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With the support of sdme council members, neighborhood
<br />residents have mounted I~SSionate opposition to the proposed
<br />church. The conflict has i~evit~bly acquired racial overtones
<br />that may have obscured t~e v~lidirv of' some of the obiec6ons.
<br />These i~clude a fear that !he chur& would be too big for the
<br />lot, that parking would be a serious problem, and that traf~c
<br />would grow to intolerabl4 proportions and disrupt their
<br />lifes~,le. The)' have also c!aimed that churches already are
<br />numerous in the area and~that the city can ~1~ afford more losses
<br />from its tax base.
<br /> The city council agree~= to reduce the amount of searing in
<br />the church in an attempt to mitigate possible impacts on the
<br />area, and leaders of the b~smess commun,ty, which supports the
<br />church's construction, ha{,e stated that its presence would result
<br />in enough increased reven~ue to offset propem' tax losses.
<br /> But the nmghborhood ~ fierce antagonism persisted.
<br />Opponents launched a peiition drive to reverse the zoning
<br />change and put the questi~pn to a public referendum. This
<br />drive's immediate and ovdrwhelming success--gathering 14,000
<br />signatures by the Decem~r 9, 1993, deadline when it needed
<br />7,200--surprised even co~ncil member Rand), Wright, the
<br />opposition leader. This pa~sed a dilemma for the already divided
<br />council, lfit caved in andireversed its decision, it could be
<br />accused of succumbing to,racism. On the other hand, a public
<br />referendum could polariz4 the community and exacerbate an
<br />already racially charged situation.
<br /> The church authoritieCrthemselves resolved the conflict by
<br />agreeing to seek an alternakJve site. At the time Zoning News
<br />went to press, however, plans for acquiring other sites were still
<br />being negotiated, and no ~lecision had been reached.
<br /> ]ray Dolnick
<br />
<br />Clearing a Pat~,
<br />to Base Surviv~zl
<br />
<br />A proposal to tighten zon~g restrictions around Charleston Air
<br />Force Base has produced 4 degree of controversy in South
<br />Carolina. A land-use repo.t't prepared by the Berkeley-
<br />Charleston-Dorchester C4uncil of Governments has
<br />recommended the restrictions as a means of eliminating the
<br />encroachment of development into flight paths·
<br /> The changes could stre.rh~hen the base's chances of avoiding
<br />the Pentaaon's next rounc[ of base closures, scheduled for earls'
<br />next year.~The air force ha~ suggested that encroachment was'a
<br />major contributor to the elimination of the flying mission at
<br />
<br />Zoning A;ew~ is a monthly new~Jen4, r published by the American Planning
<br />Association. Subscriptions are availj~ble ~or $45 (U.S.) and $54 (foreigM.
<br />Michael B. ~arkcr Executive Dire,4,~r ]:rank S. So Deputy Executive Director
<br />'William R. Klein, Director of Re~4rch. '
<br />
<br />Zoning New~ is produced at APA. )~m Schwab, Editor; Michael Barrette, Dan Bivct,
<br />Sarah BohJen. Fay DolnJck, Michelle Gregory, Alissa Hammer, Sanjav leer, Marva
<br />Morris, Reporters; Cynthia Cbe~ki,lAs~i~tant Editor; Li~a Barton, Design and
<br />Production.
<br />Copyright ©1994 by American Plal~ning A~sociation 1513 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL
<br />60637. The Amerie. an Planning A-s~ociatJon has headquarters offices a~ 1776
<br />Massachusetts Ave.., N.'0.'., xX, asbin[ton, DC 20036.
<br />All rights reserved. No par~ of rhit ~ublication ma), be reproduced or utilized in any
<br />form or by an)' mean~, electronic o~ mechanical, including photocopyir~g, recording,
<br />or b;' ans' information storage and fi:trJeva) system without permission in writing
<br />from the Amerman Planning Assoc~lnon.
<br />Printed on recycled paper, including ~0-70% zccyclcd fiber
<br />and )0% pos~consumer waste. ~
<br />
<br />such bases as Low~' in Colorado. Chanute in Illinois. and
<br />,Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. At stake are about 9,000
<br />civilian and milita~, jobs in the Charleston region.
<br /> At the heart of the controversy is the fact that the air force
<br />lacks the budget to purchase privately held land in the "clear
<br />zone" and "accident potential zones" that are the focus of the
<br />report. Therefore, to prevent incompatible development,
<br />local municipalities would have to enforce zoning changes
<br />aimed at limiting development and boosting the air base's
<br />chances of survival.
<br /> But some developers and property owners say the new
<br />zoning changes would take away the highest and best use of
<br />their land without compensation. Under the plan, some
<br />properr).' that is currenth, zoned light industrial would be
<br />allowed on}v uses such as cemeteries, nature preserves, crops,
<br />and livestock. The housing and business development that
<br />already exist b, ould remain, but owners would not be allowed to
<br />expand or redevelop. The zoning changes would affect more
<br />than 400 property owners.
<br /> Landowners are also worried about declining property
<br />values. Local authorities are seeking to reassure them that
<br />property values will remain stable. Don Youngblood, a
<br />community planner at Charleston Air Force Base who
<br />participated in the stud),, says, "The truth is that most
<br />industries are compatible inside the hazard zones unless they
<br />are high-density industries. All the air force wants to control
<br />is the worsening of encroachment." Dan Biver
<br />
<br />Near North/
<br />Fall Creek Plan
<br />]ndianapoh~-Marion Coun9, Department of Metropolitan
<br />Devdo?ment, ]~2anning Division, ]2~ 2?. Market St., Suite 500,
<br />Indiana?oils, ]N46204. Ocrober 20, ]993. 240p?. $]0.
<br /> This report, prepared in cooperation with the Near North
<br />Development Corporation, revisits a mixed-use corridor in
<br />Indianapolis that was the subject of a 1983 zoning ordinance
<br />amendment that created a regional center overiav zone,
<br />making neb, uses or improvements subject to approval by the
<br />Metrot~olitan Development Commission. The report
<br />includes a history of the area, summau, of existing
<br />conditions, and suggests the rezoning of a number of
<br />properties in the subject area·
<br />
<br />Maintaining
<br />Community Character:
<br />How to-Establish a
<br />Local Historic District
<br />National Trus~.for Historic ]>reservation, 1785 Massachusetts Ave.
<br />Ar. W.., Washington, DC20036. ]9)2. 28??. $5.
<br /> This hand), booklet contains a series of case studies as well as
<br />the basic information on criteria for determining whether a
<br />historic district is, in fact, the best strate~, for achieving a
<br />communiu,'s goals. The report examines issues of economic
<br />benefits, incentives, hob, to establish boundaries, and local
<br />innovations in creating historic districts.
<br />
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