[WORK SESSION *This meeting was joined in progress* ]
[00:00:02]
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING, MY NAME IS HUNTER ANDREW MOVED HERE THREE MONTHS AGO WITH MY WIFE.
I THINK IT REALLY ENLIGHTENED ME TO THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING WE HOPED IT WOULD BE IT'S NOT EASY.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS FUN, OR CLEAN WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETING REALLY GOOD IDEAS.
IF YOU WERE TO CHASE ONE YOU HAVE TO SET ASIDE SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I GET THE SENSE THAT IF WE'RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS THINGS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AT LEAST WE'RE DOING SOMETHING WHICH COMING FROM ATLANTA DIDN'T REALLY SEEM [LAUGHTER]
>> HI, MY NAME IS BARBARA DALE AND THERE'S SO MUCH, I WANT TO THANK SURELY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE AND WE'VE LEARNED SO MUCH AND IT'S BEEN MADE TO BE FUN LEARNING.
I WAS REALLY EXPECTING JUST TO SIT AND LISTEN, BUT IT'S BEEN SO INTERACTIVE.
I'VE JUST REALLY APPRECIATED IT SO MUCH AND LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALEXIS JONES AND I LIVE IN DECATUR RENAISSANCE.
I'VE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE 2019 AND I TOLD SHIRLEY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I'M ON INFORMATION OVERLOAD.
[LAUGHTER] WE'VE LEARNED SO MUCH, BUT I THINK WHAT I APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT DECATUR IS THAT YOU DO HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE STRATEGIC PLAN.
YOU HAVE A MISSION, YOU HAVE A VISION, AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY IN ALL THE ENTITIES IS CONNECTED TO IT.
SO I'VE NOTICED THAT BECAUSE I WAS IN LEADERSHIP BEFORE I RETIRED AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE CITIZENS, THE RESIDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN THAT PLAN VIA THE BOARDS AND WHEREVER ELSE WE CAN FIT IN. SO THANK YOU.
>> HI, I'M KAREN ALLEN AND I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2018.
AND I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH SO MANY THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD.
I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID.
IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
IT WAS AMAZING TO ME TO SEE HOW MUCH IS INCLUDED UNDER PUBLIC WORKS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I WAS FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF CITY WORKINGS FROM WHERE I PREVIOUSLY LIVED, BUT THE PUBLIC'S WORKS WAS JUST AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB.
I WAS ALSO LIKE TO COMPLIMENT YOU THE DIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS CITY AND THE NUMBER OF WOMEN THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]
>> MY NAME IS SANDRA JOINER AND I AM PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW, IF NOT THE ONLY CLASS PARTICIPANT WHO HAS LIVED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS IMPRESSED ME MOST IS LEARNING ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE WHYS AND THE HOWS OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS WITHIN CITY OF DECATUR.
I'M ALSO VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR, TO ACTUALLY GO INSIDE SOME OF THE BUILDINGS, THE FACILITIES AND TO MEET THE STAFF WHO PROVIDE THE GREAT SERVICES THAT WE RECEIVE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I MENTIONED THAT HERE AT CITY HALL I'VE ONLY COME IN THE FRONT DOOR AND I EXITED THE BACK DOOR.
I'VE NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY SEE THE UPSTAIRS AND THAT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO DO.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS HERE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND MY CHILDREN ARE GROWN AND ARE COMING BACK TO THE CITY OF DECATUR AND THAT PLEASES ME.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW ME FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. [LAUGHTER].
>> I THINK I'VE ALWAYS TOLD EVERYBODY THAT WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY PROCTORING FOR AN EXAM, I SAW THE CITY AND I INSTANTLY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
I KNEW IMMEDIATELY IT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE, BUT WE WORKED SO HARD IN OUR LITTLE SILOS.
I'VE NEVER GOTTEN TO KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT IT AS I WOULD LIKE TO.
SO THIS WAS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT
[00:05:01]
EVERYBODY ELSE IS WORKING ON AND SEE HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME THINGS WHICH IS THIS VISION THAT'S NOT BOTTOM LINE.IT'S NOT MONEY IT'S ABOUT CARING ABOUT THE PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT CARING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT SO THE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT COMING IN AND PUNCHING A CLOCK AND RUNNING OUT THEIR TIMES.
