As a new Urban Design Commission member, I have been shocked by the continued emphasis developers have on providing nearly 2 parking spaces per bedroom for most residential developments that come before us. I knew it was bad, but I didn't know it was that bad. Someone is paying for that space. (Hint: it ain't the developers.)
Our community's water quality, air quality and our quality of life is being significantly damaged by these pro-car policies. Inclusionary Zoning should not abet such anti-social measures.
If this Inclusionary Zoning ordinance goes through without a provision for renters and/or owners to opt out of a space, it will be a failure. Expensive housing will be replaced with expensive living. People will be given just one logical choice: Own a car, better yet, several cars or receive nothing for the portion of rent you pay, by force, for the parking spaces.
35% of Madisonians are doing the right thing by busing it, carpooling, biking or walking. They should be supported, and every development policy adopted by this city should support increasing their numbers.
Below is a discussion that occurred on the Progressive Dane listserv in backwards order (oh so many apologies to Mr. Beer!).
-Mike
From: Nick Berigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [pddiscuss] IZ update X-BeenThere: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yeah! 6 years ago I bought a house on the near east isthmus in the tony TLNA neighborhood for 62K. Even adjusted for the 6 years in between, you can see that that is way below the median price of housing. Part of the reason for that is that I didn't buy the land under it (Madison Area Community Land Trust) but another small part of it is that the place just doesn't have a driveway or a garage for me to park my hummer, snowmobile, and jet-ski trailer in.
Why build houses that will last a hundred years with car accomodations when cars won't be around in 15 years?
nb
At 07:08 PM 8/27/2003 -0500, Michael D. Barrett wrote:
Please add: Ability to opt out of a parking space. Parking is expensive everywhere. But underground parking is especially onerous. Unfortunately, most developers just fold the cost of parking into the rent. Fortunately, however, a very few enlightened downtown developers are actually giving $18,000 (yeah, eighteen thousand dollars!!!!!) back to people who opt to forego parking. (I know someone who recently bought one of those downtown condos & is using the $$ to upgrade his kitchen instead.) The folks we are targeting could use it for a down payment, or other essentials. Anyway, it costs between 15k & 22k (+/-1997 dollars) to build underground parking in MSN. That comes out to over $100/month. Um, that would be real money to most of us, particularly those eligible for any of the affordability categories you mention. We should be focusing on providing a roof over the heads of *people* not cars. I'm trying to get my fellow commissioners on the Urban Design Commission and all the developers who come before it to recognize this basic premise. Me & Sisyphus keep on pushing that rock on up the hill!!!!
-Mike
Things are moving so fast there is barely time for updates . . . so my apologies for the lack of information on inclusionary zoning over these many lists. This e-mail contains the following:
1. A general update on the current issues being discussed 2. Schedule of meetings 3. A request for information from you
GENERAL UPDATE ON ISSUES
Housing Committee Inclusionary Zoning
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