City Council made decisions at the work session on Monday night that will impact people who live in the proposed PR District and in homes adjacent to the 12 mapped areas of the proposed New Zone. Votes were cast despite questions posed by community members which Council members have still not answered.
These questions remain:
Our group is concerned that City Council is making the same mistake in moving forward with the New Zone that ZoneCo did with the PR District— no direct consultation with affected citizens and property owners. Will residents of the blocks adjacent to the New Zone areas and business owners in the New Zone be consulted prior to its adoption?
The New Zone will allow restaurants, bars and hotels among the zone’s residential areas. Will standards dealing with noise, signage, landscaping, screening, green space and business hours of operation be included?
How does allowing only two-story homes or multi-unit rental properties in the New Zone meet the need for more owner-occupied affordable housing?
Councilman Dennis referred to “the key stakeholders” when talking about the New Zone at the public forum on March 23. Who are the key stakeholders and how does City Council and the city administration prioritize them?
The 2018 Community Action Plan includes a goal for the zoning update of maintaining traditional neighborhoods. How do the radical changes proposed for the PR District advance this goal?
The draft code states that legal nonconforming uses may continue. How will the city deal with the many single-family homes that have been turned into illegal non-conforming multi-unit dwellings?
Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), how will owner-occupancy be monitored and
enforced?
Isn’t a new housing development like the one proposed at Brim and Newton Roads an ideal location for the type of mixed-use “walkable” zoning that the PR District and New Zone call for?
Over 60 city residents attended last week’s public forum and endeavored to share their opinions. We hope that Council members will address our concerns and answer our questions before deciding votes on the zoning code update are cast.
Citizen attendance at council meetings on April 3 and April 17 and at the not-yet-scheduled public hearing will be additional opportunities to comment on council members’ decisions regarding the future of the city. Those wishing to speak during lobby visitation are required to sign up before the meetings begin at 7 p.m.
Rose Drain
Save Our BG Neighborhoods
Bowling Green
