One
cold night, as an Arab sat in his tent, a camel gently thrust his nose under
the flap and looked in. "Master," he said, "let me put my nose
in your tent. It's cold and stormy out here." "By all means,"
said the Arab, "and welcome" as he turned over and went to sleep.
A
little later the Arab awoke to find that the camel had not only put his nose in
the tent but his head and neck also. The camel, who had been turning his head
from side to side, said, "I will take but little more room if I place my
forelegs within the tent. It is difficult standing out here." "Yes,
you may put your forelegs within," said the Arab, moving a little to make
room, for the tent was small.
Finally,
the camel said, "May I not stand wholly inside? I keep the tent open by
standing as I do." "Yes, yes," said the Arab. "Come wholly
inside. Perhaps it will be better for both of us." So the camel crowded
in. The Arab with difficulty in the crowded quarters again went to sleep. When
he woke up the next time, he was outside in the cold and the camel had the tent
to himself.
Author unknown
 |
| BY PAUL LIVIUS |
The Camel’s Nose
MAY ALREADY BE IN THE TENT!
Camels
are known to be smart and inquisitive animals. They easily bond with humans. Camels
also have extremely long memories. So, if a situation arises in which you are
mean to a camel. Take care. They will remember you sometime in the future.
This article is really about residential zoning and why it is so important in a community like Raytown.
Like most modern cities, Raytown has zoning laws. These laws divide the city into areas for different types of development. Some are commercial, some are residential.
Within in the residential “zones”, the use of property is often broken down as well. For instance, multi-family structures, apartments and duplexes, are considered “residential”.
Typically, multi-family homes will surround single family homes. A well planned city will use multi-family zoned areas to buffer single family homes from intrusion by commercial zoning.
The purpose of this “buffer” is to maintain the integrity of a residentially zoned area. Single family residential has this buffer because individual families invest so much into their properties.
That is how zoning laws can be used to protect “single family owner” investment in their homes.
Usually
zoning laws are followed strictly in most communities. The following story
illustrates how things can go badly when those rules are not followed.
A number of years ago a commercial developer wanted to open a small convenience store in a residential neighborhood. The people living around the proposed development were opposed to what they rightfully saw as an invasion of their neighborhood.
They fought, petitioned and blocked the development twice. Undaunted, the developer chose to try again. A new Board of Aldermen had been elected, so he went to them to make his case.
Homeowners around the development were not made aware of the developer’s plans in time to organize against the developer’s plans. In the space of two meetings of the Board or Aldermen, the deal was done.
Now the people have a commercial retail outlet across the street from them. A constant “halo” of light comes from the parking lot. The sound of traffic where there was not any traffic before. They have also been witness to at least one armed robbery at the convenience.
Remember their situation.
When it comes to the integrity of residential neighborhoods in a small town, the Camel is waiting at the entrance to your tent.
Or, as we would say in America, the wolf is always at the door.
Comments
One final thought. I think the Board should have oversight on the project. That is why we elected them. I am sure our appointed officials are well intentioned but they do not have the stake in the Raytown community that those of who live here do.
keep up the good work.
Blue Springs Lake Lotawana Pleasant Valley
Cleveland Lake Tapawingo Raymore
Excelsior Springs Lake Waukomis Richmond
Garden City Lake Winnebago Riverside
Gladstone Lawson Smithville
Glenaire Lee's Summit Sugar Creek
Grain Valley Liberty Weatherby Lake
Greenwood Loch Lloyd Weston
Harrisonville Lone Jack Unincorporated Clay County*
Independence North Kansas City Unincorporated Jackson County*
Kansas City, Missouri Parkville Unincorporated Platte County*
What do all these entities have in common?
Residents of them can take hazardous household chemicals to a common disposal site in Kansas City. I can only imagine what fellow Raytowners are forced to do with such waste.
We don't have any options that I can find. What does the City do with their hazardous waste?
Please Raytown, if Sugar Creek and Lone Jack can afford to join this important effort to keep poisons out of the environment, SURELY Raytown can.
Thank You, RN
Your thoughts on promoting Raytown are good ones. Taking advantage of the popularity of the new Rock Island Line bicycle trail makes a lot of sense. Here's a little secret the non-riding public does not know about. Bicyclists are a fun loving bunch. They frequently go out in groups and ride for hours through communities and especially good trail where you do not have to worry about being hit by a car.
Their expenses are near zero. The trail they ride on is their compliments of the local taxpayers. There bicycles, if maintained properly, will last a lifetime. That means they have expendable income. When they get thirsty. They often stop and drink. When they get hungry, the often stop and eat.
If you are a merchant in the area they are riding in guess who ends up providing the services for them?
keep up the good work.
People from Raytown cannot use the hazardous disposal site for any amount of money (or food stamps). The city has to agree to pay a fee so its residents can haul their poisonous unused chemicals there for safe disposal.
I would gladly pay for the safe disposal of the assorted paints, and various other chemicals I have accumulated through the years.
No trash company or any other business is authorized to accept those types of waste for disposal that I can determine after considerable searching.
I would like to hear how others get rid of this type of waste. I have learned how to let latex paint dry out so it can go with the regular trash.
regards, RN
As always, your contributions and especially your annual Christmas Greeting e-cards are welcome at the Raytown Report.
Greg Walters