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The following letter was published
in the Thursday
May 11, 2006 edition of
ThisWeek Hilliard. I am compelled to respond to some statements made in the article printed in the April 27 edition of ThisWeek Hilliard, entitled "Development discussion prompts response from resident," and the way in which those statements were reported by Cathy Wogan. The article contained the following statement: [Paul] "Lambert cautioned the board and the audience that Schonhardt, with his proposal for lower densities on 2,000 acres west of Alton Darby Creek Road, is essentially withdrawing from the Big Darby Accord process." This statement is an opinion only and has no factual basis. The printing of that statement without the reporter getting a response to it from Mayor Schonhardt was, in my opinion, irresponsible. It is apparent from the article that she also made no contact with any member of the Darby Accord to confirm any of Paul Lambert's statements. In fact, the city of Hilliard remains committed to the Big Darby Accord process as is evident by its recent adoption of the Big Darby Accord Principles (Resolution No. 06-R-18, adopted unanimously by Hilliard City Council on March 27, 2006). Further, the city of Hilliard approved Ordinance No. 06-30 on April 24, 2006, authorizing approval of $26,260 in additional funds to continue the work that the Big Darby Accord consultant is performing. Hilliard remains committed to the proposed draft plan currently being considered by the Accord. The illustrative plan exhibited at the joint press conference is in conformance with the draft plan being advanced by the Big Darby Accord process. Hilliard will continue to advance those principles established through the Big Darby Accord process that relate to improving water quality in the areas sited within our water and sewer contract expansion area, should those properties annex to Hilliard. It should be pointed out that property owners make the decision to annex, not cities. There are a variety of densities established in the rural areas of the Darby Accord draft plan. A density of 1 unit per 5 acres is established in only some portions of the entire area covered by the Accord process, but not in the Hilliard expansion area, where the densities are 1 unit per 1 acre. In fact, the watershed densities rise to significantly higher levels in the southern portion of the township in the area described as the "Town Center." The plan also provides for a mix of uses, including commercial development. Mr. Lambert expressed an opinion, not a fact, in that meeting, and the reporter should have done her homework before reporting that statement as fact by contacting a member of the Darby Accord committee or a representative of one of the jurisdictions who are a part of the Accord in order to verify the statements made by Mr. Lambert. Most importantly, if a [mis]statement is made about what a public official is or isn't doing in his capacity as a public official, then the responsible thing for a reporter to do is to relay that [mis]statement to the public official with an invitation to respond accordingly, rather than printing it.... Clyde
R. Seidel My response follows... |
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