Burlington Free Press gives
highlights of last night's City Council meeting, at which the proposed zoning ordinance was discussed. [my emphasis] -
Those who came to speak were given a two-minute limit, complete with a timer giving green, yellow and red lights based on the amount of time remaining. The time limit upset some residents who argued that they should have more opportunity to comment on such a lengthy set of amendments with potentially far-reaching consequences.
"This thing is gonna be a nightmare," said Loyal Ploof,[former mayoral candidate, friend of Green causes, and] a resident of the Old North End. He also cautioned against a proposal that would reduce the number of parking spaces required for a small area of the city; a move some have said has been done to allow a Community and Economic Development Office project to go forward.
"Stop giving CEDO a blank check," Ploof said.
Rene Kaczka-Valliere [Green Party of Burlington interim chair] described the importance of the view corridor -- relating an anecdote about his childhood trips to Burlington, getting off the interstate and cresting the hill on Main Street, seeing the view of Lake Champlain.
The Greens should follow up with letters to the editor...ASAP....signed "member of the Green Party of Burlington"
ReplyDeleteRemarkably, Loyal lives in an affordable housing development promoted and supported by CEDO that was granted a waiver of parking requirements so that only one space per housing unit would be required. This is exactly what's being proposed...
ReplyDeleteWhen did the Greens become pro-automobile?
Well, best to ask Loyal what he was thinking when the made the comments. I didn't know about the parking arrangements down on Lake Street.
ReplyDeleteMy beef with CEDO has always been its general arrogance in thinking it knows what the people want & giving lip service to community concerns, when it's agenda is otherwise. This has been shown time and time again, recently with its Waterfront plans. You think they'd get it, but they don't.
I love process. It's been my work career experience. The zoning rewrite started out as a way to streamline the zoning regs and make them 'more efficient.' Wright has handled it as a political thing. I think he's also using it selfishly to set himself up for a mayoral run, too.
The people who commented on Monday night noted certain amendments that concerned them, but most of the comments were around a vision for Burlington. That is lacking with the city council leadership. IMO, only Shannon and Ellis have sought out the people's ideas. That's democracy. The mayor cannot sit idly by as a spectator. As mayor he should not let the city council have all that control - his role in this leading the conversation for a vision of Burlington.
As for Greens and automobiles. Anonymous, you should know better. Gas guzzlin' cars exist, but Greens call for alternative transport, particularly energy efficient, and definitely better public transportation. The Green Party of Burlington's endoresement of the Liveable City group's agenda has to do with the over-all focus of the rewrite: too fast, too lacking of ecological and human concerns (IMHO).
Wait, you sidestepped the issue. One of the issues that the Livable City group is critical about is requiring LESS automobiles for housing in the downtown area. Loyal, and I assume the Greens, is also very critical about this idea. Why?
ReplyDeleteAs for CEDO, it seems it's been relative easy to demonize one group WITHOUT a substantial debate or discussion of the issues. Loyal seems to be guilty of this as well.
Great Article! Thank You!
ReplyDeleteThanks to author! I like articles like this, very interesting.
ReplyDelete