THEY'RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS BETTER SERVICES, ACTUALLY DEALING WITH THE ISSUES THAT ARE FACING THE UNDER-SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND WORRYING ABOUT THE CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND IT'S STUFF YOU WILL NEVER GET IN ANY OTHER CITY.
SO I WAS REALLY FORTUNATE TO SEE HOW WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M CHRISTINE MOORE.
I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I TOOK AWAY WAS INTERACTING WITH THE RESIDENTS ECHOING WHAT CAPTAIN MENARD SAID.
I GET INTO MY OWN BUBBLE OF WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND JUST GETTING TO KNOW THE RESIDENTS AND EVEN JUST MOVING HERE FROM A DIFFERENT STATE GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE LOCALLY THAT I AM NEIGHBORS WITH, MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY IN THE CITY, BUT IN THE ATLANTA AREA.
SO IT'S BEEN REALLY BENEFICIAL. THANK YOU.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WAS IN DECATUR 101, I'M NOT OPENING THIS UP FOR ANYONE IN THE ROOM.
BUT IF YOU WERE IN DECATUR 101, I SAW A FEW PEOPLE COMING IN, BUT I THINK THEY ARE WITH THE NEXT MEETING.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR US, WE'LL ENTERTAIN YOUR QUESTIONS AND THEN WE MIGHT TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US FIRST, AND THEN WE MAY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, OR JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE GOT INVOLVED WITH THE CITY, OR ANYTHING ANYONE WANTS TO BRING FORWARD AS A PART OF THIS.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO MEET THE PEOPLE AND HEAR FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE WHAT YOU ENJOYED AND ALSO HEAR THAT THE CLASS IS REALLY FUN AND NOT BORING BECAUSE THEY'RE LONG.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE ASKING YOU TO COME IN FOR 30 MINUTES, BUT I KNOW THESE TWO WOMEN DO A GREAT JOB AND ENTERTAINING WITH INFORMATION AND HAVING FUN AND HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MIX AND MINGLE WITH OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN BEFORE.
HOW MANY OF YOU, BESIDES THE CITY EMPLOYEES KNEW OR KNOW SOMEONE ELSE IN THE CLASS THAT YOU KNEW BEFORE YOU TOOK THE CLASS? A FEW PEOPLE, BUT I THINK MOST PEOPLE DON'T.
YOU GET TO MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS AND MAYBE LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE A QUESTION THAT THEY WANT TO ASK ANY OF US? YES, CAN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE? SORRY. [LAUGHTER] WE WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR IT.
>> AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
WHAT EXACTLY IS A WORK SESSION?
>> WHAT IS A WORK SESSION? [NOISE] [LAUGHTER]
>> [OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND] WE GET TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS [LAUGHTER] UNFILTERED, SO IT'S TYPICALLY A PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION AROUND ONE OF THE TOPICS MAY BE RELATED TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN OR IF IT'S ONE OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, BUT IT'S OUR WAY TO HAVE A DEEPER DIVE INTO SOMETHING THAT WE COULD BE VOTING ON OR SOMETHING THAT WE'VE REQUESTED, BUT IT'S OUR WAY TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE STAFF PERSON OR PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THAT WORK.
IT'S OUR DEEPER DIVE, SO GREAT QUESTION.
>> WE HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR, LIKE THE YOUTH COUNCIL PRESENTED AT ONE OF OUR WORK SESSIONS.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WORK SESSION AND AN ACTUAL MEETING IS THAT DURING A USUAL WORK SESSION, THAT'S NOT A TIME THAT WE TYPICALLY TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THOSE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK SESSION, IT'S MORE OF AN EDUCATIONAL SESSION FOR US AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS BUT IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, THEN WE USUALLY FEEL THOSE QUESTIONS DURING OUR ACTUAL CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS, SO YOU GUYS ARE GETTING A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE THAT IS NOT USUALLY HAPPENING DURING THE WORK SESSION, BUT GREAT QUESTION. ARE THERE OTHERS?
>> I WAS SURPRISED WEEK AFTER WEEK, HOW MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND ON ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT HAD ALREADY GONE THROUGH DECATUR 101 AND SO I WAS CURIOUS HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS HAD ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH
[00:10:01]
DECATUR 101 OR HAD SOME SORT OF PARDON IT PREVIOUSLY.I DID DECATUR 101, I GUESS IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS.
