Gary Schiff wrote� 3. Solicit and utilize input from relevant constituencies and the general public in the development of menu of potential zoning code changes.
4. By March 31, 2002, prepare a report to the City Council identifying a menu of potential changes to the Zoning Code that merit consideration because of their effect on the development of affordable housing. Areas of attention should include provisions related to minimum lot and unit sizes, mixed use development, supportive housing, shelters, and accessory units. Despite the City Council�s vote in favor of the Lydia House project, I believe most council members understand that the Stevens Square/Whittier/Phillips neighborhoods have a high concentration, indeed a saturation, of supportive housing and social service programs. Nobody seems to argue against that point. In general, they seemed to feel that the affordable housing �crisis� was so large that it �trumped� the need to enforce a �-mile spacing law that insists supportive housing be scattered. I believe that the City is treading on dangerous ground and I think an analogy can be made between the post-September 11th fears and this situation. I think that after 9/11, many people were in such a state of fear that they were willing to give up some of their personal freedoms and rights in the name of security. Likewise, in the name of an affordable housing crisis, the City is willing to sacrifice a well-thought out � mile spacing law. It seems that there is such a large push to solve one problem (affordable housing needs) and not too much thought being made about the act of adding to another problem (increased saturation of already saturated neighborhoods). Just as many people had a wary eye on legislation that would alter the way the FBI could monitor individuals, we too should cast a wary eye on potential zoning changes that could forever alter our neighborhoods. To weaken or eliminate the � mile spacing law is to the detriment of not only the neighborhoods who are saturated with supportive housing but also to the supportive housing population who rightfully should be integrated into all neighborhoods in the City. I ask Gary Schiff and Paul Ostrow �who do list as your �relevant constituencies� as mentioned in #3 above? Will you be sending a formal letter to neighborhood organizations notifying them of specific dates where the general public can speak to the supportive housing issue and to �the development of a menu of potential zoning code changes� that you mention in #3 above? Further, to Mayor Rybak and to councilmember Lisa Goodman, what can you suggest the City do to open up non-saturated neighborhoods to supportive housing? How can you work to enforce the �-mile spacing law, perhaps even strengthen it? And aside of the � mile spacing law, can you begin a discussion to responsibly propose a moratorium on the development of supportive housing in neighborhoods that have an unusually high percentage of mentally ill and chemically dependent persons? Lynne Lowder Stevens Square/Loring Heights _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
