02/15/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- If planning is not done on that basis, he felt density would have to be increased or city limits expanded. His position was either to listen more or to make a change in the policy. Mr. Hamel felt the Panhandle Policy depended on the terrain and the situation. He said there were areas in the city that were well planned with large lots and that was the reason people had settled in those areas. However, the situation now is occurring where people are sell- ing those homes and new owners want to panhandle lots. He said if anyone wanted to drive through Ward 5, they would see a very high den- sity of homes, condominiums, and apartments. His position was to listen to more testimony and change the policy. Elane Roccio, 2483 Blackburn, was opposed to the Panhandle Policy. She requested Council consider turning the process around and allowing the neighbors of any homeowner (who wanted to panhandle) the right to purchase the property for their own use. William Cooley, 2285 Sandy Drive, represented the Willakenzie Neighbor- hood Association. He urged a public hearing on the issue for review of the Panhandle Policy. He said the Policy was especially difficult when it was applied to older, established neighborhoods. The Association has been on record for over two years as being opposed to the Panhandle Policy, and he felt there might be other associations in the city who wished to be heard at a public hearing. The Panhandle Policy in estab- lished areas resulted in lowering of values and a harmful effect to the neighborhood. However, he said the compact issue was a difficult one to quarrel with. e Bill Kirkpatrick, 2230 Sandy Drive, was a past vice president of the Willakenzie Neighborhood Association. He said when the Policy was adopted in 1976, there was no evidence as to its effects to allow comment. However, since that time, the Panhandle Policy has created opposition in especially the Willakenzie area. He felt Council should take a look at the Policy, noting it had not been popular in his area. He hoped a public hearing would be held on just this issue, and not be combined with another meeting. He said Mr. Cooley had indicated the neighborhood association was opposed to the Policy. It did not oppose the policy in total, but only as it impacted established residential neighborhoods. He said he would like to see some safeguards for established neighborhoods. Mr. Delay agreed this was a difficult issue. He felt people needed a better understanding of the purpose of the pOlicy. He commented on the expressed fear that if one panhandle lot is approved in one neighborhood, it would open up many more panhandle lots in the same area. He felt that was the purpose of the Policy, to increase urban density. The purpose of a whole set of City policies is to try to increase urban density. He felt addressing the panhandle issue in a comprehensive way through the updating of the 1990 Plan would be more appropriate than isolating it as a single issue. He said there should be an attempt to get all e 2/15/78--5 IO~