Neighbors object to La Crescent racetrack housing development plan

A proposed housing development along County Road 6 near La Crescent is being promoted as a way to provide more space for home-building in the community.

People living just outside the city of La Crescent object to the notion that they’ll have to be annexed within 10 years, if the city extends water and sewer to the proposed development area. Only the city council can change that rule.

Jeff Laska was among those who told the La Crescent city council Thursday night that it’s not fair.

“Maybe there’s people out there that wants this,” Laska said. “I don’t know any along there.

“My family and some of the other families out there have been out there since the 1950s, and we get no say in this? THere’s no vote in this? You decide?”

A typical family might have to pay $30,000 when the time comes to annex. Some homeowners say the developer who wants to build those houses should have to pay the sewer and water costs, which could total about $1.5 million.