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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-03-22 Public Comment - M. Kaveney - North Central AppealFrom:Marcia Kaveney To:Agenda Cc:Jeff Mihelich Subject:The North Central Master Plan (#21029) Appeal (#22005 ) Date:Thursday, March 3, 2022 12:10:43 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Commissioners and Mayor- I am writing to you in support of the appeal #22005 and in support of each new building in theMSP to have a separate approval process. I was not aware when the North Central Master Site Plan was first approved that the individual buildings would not also go through individualreview. In reading through the staff report and their summary of public input I find many concerns by the public but I would like to point out that contrary to some commissioners' repeated views,none reflect Nimby-ism or an unrealistic request of low density. Instead I find that residents, like myself, are asking for tighter adherence to the liveable qualities as put forth in the BCP-namely better transitions between large and small buildings, adequate parking and safety on alleys and streets, inclusion of parkland and open spaces, supply of missing middle housing,and adherence to other existing plans. There seems to be some error in judgement by staff with regards to whether certain BCP goals are met or not. One obvious example can be seen on page 9 of the staff report for project#21165- The Ives Bldg. The staff say that this project addresses Goal N-1 of the BCP by "promoting housing diversity including missing middle housing." This is a false statement asdefined in the BCP's glossary on page 57 in the appendices whereby, Missing MiddleHousing: "is housing constructed in buildings which are of a size and design compatible inscale and form with detached individual homes. Example housing types include duplex, triplex, live-work, cottage housing, group living, row houses, townhouses, horizontally layeredapartments, flats, and other similar configurations." In looking over the drawings and plans, there is no evidence of missing middle housing anywhere in the master plan- only the nextlevel up called Mid-Rise. I worry that you are receiving erroneous messages like this from the staff, however well-meaning, when you may not have time to scrutinize each page of the staffreport yourselves. I am also very concerned that the parkland was not adequately reviewed in accordance with other city plans such as the Climate Plan. I find it very upsetting that the city may prefer cash-in-lieu for parks in B3 zones. While obviously large parks cannot be developed on small lots, parklets or mini-green spaces are exactly what make densely populated areas more liveable aswell as help to keep the temperatures down. I think it is inexcusable for the city to accept $20,000 in place of required green spaces. That amount is NOTHING compared to the lifetimevalue of a park, even a small one, which is priceless! Nor will it amount to a season's worth of maintenance for nearby Beall Park. On a positive note, I will say that the 45' terracing on one side of the Ives building is verynicely done. I just wish that design sense hadn't stopped there. Since the Ives will not be providing any other obvious benefits for the surrounding neighbors, the least they could do isprovide small public green spaces, especially on the side towards the existing residences. I think this would have been met with much greater approval than the blank gray wall. To maintain the cultural fabric and flavor of our community, development needs to addressadequate transitions to residential areas, parking, overall congestion, and provision of open spaces. These issues have been planned for in the codes and outlined in the BCP. As the citycommission, your current actions have been diverging from the practice you say you want to promote- to ensure a safe, healthy community that we all can continue to be proud to callhome. The public outcry you have been hearing is not Nimbyism or anti-development. It is a call for you, the city commission, to do more to ensure sensitive and thoughtful development andcompliance with all the current plans. Have the courage to say no where a no is warranted. No exceptions should be made for developers just because THEY are in a hurry. Make sure thereis something in the development for the current residents as we are your worker-bees, your financiers, and your volunteers. Support us and we will continue to support you. Thank you,Marcia Kaveney 1496 Boylan Rd.