Meeting with the neighbors

On Thursday, February 26th, I came late to the meeting at Sweetwaters, with apologies. It's not always easy for me to get to a 6:00 pm meeting on time, but I try.
I was there to meet with some representatives of the North Central Neighborhood Association, to talk about the proposed Near North development proposed for North Main Street. This development is a partnership affordable housing project. Previously, I'd met with the developer and with Michael Appel, the head of Avalon Housing -- the partners proposing the development. I'd also talked with other neighbors of the proposed development, and with a few people who live in the Old Fourth Ward Historic District, and a representative of the Downtown Citizen Advisory Council (that person wore two hats).
Before we met, the Association representatives (I'm not playing coy, here, but I don't public other people's names without their permission first) had sent me their formal position statement with a cover letter. I knew the history of the development and where they stood.
I listened to them voice their concerns about the zoning in their neighborhood, and their perception that the Central Area Plan was being ignored and that there was some form of general encouragement to expand the downtown into the surrounding neighborhoods.
So we talked about this. The desire clearly exists to expand dense housing into R4C zoned neighborhoods -- the neighborhoods that are on the margins of so much of the downtown area. Right now, at least three (3) developments are planned: Near North on North Main Street, City Place on 5th Avenue between William and Hamilton, and The Moravian (formerly The Madison) on Madison between 4th and 5th avenues. All three developments are Planned Unit Developments (PUDs). At least, City Place was a PUD; it's currently being discussed with the neighborhood, and I don't know how it will be presented next.
Some members of Council have voiced the belief that, with PUDs being proposed for R4C zoned neighborhoods, it proves that R4C zoning is broken. The Council is going to consider whether R4C zoning should be re-evaluated by the Planning Department, and what its definition should be in the future.
We discussed the pressure in the Planning Department, on Planning Commission, and at Council for a dense downtown, and how and why that might spread to the nearby neighborhoods.
And then we discussed strategy.
Oddly enough, I'm not really taking sides, here. When I met with the developers, I also discussed strategy with them.I'll decide how this development looks, and whether it meets the PUD guidelines, after it's been through the Planning Department review, the Planning Commission, and I have all the paperwork in front of me at Council. I'll read the public hearing notes. I may attend the Planning Commission public hearing. I'll definitely attend the Council public hearing.
And in the meantime, I may meet with other people who want to talk about Near North. As the plan for this project becomes more developed, I'll see how it shapes up, who it affects, and how it looks.
Part of my time is spent learning and listening and making decisions about issues before Council.Part is spent advocating for neighborhoods.
Another part is looking at issues that impact the community that haven't yet come before Council.And then there are the opportunities to solve individual problems.
File this meeting under decisions before Council.