I WAS DOING THE MATH BACK IN 2012 AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SWITCH GEARS FROM HAVING BEEN PRETTY BUSY AT HOME WITH KIDS AND NOT LOOKING UP AND OUT AROUND THE CITY AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT NEWER TO THE CITY THEN JUST A FEW YEARS, SO MUCH LIKE MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
SO IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO MEET PEOPLE AND LEARN ABOUT HOW THE CITY WORKED AND IT OPENED MY EYES TO MORE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK I GAINED THAT SENSE OF PRIDE THAT WAS MENTIONED AND INSPIRED ME TO BE ON THE ACTIVE LIVING BOARD, WHICH YOU PROBABLY MET FOLKS FROM THAT BOARD.
THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF A WAY THAT IT IMPACTED ME AND SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK.
YOU OF COURSE, DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY ALL THE POSITIVE THINGS, BUT THANKS FOR BEING HERE AND FOR, I GUESS I GOT A REAL ENERGY BOOST FROM WHAT YOU SAID, THAT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GET BACK AFTER TIME AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO FUEL US FOR OUR MEETING TO GO LATER TONIGHT, SO THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS AND THE INSIGHTS.
>> I WILL GO NEXT AND THEN THE MAYOR PROTEM, BUT I DID TAKE THE DECATUR 101.
I MOVED HERE IN 2001 AND I BELIEVE I TOOK IT AND LINDA HARRIS MIGHT NOT KNOW THE ACTUAL DATE, BUT IT WAS AROUND 2005 OR SO.
IT WAS FAIRLY NEW AT THE TIME.
ONE OF THE FUN THINGS IS THAT IT HAS BEEN REPLICATED BY SO MANY OTHER CITIES.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND PARTICIPATING IN IT AND ALSO JUST ENCOURAGING OTHER COMMUNITIES TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW AND APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE FOLKS THAT WORK FOR THE CITY.
I THINK IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, YOU REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE DOING THE WORK IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OR IF YOU VISIT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE STATION WITH LIKE CAPTAIN MENARD.
WE ALSO DID NOT GET TO GO DOWN THE FIRE POLE BUT [LAUGHTER] THAT'S A REQUEST EVERY YEAR, BUT IT REALLY MADE ME WANT TO BE MORE ENGAGED WITH THE CITY AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT, PAY ATTENTION TO THE COMMISSION MEETINGS, PAY ATTENTION TO THE VOLUNTEER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I THINK THE MAYOR PROTEM HAS TAKEN [OVERLAPPING].
I'M A 45 YEAR [OVERLAPPING] RESIDENT OF THE CITY AND I HAVE NOT TAKEN DECATUR 101.
I SERVED AND I CHAIRED THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I LEAD AN INFILL TASK FORCE BACK IN THE 2000S.
I HAVE SERVED EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY, INCLUDING BEING A PTA PRESIDENT THAT I'VE BEEN NEEDED AND WE'VE RAISED OUR FAMILY HERE AND OUR YOUNGEST CHILD, A LACROSSE COACH AND A TEACHER AT OLCARS, SO WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE THINGS THAT DECATUR 101 TEACHES AND HEROS.
WE ARE TRULY IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL AND THIS IS THE RESULT OF I'M SUPER THRILLED.
MAYBE ONE DAY WHEN I'M NOT ON THE CITY COMMISSION, I WILL TAKE DECATUR 101 AND I'M SURE [LAUGHTER] I WILL LEARN SOMETHING [OVERLAPPING] THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.
>> I'LL LET COMMISSIONER MARAYOR AND COMMISSIONER DOSENBURRY JUST TALK ABOUT MAYBE THEIR ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND IF YOU WANT TO.
>> DO WE HAVE THAT, WE DID NOT ATTEND DECATUR 101 [LAUGHTER]
>> I DID NOT ATTEND DECATUR 101.
I DID HELP FOUND THE DOWNTOWN DECATUR NEIGHBORS, I ALSO HELPED FOUND THE DECATUR-PARENT NETWORKS AND WAS ACTIVE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL PTA ALSO, BUT I FEEL I SHOULD TAKE DECATUR 101 [LAUGHTER].
