ZONING CHANGES: NO

I am writing on behalf of my wife Wilma, myself and many of my neighbors in opposition to the proposed zoning changes and conditional use permits to locate drug and alcohol recovery housing at 118 and 121 E. Erwin in Kingfisher.

We certainly agree that the requested services proposed are worthy and needed services, however we do not agree that these types of facilities should be located at the center of a quiet and fully populated area such as this area is.

We have lived in Kingfisher many years and feel secure at this time in and on our property. We have strived to keep our property values at a maximum throughout this time and know that such an operation would most certainly reduce the values, security and serenity of them.

We also have concerns for the possible dangers to children in the neighborhood, including those at the Head Start facility only two blocks west of the proposed sites. Also the Kingfisher School System facilities within three blocks of same. Realizing a good number of patients housed may be successful, it only takes one to fall from the system and become a real danger to the area around the facility.

Many persons are constantly utilizing Seventh Street as well as West Erwin to walk, ride bikes and just enjoy the peaceful outdoors of our current community. Adding these operations to our community will remove the feeling of safety to continue these life-improving activities by many of our citizens. Our community area may be the “older” area of Kingfisher, however this is no reason to allow operations presenting negative concerns to its citizens. We as residents of this area of Kingfisher are just as proud of our area as those of newer areas of town.

While the stated use for these houses may not be for a men’s and women’s residential care units, what if in the future under any new owners, mental, narcotics or alcoholic patients are housed as is possible as a Residential-3 use also permits this.

We urge each of the commissioners as they consider this change, to step back and look at their individual situations. Would they recommend this change for a house directly across the street or next door to their home or the schools their children and grandchildren attend? There are better places to locate facilities such as this other than in densely populated areas and near child care and schools.

Robert Wehrenberg Kingfisher