Item 3E: Resolution Concerning Measure 37 Claim (Bush)

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ATT ACHMENT B Testimony on Bush Measure 37 C~abn for Compensation (M3706-01) This Measure 37 claim is described on the Jefferson Westside Neighbors website as "a "win" for the neighborhood, a win for the owners and a win for the City". It certainly is a win.for the owners, might be a win for the neighbors but definitely is not a win for the City. How can a process, which needs to throw out the Land Use Code to be affected be a win for the City? The JWN website further states that "a small house that met all the S-C/R-2.Standards. would increase the stability of the block and would improve the quality of that area". The page goes on to state that "It is. vitally important to the health of our neighborhood that these standards not be undercut in any way, including by City action in respOnse to a M-37 Claim." Further the page states ''the outcome will not result in any development ~t doesn't meet the intended purposes oftheS-C/R-2 standards to allow the one new house'~ So one is compelled to ask - if both the house is great and the standards are great then why is a Measure 37 claim required to allow it to be built? Something must be broken. Unfortun~tely what is broken are the density standards that were approved when the. Chambers Revisited standards were approved (by the way less than a year ago). By those standards, the existing building on the lot couldn't be built now, let alone another dwelling. In fact, numerous other desirable buildings cannot be built, such as owner occupied row houses.. This is not due to the size and scale standards, which for the most part are acceptable. It is because the code is a de-facto downzoning of this area from R-2 to. R-l and this case shows that it doesn't work. If the goal is to reduce the underlying zoning then be honest and just do it. Don't set limits o~ dwelling units by lot siZe that essentially make the area R-l and additionally_preclude.intill that still meets the size and mass standards. We should still define how our community will develop throughthe Land Use Code, not by agreements between land pwners. and Neighborhoods to selectively support Measure 3.7 clainis that they "like". Jon Belcher - Planning Commissioner (though I. speak for myself tonite). 1240 W. 17th Ave. Apt 4 97405