04-09-18 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING April 9, 2018 They are working. It has worked in my district and I think they can work in every district and I don't see this as something that we should be dismissive of I don't think we should dismiss the plan. I think we should support and uphold the plan we have voted on, as a Council, as recently as 2014. Councilmember Jo M. Broden went on, In 2016 and 2017 we upheld this idea that some residential places can fit and be converted and changed at a petitioner's request to commercial. So we have done that before. But, that is in some ways irrelevant because this is within a commercial and it is captured within the Commercial Node. It is a reasonable request from a business, or a non-profit in this case, who wants to open up an office there. Current conditions and structures, they have asked for this to be residential in look. In terms of the current condition and current uses, I believe this is an office within a commercial cluster. Most desirable use for which the land is adapted, I think even all of our corridor plans in terms of residential suggest that anything going up on the corridors would like to be pushed to higher residential use. So this is not, in my opinion, going to be another residence. Councilmember Jo M. Broden continued, The conservation of property values, the petitioners tonight have made the case that they are going to make $500,000 worth of renovations to that lot. They are going to bring $700,000 in goods and services. I don't know how they came up with that number but I can imagine that is a pretty low estimate in terms of impact. So there is City-wide impact on the services that they are asking to bring. They have made assurances which was a nice add on tonight that they won't totally close sevices in an area of our community. Rather, it is going to expand services in our community. Councilmember Jo M. Broden went on, With regard to the last criteria, and I apologize, I know this is lengthy, but the responsible development and growth piece needs to be addressed. There is sufficient infrastructure there. Most particularly in the back of this property and outward. I also talk about the bus services but I heard the petitioner say they will compliment that and will help people get to this location. This is redevelopment and investment in an existing corridor. I don't see any adverse impact that this petitioner can control, beyond the commitments they have made tonight about the protestors. Both places, in my opinion, have every right to be where they are located and where they have petitioned to locate. Both places, from a land use consideration. Both places are offices. Both places are medical quasi-facilities. It is a reasonable land use decision to locate those there. Councilmember Jo M. Broden continued, In terms of safety, which has been addressed, I would like to just talk about that.The petitioners can control only what they can control.There is a burden on our community when there are bigger issues and divisiveness with regard to women's reproductive rights and the respective services. We have a burden as a community to do better and to be better. Both places can belong. They should belong. I think there have been assurances with regard to safety here but some things are beyond the purview and scope of the ask before us tonight. Again, this is a rezoning petition and a land use petition. I'm kicking the other responsibilities to our community as a whole. We should be able to have both services occupy a place on a busy corridor with easy access and bus transportation as well as the ability to get there by foot or by car. As leaders in our community, too, I think one (1) of my principal jobs is to look at the overall benefit here. Someone challenged us to do that and I recognize that. I do believe these petitioners have made the case that they deliver a huge benefit to our community, frankly. I appreciate their commitment not to allow protests. I appreciate their representations tonight that they will continue services at Chapin. We desperately need the services of both of these facilities in our community. Some of you may disagree with me on that but there is a legal right to have these facilities in my strict opinion and looking at our responsibility as a Council with regard to the zoning. Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, In my mind, it is a rezoning issue but we can't divorce ourselves from the responsibility of, to me, the fifth criteria regarding responsible development. If we look at the plan and it tells us to do x, y and z and we don't do it, then I think we are missing the whole piece about our responsibility to social welfare. We cannot pretend this is not going to happen. I live right down the street about one (1) block off Lincoln Way. I don't want a bunch protesting and all those crazy looking signs and all of that. The good news is that I hear both sides here agree with me. Both sides do not want that and I cannot vote for this feeling as if that has not been resolved. Let's get together. If these forces can work together to put that 24