (link) reviewed this properly ?
Susan L. Hoot is on both the  Allen County Ethics Commission and the Allen County Plan Commission, will she vote with a clear conscience ?

Coincidence (or) Fast Track to Development?

2007
Minor plat ordinance drafted by Planning Commission.

February 2008:  A change in the planning ordinance passed by County Council.

February 2008:  Charles Bodenhafer and Sharen Bodenhafer and Oakmont  Development Company III LLC form a limited liability company - Coldwater Estates LLC, to develop the property.
(Oakmont Development - by Mike Thomas Associates)

March 3, 2008:  As of March 3rd 2008 - Fort Wayne Land Use Management and Zoning Department and the Allen County Department of Planning Services became one department.
http://www.co.allen.in.us/ -- City and County Department Mergers

March 3rd 2008:  Minor Plat Ordinance
http://www.co.allen.in.us/ -- Minor Plat Ordinance

May 1, 2008:  Oakmont  Development Company III LLC files application for 5 contiguous minor plats to be known as Canyon Cliffs.

May 23, 2008:  A public hearing is scheduled for June 12 for the minor plat of Canyon Cliffs and notice is sent to interested parties.

May 27, 2008:  Yoder Farm LLC and Cedar Creek Wildlife Project request a continuance of the June 12 public hearing.

May 27, 2008:  Oakmont  Development Company III LLC, managing member Coldwater Estates LLC, hand delivers a letter dated May 27 to Ric Zehr, president of the board of Allen County Water and Sewer District requesting that the ACWSD lift moratorium on north-ward expansion of sewers.
(Oakmont Development, LLC - Previously Been Fined For Sewage Violations)

May 28, 2008:  Allen County Water and Sewer District by unanimous voice vote to lift moratorium (Original restrictive covenant was put in place in 2000 to not allow the sewer service to be extended northward - until 2015).

May 30, 2008: Yoder Farm LLC, and Cedar Creek Wildlife Project's request for continuance is DENIED.

June 12th 2008:  The Fort Wayne Allen County Plan Commission will vote to approve or deny the Water and Sewer Boards action.
(Oakmont Development, LLC - Previously Been Fined For Sewage Violations)

June 12th 2008:  If the Fort Wayne Allen County Plan Commission votes to uphold the action of the Water and Sewer Board, then under rules outlined in the minor plat ordinance, only the executive committee of the Plan Commission will hear the arguments and vote to approve, modify or deny the minor plat application.

Conflict of Interest, Coincidence (or) Fast Track to Development? Destruction of Allen Counties Natural Habitats?

Let your voice be heard before local government destroys one of Allen Counties most beautiful natural resources.

Further Reading (NEWS Articles):

News before the June 12th meeting:

News - AFTER - the June 12th meeting:

News - AFTER - the June 19th meeting:

A few informative emails that were sent:
Email: Open Letter to the City of Fort Wayne, Allen County Plan Commission from
Cedar Creek Wildlife Project (CCWP) (  READ HERE  )
Email: to Charles Bodenhafer -- Friday, June 13th 2008 (  READ HERE  )
Email: Open Letter to the City of Fort Wayne, Allen County and the Allen County Planning Commission --  Wednesday, June 11th 2008 (  READ HERE  )
 
Learn more about the History of Cedar Creek

How much will this cost you?

Besides the loss of a natural scenic area, never to be recreated again, or seen by generations to come, how much will this impact you?

(Oakmont Development, LLC - Previously Been Fined For Sewage Violations)

If you are required to connect to the sewer the average homeowner will have to pay $2500 (grinder pump) + an average of $750-1000 to connect your home to the sewer + an area assessment fee of approximately $3,150 + your cost to restore your yard, along with residual monthly costs as well (These cost estimates are courtesy of the engineers on the project) However like most estimates expect them to far exceed anything you hear.

In the surrounding areas property tax will increase when the NEW development enters the area and raise the present property values in the area.

Fort Wayne has spent millions tying to meet requirements and recently signed a consent decree to avoid a federal court battle over its gross water pollution discharged into the Maumee River. It has over two dozen combined sewer overflows and can not take on any more sewage customers without exacerbating the overflow problem. Ratepayers will have to incur an increase to pay for new sewer separation construction and pollution control. Is this the best way to spend our dollars ?

Once destroyed, no amount of money by local government will bring along another ice glacier to make such a natural wonder in our community. It will simply be gone for the generations to come.

Allen County - A Geologic Atlas
" The northern part of the county (landscape B, in fig. 4) is more rugged and has hummocky moraines and low areas containing wetlands, lakes, and peat bogs."
Bedrock Geology
"The dip of the bedrock ranges from 10 ft per mile in the southern part of the Allen County to 30 ft in the northeastern part of the county (Fleming, 1994)."
Cedar Creek Canyon - Overview
"lower segment of Cedar Creek, the largest tributary of the St. Joseph River.", "The canyon originated at the end of the last ice age as a tunnel valley.", "Today's Cedar Creek Canyon is a picturesque, forested area just north of Fort Wayne that includes both upland and floodplain environments."

Please speak out to the Fort Wayne Allen County Planning Commission and let your voice be heard. The June 19th meeting yielded another delay in the vote by the Allen County Planning Commission. However please continue to contact the involved people and make your voice heard before the new Thursday, July 10th public meeting. Also please plan on being present to show support during this meeting and allow your voice to be heard.

Be sure to attend this meeting and make your voice heard.

One East Main Street
The City-County Building
Room / Time - (to be determined)
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
260-449-7211

Are your elected officials serving you with this decision?

Does this fit into Allen Counties Strategic Master Plan?
No it counters the comprehensive plan. Is that good planning?
http://www.planyourcommunity.org


This page offers just a few of the things to consider and why your voice is so important to this issue.
Coincidence (or) Fast Track to Development?

------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday,  June 11th 2008

Before the June 12th vote, an open letter has been sent out to the Allen County Planning Commission, state and local government officials, various news and media outlets, many members of the local community and surrounding counties an many more concerned individuals.

It can also be read here:
Open Letter to the City of Fort Wayne, Allen County and the Allen County Planning Commission