To the Editors:
Last week about 25 residents attended a Public Hearing at City Hall to listen to proposed changes in our zoning laws. I was disappointed to find that since the new Planning Commission took control 22 months ago, nothing has been introduced to improve the integrity of our zoning or the long term value of the community. This is not what the people I spoke with were expecting.
Instead we discovered that Council is supporting Planning Commission recommendations to change the requirements for multi-family dwellings from three families to four; to decrease the width of sidewalks leading into multi-family dwellings; to increase the fence height limit from four feet to six feet; and to eliminate material requirements for fences. The first two changes were proposed by a Council person, and along with the second two changes, threaten the architectural appeal and stability of our Village. I’m convinced that Peninsula has much higher priority zoning changes that require our attention.
The attendees voiced concern that the reduced requirements for multi-family dwelling homes can turn Peninsula into a renters’ community. The multi-family proposals will match the lowest in the county. Attendees were also disturbed that someone can erect a 6’ high fence in the historic district made from scrap tires and there’s nothing in our zoning to dispute it.
We are now 34 months into this administration and we have not advanced a single inch in creating additional value for our community. It’s time we took a stance to encourage a direction for the community that makes sense and encompasses the majority of residents. Issues like preservation, conservation, water-shed control and zoning courtesies are being ignored while lower standards are being proposed. We can blame that on Council, or we can blame it on ourselves for not attending meetings to voice our opinion and monitor Council’s actions. The Mayor made a good point when he said that “no one comes to the meetings to voice their opinion, therefore Council has no other opinion upon which to base their decisions.”
The same few friends and relatives of the Council members attend every meeting. However, we can remedy that if every registered voter attended only one meeting a year. With that we would draw 11 people to every BZA, PC and Council meeting every month - or 32 people to every Council meeting. Until then, we will never see the value changes we expect for our community. How do we increase attendance? Should we send out notices of every meeting? Do you need a ride? Let me know at the next meeting.
| Bob Hrovat |