Item 8: Ordinance Establishing Chambers Special Area Zone

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CAFHN RESPONSES TO CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION ON CHAMBERS SPECIAL AREA ZONE October 13, 2005 <<A million here, a million there ..." Cumulative effects of limiting density in R-2 neighborhoods. Councilor Kelly used a quote from Senator Everett Dirksen, who once said "A million here, a million there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money," to illustrate his concern that limiting density in a small area, such as the S-ClR-2 subarea, could have a significant cumulative effect if done repeatedly. As we explain in the next response, we don't believe adopting the S-CIR-2 standards will lead to such consequences. But, interestingly, this old chestnut applies quite well to what is happening right now with the incremental, destabilizing effect of inappropriate infill in many areas. If Dirksen had been a member ofCAFHN, he might have said: "A block here, a block there, and pretty soon you're talking about real neighborhoods being lost." What precedents would be set? Councilor Kelly expressed concern that adopting residential standards in the S-C/R-2 subarea would set a precedent that could lead to the inevitable adoption of these same standards for other neighborhoods, which would "bust the UGB" as a result. Residents in other "core" neighborhoods have well-founded concerns over destabilizing infill, which the Council appears interested in looking at more closely. In any broader consideration of how best to protect neighborhood character and stability, there may be valuable lessons that can be drawn from the "Chambers Revisited" public process, the research and principles that underlie the S-CIR-2 standards, and the "form" of some standards (e.g., sloped setbacks). However, residents, PDD staff, and the Planning Commission have repeatedly emphasized the S-CIR-2 standards were developed for a specific MUC area, based on well-researched, concrete elements of that area's character. This accomplishment was precisely what the City Council asked for when they rejected a "one-size-fits-all" approach to MUC standards. No one has suggested that individual S-CIR-2 standards are necessarily appropriate for other neighborhoods, and no one llhould expect City Council to automatically adopt S-CIR~2 standards for other areas. A reasonable response to residents outside the S-CIR-2 subarea who ask for infill standards for their own neighborhoods (or a larger area) would be to: a. Determine the magnitude and nature of negative impacts, if any, from infilI within a particular area (e.g., a neighborhood or larger area) b. Ifwarranted, determine a sufficient and flexible way to address the identified impacts in that area 1