To the editor:

On Nov. 28, I attended a city planning meeting, and one of the commissioners attributed part of the difficulty of their job to the NIMBY (not in my back yard) factor.

Yes, the residents of North Lawrence are concerned about the proposed industrial development in Grant Township because their homes and personal safety are at stake. But all of Lawrence will be facing extra taxes from financing a speculation development and also, at some point, more dollars for cleaning up a disaster.

The proposed development calls for a great deal of nonporous surface covering normal drainage areas. No plan has been presented for dealing with the flooding that will result, for paying for the subsequent damage, or even how emergency vehicles are to serve North Lawrence when the Second Street underpass is blocked by flooding and the East Lawrence Turnpike interchange is closed for construction or an accident.

There is no plan for the results of a “hundred-year flood.” A hundred-year flood doesn’t mean that it won’t happen for 100 years; it means in all probability it will happen one year out of 100. The flood is just as likely to be next year as 99 years from now. Nobody claims to be ready for that.

The City Commission will be deciding your future at their Jan. 22 meeting. Let them know: Not in My City (NIMC.)

Ellen Paulsen,

Lawrence