Item 8: Ordinance Establishing Chambers Special Area Zone

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TESTIMONY City Council Public Hearing - November 14, 2005 Chambers Special Area Zone My name is Steve Pringle. I live with my wife Esther and daughter Zoe at 1457 W. 10th Avenue, and I'm a member of CAFHN. My neighbor Matt Purvis provided an overview of how the Chambers Special Area Zone furthers Metro and local land use goals. I want to provide some supporting details. First, staff, consultants, and residents agree that the encompassed neighborhood's character cannot be sustained under current allowable densities. Staff in a May 23 report said this conclusion was QUOTE "inescapable" and "obvious" END-QUOTE. CAFHN's extensive research bears this out and documents the substantial negative impacts that poorly-sited and overbuilt infill has caused in this area. Those Councilors who've taken the walking tour of our neighborhood know firsthand that we're not talking about subtle aesthetic issues. Current zoning regulations in this area have allowed - even encouraged - infill with severe destabilizing effects on adjacent properties and the neighborhood as a whole. Bluntly, leaving things as they are does not comply with land use policies to maintain the character and stability of this established neighborhood. Second, residents and the Chambers Revisited project team have determined that limiting the number of dwelling units on each lot is an essential standard to prevent the further destabilization of the neighborhood and thus comply with established Metro and local policies. Removing or weakening the proposed standards for the number of units per lot would make the proposed Chambers Special Area Zone inadequate to maintain neighborhood character and such a weakened proposal would consequently not satisfy Metro and local land use policies. Now, briefly, to the density question. The potential density for our specific neighborhood, identified as the S-C/R-2 subarea in the proposed code, is 15 dwelling units per net acre - an increase of 55% over existing density. This allowable density exceeds the requirements of Metro Plan Medium-Density Residential areas, exceeds the R-l maximum density, exceeds the R-2 minimum density, and exceeds the City Council's target for mixed-use centers. The potential density for the entire Chambers Revisited project area under the proposed standards is 22 to 25 dwelling units per net acre, far above all relevant density goals. The bottom line is that the City will be able to fully accommodate the level of growth intended for a potential Chambers MUC as part of its overall growth management strategy, and our neighborhood will do its full measure in support oftIlis strategy by allowing a substantial increase in density and meeting all applicable density-related policies. These standards were carefully crafted in a collaborative effort by staff, consultants, and residents. In our written testimony, you'll find many more facts that support their adoption. Thank you.