HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Michael March-Letter (2)Good morning, my name is Mike March. I live in the West Grove at 3586 Charles Avenue. I'm
here to speak against item PZ 1. This legislation gives developers FLR and density bonuses, in
projects which contain mixed income housing, paving the way for such projects to be built
directly next to T3, or single family neighborhoods, such as mine.
In order for such a project to do this, it would have to be granted a special exception from the
Commission, which prompts the question, in which neighborhoods would the Commission be
willing to grant such exceptions?
Would such a project go into the historically white South or North Groves? No, because those
neighborhoods are full of activists who hold their low density, single family neighborhoods
sacred. In those neighborhoods they fight valiantly to protect their property rights, as well as
their property values.
Would such a project go into the historically black West Grove? Yes, I could easily see such a
project being approved for an exception there. In the West Grove we have activists who don't
necessarily live in the neighborhood, but they claim to speak for everyone, and they ask to be
paid off with a ransom of sorts, in the form of a CBA, or community benefits agreement.
Our neighbors in the North and South Grove don't seem to mind if we get up zoned here in the
West Grove. They seem to care more about whether our new buildings will have Bahamian
architecture. I think they prefer that any added density goes into our neighborhood, rather than
into theirs.
In the West Grove, we have a special CRA, so whenever a property is up zoned, it puts extra
tax dollars into a slush fund, money which is diverted back to the City from the County. The
same Commissioners who grant the exception needed for the up zoning, are potentially the
same people who will oversee the spending of such CRA funds down the line.
Since I value the character of my single family zoned neighborhood, and fear that this legislation
will specifically target areas such as mine, I ask you ladies and gentlemen of the Commission to
please vote against item PZ 1.
Thank you for listening.
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