Agenda - Council - 05/26/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hi Chloe - Thank you for all of your work for the City; contributing to a well -thought out and thriving place to live is important work! I wanted to touch on the thoughts I was having throughout and in response to the public hearing regarding our property and the development proposal for Trott Brook North. To begin with, I feel that both developers have come up with great layout plans; the plans maximize use of space for building while at the same time, allowing some nice open space areas. As far as lots per acre, both developments are within the allowable numbers, averaging close to 3 units per acre; it really seems like this is the parameter that should matter the most, and for as much as opposition was saying they were not for any smaller lot sizes, ultimately the lots per acre allowed determines the number of dwellings. The number of dwellings is already a decided factor with the current comprehensive plan; current zoning allows this number of homes. It is the environmental factors and including green and open spaces that sometimes make it advantageous to vary the lot widths. I feel that neighbors commenting demonstrated a definite lack of understanding of this aspect in designing a development. As you know, market conditions are an important aspect contributing to what any developer decides to build; currently villas (slab on grade or with a basement, which ARE single family homes designed to meet various certain needs of home buyers) are a very popular and in demand item. If the City has done market research, I am confident this trend is showing up. What is the benefit of forcing the builder to build more of something that may not have as high of demand? Additionally, it is really nice to have developments encompassing a variety of buyer needs; this creates diverse and interesting developments. Also, I specifically recall the Excelsior Group mentioning the fact that though the street frontage was smaller, more of the lots were deeper, keeping backyards more private and with a view. As a realtor, I know this is an aspect that buyers definitely appreciate! As I already mentioned to you, though all of the comments/protests were carried forward from the Trott Brook North Development to ours, there are many that feel like they should apply the same. First, the majority of comments were not from people adjacent to our property, and second, with our property running directly next to Nowthen (and with roads on 3 sides), it feels a bit less like you're in a rural place as compared to how it might feel at the west side of the McKowsky property, on Variolite. That said, I still think that people are ultimately upset about the idea of ANY development happening near them (regardless of lot size!); this development has already been determined by the comprehensive plan, one that has been in place for more than a decade. Also, my family has lived in this area for the past 50 years and we have watched development happen over that time; there is plenty of good that comes with new development. I have to say that when I look at the objectives of both the EPB and the EDA, it is easy for me to see reasons why both would be interested in allowing developments with a higher variety of lot sizes. In terms of the EPB, allowing such a project most certainly enhances preserving as much of the natural environment as possible; by grouping homes tighter, you leave a lot more open space all around the edges of the development, as well as creating open common spaces (park, fields). And in terms of the EDA, growing the City's residential dwellings (making the most of the space available and zoned for development) will provide the base to grow the commercial, retail, and industrial development. Regarding each of the boards (EPB, EDA, and the PC) which make recommendations to the City Council, I see that the EDA & EPB both have meetings coming up, in addition to the City Council; do you know if any of these meetings over the next week will include discussion about these developments (Trott Brook North & Hunt)? Also, during the hearing on the 7th, it was stated that the matter of the developments would be taken up with the City Council on May 26th; does this mean they will not visit the topic earlier when they meet, Mayl2th? Finally, I have some questions about how everything falls into place; now that the public hearing is over, and in light of the fact that the PC voted in the affirmative to table the project (in light of an extension) in order to look at coming up with a new plan containing only the lot sizes (65 & 80 feet) that the Planning Commission agreed upon, how does the process proceed from here? And, is final approval of any development plan left up to the City Council? Thank you for the time, Chloe! Best, Jessica