>> I WENT FROM BEING A RESIDENT OF 16 YEARS TO A CITY COMMISSIONER.
MOST OF MY VOLUNTEERING AT SCHOOL AND I HAD DONE DECATUR 101 EVERY DAY [LAUGHTER] I THINK YOU ALL GOT A HEAD START.
>> I CAN MAKE A QUICK COMMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF STAFF.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING THE CLASS HERE, AND I DON'T RECALL NECESSARILY DOING IT QUITE THIS WAY AND WE'VE HAD THE GAP.
BUT NOW IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU'VE ALREADY DUSTED OFF ANY NERVES OR PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ABOUT HOW TO BE HERE AND BE AT THE PODIUM, TALK, BRING YOUR ISSUES AND TELL FOLKS THAT YOU WERE IN THE CLASS WITH YOU.
THIS IS WHERE WE WANT YOU TO BE OR ON ZOOM OF COURSE, BUT TALKING TO US AND BEING ENGAGED, SINCE THIS IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE TONIGHT DOING THAT.
>> I THINK WE ALSO PUT A PLUG-IN WHEN YOU HAD THE REPRESENTATIVES
[00:15:01]
FROM THE VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO SUBMIT STATEMENTS OF INTERESTS AND I THINK HOPEFULLY WE HAD SOME FOLKS FROM THE DECATUR 101 CLASSES BECAUSE I LIKED THAT ADDITION TO THE CLASSES SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS DO AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THERE.>> I CAN VERIFY WE'VE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS OF INTERESTS FROM THIS CLASS, I THINK IT'S THE MOST EFFORT [OVERLAPPING].
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY SAID [LAUGHTER] IN THAT CLASS THAT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE.
>> DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A QUESTION THAT YOU WANT FROM DECATUR 101.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE, COMING TO THE MICROPHONE. THANK YOU.
>> BUT I DO HAVE A COMMENT AND PERHAPS IT'S NOTHING THAT YOU COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THE CLOSING OF THE BABY KROGER [LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO MISS IT, I THINK THAT IT HAS SERVED THE RESIDENCE VERY WELL AND I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE SOMETHING ELSE IN THAT LOCATION THAT WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO STILL BUY OUR GROCERIES, GET IN THERE AND COME ON AND GET OUT QUICKLY.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AS A RESIDENT, A LONG TIME RESIDENT, I'M GOING TO MISS IT.
>> I ASKED THE CITY COMMISSIONER [APPLAUSE] WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE BABY KROGER TO SEE IF ANYBODY CAN REMEMBER THAT.
OH, YOU CHEATED [LAUGHTER]. GREAT JOB.
YES, THAT'S CORRECT [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO THE COMMISSION AND MAKE YOU REALIZE THAT NEXT THURSDAY WHEN OUR DECATUR 101 STUDENTS GRADUATE, WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO HAVE GRADUATES.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AMBASSADORS TO SUPPORT THE CITY DECATUR AND IF THEIR PARTICIPATION AND ENTHUSIASM HAS ANY SIGN, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUTURE LEADERS FROM THIS GROUP [APPLAUSE].
>> WE'LL JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ABOUT THE, I READ IT WHEN EVERYONE ELSE READ IT, SO THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WERE AWARE WAS HAPPENING AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER-PLAN.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS EVENING.
YOU MAY JUST WANT TO READ ABOUT IT [LAUGHTER] BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DOWNTOWN AND SO THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SAYING, WE'D LIKE ANOTHER GROCERY STORE DOWNTOWN.
BECAUSE THOSE SHAPE WHAT OUR FOLKS DO IN TERMS OF TRYING TO GET DIFFERENT BUSINESSES TO COME INTO THE CITY OF DECATUR, IT DOESN'T WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A SPECIFIC THING COME TO DECATUR BUT IT ALWAYS HELPS TO HAVE THAT DATA SAYING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AN EXPRESSED INTEREST BUT I THINK THE CONVENIENCE AND THE QUICK IN AND OUT IS SOMETHING THAT I TELL MY GRANDCHILDREN ALL THE KROGER'S IN ATLANTA AREA HAVE NAMES AND BABY KROGER, DISCO KROGER, BELT LINE KROGER NOW AND THEN SEVERAL OTHERS.
