I chair a committee of the Whittier Alliance that handles zoning issues. Like Mr. Held, I am supportive of the site plan review requirements of the new zoning code. I also appreciate that the Planning staff and the Planning Commission take the site plan review requirement seriously. The Whittier neighborhood is a better place to live, and our commercial corridors are more vibrant because of the requirements.
I must say, however, that zoning enforcement is an issue in this town. It is painful for me to see law abiding new businesses go through site plan review, while existing businesses get away with illegal razor wire fences, no landscaping, illegal unpaved parking lots, illegally stored equipment on the lots, etc. Unfortunately, I have learned that there are not enough Zoning Inspectors to handle everything that needs to get done. The employers of the Zoning Department are very smart and very helpful, but there are not enough of them. So the Whittier Alliance has taken action. I created a list of the 25 worst violators of the zoning code in Whittier. I documented the address, zoning classification, and the alleged violation (referencing the specific code section being violated). Alleged violations ranged from illegal uses (i.e. a C4 use in a C2 zone) to illegally parked semi trucks to upaved parking lots to barbed wire fences. I then shared my list with a Zoning Inspector and Councilmember Zimmerman. Both have been very responsive, but we still have a long way to go. Most of the violations were around 4th and Franklin, and along the Midtown Greenway--two areas where we would like to see redevelopment occur in the upcoming years. We believe the need for redevelopment and the zoning violations are related; that is, zoning violations are scaring away new development. The point is that site plan review for new businesses is only part of the equation in creating livable neighborhoods and vibrant commercial areas. Zoning and inspections enforcement efforts are equally important. We should put as much resources into enforcement as we put into site plan review. Dave Harstad Whittier P.S. As for the use of the word �slumlord� I think it is an appropriate description of a property owner who flouts the law and uses threats and intimidation to prevent people from reporting repair problems. We should not tolerate owners who defer maintenance while tenants and neighborhoods suffer. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Greetings - send holiday greetings for Easter, Passover http://greetings.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________ 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
