Ray Marshall wrote: > I've lived here off and on for almost 30 > years, but I really haven't paid much attention > because most things haven't really affected > me that much. > ... > Colvin Roy and Schiff are grossly negligent > for not publicizing this before the election. > ...and the Planning department head should be > called upon to explain why this is being > slipped in without publicity.
Ray, It's understandable that you, like most people, have not had the time or wherewithal to keep up on local developments and issues--especially items outside your interest or need. I get it... Many of us have so much on the plate that we are just trying to survive day-by-day. However, not knowing about a process is very different from that process not existing. As neighborhood staff, I make it a point to attend as many of the development meetings as is possible even if in another neighborhood. (Mostly Ward 12, so I can't speak about Schiff.) I can tell you that few, if any, of the recent corridor developments south of 35th St. have slipped by without a *lot* of intense public scrutiny and discussion. This is especially true among your neighborhood's residents. (I have to chuckle--from across of the tracks, we consider Hiawatha to be one *really* tough crowd.) For example, when Sandy Colvin Roy and the Longfellow Community Council (LCC) brought the public and Opidan Dev together to discuss building a Cub Foods at 46th and Minnehaha, the crowd at the Hiawatha Community Center was sitting in the aisles and spilling out the doors. There had been advertising in the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger, in Colvin Roy's newsletter, via bulk emails, and on at least LCC's and NENA's websites. The meeting was hot and ugly. Bottom line? The project died right there, largely because the neighborhood spoke loudly and the Council Member listened. On the 38th St Master Planning process: City Planning has already held at least three heavily advertised public meetings, a business owner's meeting, plus a public open house. LCC and SENA have held several neighborhood and committee meetings, and it's not even done yet. On the proposed Hiawatha Flats development at 43rd and Dight, LCC and Colvin Roy have held at least three well advertised and attended public meetings. In that case, the developer has significantly changed the plans several times because of resident input. Same applies to the Simpson project at 42nd and Hiawatha and Olin Crossings at 53rd and Minnehaha, among others. The public process isn't perfect and can be painfully slow and messy, but it does happen. Doug Walter Living on the other side of the tracks in Nokomis East REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