I APPRECIATE YOU, MAKING THAT COMMENTS.
>> THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE MORNING CLASS, I THINK IF YOU'VE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK AND WORKED REALLY HARD, YOU WILL GET YOUR DIPLOMA FROM MAYOR PRO TEMPORE AND THOSE OF YOU IN THE NIGHT CLASS AND I'M HOPING THEY HAVE THE SAME STANDARDS [LAUGHTER] WILL GET YOUR DIPLOMA FROM COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.
YOU'VE GOT THREE DAYS THAT YOU'VE DONE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GRADUATE.
BUT I'M SURE THEY WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT BETWEEN NOW AND YOUR GRADUATION. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> I WONDER, DOES JOHN RANDALL STILL PROVIDE HIS SPECIAL GOODIES? NO? [LAUGHTER]
>> BUT THERE ARE SPECIAL GOODIES.
>> WE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
[00:20:01]
>> NOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESSES.
SHE GOES THROUGH DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND GETS THINGS FROM THEM AND SO THEY GET TO SEE IT IN JOHN RANDALL AFTER 20 YEARS, SAID HE WASN'T GOING TO DO IT [LAUGHTER] I SAID OKAY HONEY.
>> THOSE ARE RESERVED FOR GRANDCHILDREN [LAUGHTER]
>> I HAVE LONG COMMISSION MEETINGS [LAUGHTER]
>> WE SHOULD HAVE PUT IT FORTH QUICKLY.
IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER FROM THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE FOR DECATUR 101.
AGAIN, WE THANK YOU WE APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST IN THE CITY AND ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ANY OF US AT ANYTIME WERE EASY TO FIND.
THANKS AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE [APPLAUSE] OUR WORK SESSION IS OVER OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 07:30.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE COMMISSION MEETING.
GET COMFY IN THOSE SEATS IF YOU WANT TO STAY [LAUGHTER]
[I. Call to Order by Mayor ]
[BACKGROUND] [NOISE] I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING FOR THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION FOR OCTOBER 17TH, 2022.[II. Approval of the Minutes ]
FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 3RD.COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE MINUTES?
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
>> PROPOSED. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
[III. Presentation ]
WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THE DECATUR WINE FESTIVAL IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF OUR YOUTH COUNCIL WHO ARE ATTENDING OUR MEETING THIS EVENING.MAYOR PRO TEMPORE IS THE LIAISON TO THAT COMMITTEE AND OR THAT COUNCIL AND WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE YOUTH WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT.
>> YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR DERRICK [APPLAUSE]
>> I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO CALL ALL FIVE OF THEM UP TO THE PODIUM TODAY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S TRULY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT YOUR CHILDREN CARE ABOUT THE DEMOCRACY OF OUR CITY AND THEY ARE LEARNING FROM SOME OF THE FINEST ADMINISTRATORS AND PUBLIC WORKS PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
MCLAIN DRAKE, PENELOPE GOEBEL.
CAIN DIAZ, GRETA TALE AND FLORA BURDETTE [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
>> THEY HAVE TO COME TO AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC MEETING PER SEMESTER AND THEY PICK THE LONGEST ONE OF THE YEAR [LAUGHTER] NOTICE NONE OF THE GENTLEMAN CAME TONIGHT.
THESE ARE ALL THE HIGH ACHIEVERS.
>> WELCOME AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE DECATUR WINE FESTIVAL. THERE YOU ARE.
>> HI. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME COME AND SPEAK.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
FOR THOSE THAT I DON'T KNOW, I'M EMILY MOTTOLA.
I WORK AS THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE.
I'M HAPPY TO COME AND SPEAK WITH YOU GUYS.
AS YOU'RE FAMILIAR THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE ARTS REMAIN AN ACCESSIBLE AND INTEGRATED PART OF THE DECATUR COMMUNITY.
BUT IT TAKES COLLABORATION BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENTS SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO, WE GAVE LITTLE GOODIE BASKETS IS JUST CANDIES AND THINGS TO GET YOU THROUGH THIS MEETING THAT I'M SURE IT SHOULD BE A MINUTE.
[LAUGHTER] ANDRE, I APOLOGIZE FOR MY OVERSIGHT.
