[Summit] North Main Street hearing

[Coryndon Luxmoore]

Christine is correct about the state of the zoning laws it is not
sophistry.

If you hate this project please consider asking the mayoral candidates to
pledge:
- to pass the proposed zoning changes as is with no changes
- lower the commercial tax rates (or raise rates on surface lots to best
use rates) that make it cheaper to have a surface parking lot than maintain
a building
- stronger enforcement of maintenance ordinances

-- C


On Tue, May 20, 2014 at 10:32 PM, Elizabeth Grossman <egrossman1 at cox.net>wrote:

> I completely second Aaron's statement.  I wish I could say I have never
> heard such sophistry.. but sadly it is all too common in our political
> environment. Elizabeth.
> On May 20, 2014, at 9:36 PM, Aaron Masri wrote:
>
> > I'm pretty sure that the city's comprehensive plan does not call for
> every acre of land to be turned into a giant parking lot.  And that BS
> about the zoning is bullocks.  How many years has past since the
> comprehensive plan was approved. They had plenty of time to change the
> zoning but couldn't get it done.  I promise that if I become a developer
> and am able to build something there, I will personally jack hammer every
> square inch of asphalt from that lot.  Meanwhile, I ride the 99 bus quite a
> bit and I am not looking forward to the queasy feeling I will get each time
> I ride past.  Dammit I'm pissed!
> >
> > Aaron
> >
> > On May 20, 2014 9:03 PM, Kerry Kohring <kerrykohring at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>        The Providence City Plan Commission Tuesday approved a revised
> plan to construct a fitness center on North Main Street and to replace the
> Sears building with a 300-space parking lot.
> >>        Although 11 neighborhood residents testified against the plan
> and members of the UniteHere! union displayed a chain of 86 letters, many
> from Summit, opposing the project, the board voted unanimously in favor of
> the construction.
> >>      The approval was conditional on the LA Fitness chain working with
> planning staff to develop a system to dim after-hours lights in the parking
> lot and make the building’s signs more in keeping with the surroundings.
> >>       Acting Director of Planning and Development Robert Azar admitted
> that the proposal would not have been permitted under the new zoning rules
> currently being codified, but said that “this is today” and under current
> regulations, the developer had met all the requirements.
> >>      Commission chair Christine West said that the zoning revision “is
> an opportunity to make the city we want,” but also said current criteria
> had been met. She and other members of the panel thanked the residents who
> had taken the time to testify Tuesday and at a similar hearing in April.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>       The Providence City Plan Commission Tuesday approved a revised
> plan to construct a fitness center on North Main Street and to replace the
> Sears building with a 300-space parking lot.
> >>
> >>      Although 11 neighborhood residents testified against the plan and
> members of the UniteHere! union displayed a chain of 86 letters, many from
> Summit, opposing the project, the board voted unanimously in favor of the
> construction.
> >>
> >>      The approval was conditional on the LA Fitness chain working with
> planning staff to develop a system to dim after-hours lights in the parking
> lot and make the building’s signs more in keeping with the surroundings.
> >>
> >>       Acting Director of Planning and Development Robert Azar admitted
> that the proposal would not have been permitted under the new zoning rules
> currently being codified, but said that “this is today” and under current
> regulations, the developer had met all the requirements.
> >>
> >>      Commission chair Christine West said that the zoning revision “is
> an opportunity to make the city we want,” but also said current criteria
> had been met. She and other members of the panel thanked the residents who
> had taken the time to testify Tuesday and at a similar hearing in April.
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
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> >> SNA Website: http://sna.providence.ri.us/
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> > http://sna.providence.ri.us/mailman/listinfo/summit_sna.providence.ri.us
> > SNA Website: http://sna.providence.ri.us/
>
>
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>
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