This Friday, November 5, the Minneapolis City Council will be voting on a proposal for a 6 story, 80 foot condominium at East Calhoun Parkway and West Lake Street to replace the existing 4 story, 40 foot building. Over 500 residents have signed a petition in opposition to the height of this development. We are not opposed to the density of the development, it is expected to remain about the same at the apartment building it replaces. We want to maintain a vibrant neighborhood with development that maintains the scale and character of surrounding property uses. This is our principal objection. The Shoreland Overlay Ordinance restricts building height to 35 feet or 2 1/2 stories within 1000 feet of our lakes. According to the Zoning Administration code, if a property is located within an overlay district, the overlay district governs when the provisions are in conflict. We support the Minneapolis City Planning staff recommendation of 56 feet, which is a compromise on the part of the neighborhood and the city in response to the 82 feet proposed by the developer. According to the Shoreland Ordinance, the development must maintain the scale and character of the surrounding uses. Most other properties within the immediate area of this development are single and two-family residences, both along East Calhoun Parkway and Knox Avenue South. Only after you cross two major thoroughfares, Lake Street and Lagoon, do you encounter buildings that are similar in height. However these buildings are adjacent to other large multiple dwellings that fill the area between The Mall and Lagoon, not single and two-family homes. In addition, the Shoreland Ordinance states that the city shall consider limiting the visibility of structures and other development from protected waters. At 82 feet, this development with have an inappropriate and incompatible visual impact from other parts of the lake. I urge you to visualize this for yourself. From nearly every corner of Lake Calhoun, this structure will have a dominate presence. What happens here can set a precedent for other similarly zoned areas around our lakes. It is important you contact your city council member today if you are concerned about the proposed height of this development and would like to see it's height limited to 56 feet as proposed by the planning department staff.
Harvey Zuckman East Calhoun Community REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