I WILL BRING YOU A LITTLE BAG SHORTLY [LAUGHTER] YOU ALL MAY HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE RECENT COMPLETION OF THE NEW MURAL AND UPDATED LIGHTING AND THE PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL BY AGNES SCOTT, WHICH IS ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW ART CAN NOT ONLY BEAUTIFY A PUBLIC SPACE, BUT ALSO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE APPRECIATE THIS BOARD OF DECATUR COMMUNITY AND ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN MAKING PROJECTS LIKE THESE POSSIBLE.
AS A REMINDER, OUR ONLY DEDICATED FUND RAISER IS COMING UP ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH.
IT'S THE DECATUR WINE FESTIVAL.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW AT DECATURWINEFESTIVAL.COM OR THROUGH OUR DIRECT WEBSITE, WHICH IS THE DECATURARTSALLIANCE.ORG.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE ALSO WE STILL HAVE A RUNNING EXHIBITION AND THE NEWLY RENOVATED TOP FLOOR THE DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY, WHICH IS THE BOOK IS ART EXHIBITION RUNS THROUGH HALLOWEEN.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME SEE THAT ALSO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE WINE FESTIVAL AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM ANGELA THREADGILL IS THAT CORRECT FOR
[IV.A. Talia and Joe Bunting have requested a conditional use permit to allow an 8-bedroom lodging house to function as a boutique inn within a R-60 zoningdistrict for the property located at 620 Pinetree Drive. The Planning Commission recommends approval with conditions. ]
[00:25:04]
THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW THE PROCESS WILL WORK.WE WILL LOOK AT EACH OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS INDIVIDUALLY AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON EACH OF THEM AND WE WILL CALL YOUR NAME TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEN WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO DISCUSS THE INFORMATION AND THEN MAKE OUR DECISIONS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE THIS EVENING AND WE'LL START OFF WITH MS. THREADGILL.
>> THE FIRST ITEM THAT I HAVE ON YOUR AGENDA IS FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR 620 PINETREE DRIVE.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO JUST GO ONE-BY-ONE AND COME BACK UP JUST FOR MY CLARIFICATION ON HOW YOU WANT ME TO PROVIDE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ALL AT ONE TIME RIGHT NOW.
>> I THINK WE JUST WANT TO DO ONE AT A TIME.
I SERVE AS THE PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.
ON LAST TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING AND THE APPLICATION THAT WAS FILED BY TALIA AND JOE BUNTING.
THEY HAVE REQUESTED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW AN EIGHT BEDROOM OVERNIGHT LODGING HOUSE TO FUNCTION AS A BOUTIQUE IN WITHIN AN R60 ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 620 PINETREE DRIVE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED 5-1 TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS FOR THAT REQUESTED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT OF THE CONDITIONS.
THERE ARE A TOTAL OF EIGHT CONDITIONS THAT THEY ARE RECOMMENDING.
THE FIRST FIVE ARE RELATED DIRECTLY TO REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY WITHIN THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE[NOISE] THAT IS THE FIRST ONE THE LODGING HOUSE SHALL BE MANAGED BY A FULL-TIME RESIDENT OF THE PROPERTY.
THEN THERE'S SOME STIPULATIONS ABOUT HOW THEY OPERATE AS A FULL-TIME RESIDENT OF THAT PROPERTY.
THE SECOND IS THAT THE ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS AT THE LODGING HOUSE SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR OVERNIGHT GUESTS ONLY.
THAT MEAL SERVICE BE LIMITED TO BREAKFAST AND AN AFTERNOON AND EVENING REFRESHMENT.
NO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN PROVIDING LODGING FOR REGISTERED GUEST SHALL BE PERMITTED.
THE THIRD ONE IS NO DISPLAYS OF GOODS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES, OR OTHER ADVERTISING SHALL BE VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
THE FOURTH IS THAT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF GUESTS ROOMS SHALL BE EIGHT, EXCLUSIVE OF THE CARETAKERS RESIDENTIAL UNIT.
THE FIFTH ONE IS THE LENGTH OF STAY OF GUESTS SHALL NOT EXCEED 30 DAYS.
AGAIN, THOSE FIRST FIVE ARE ALL DIRECTLY FROM THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
THE SIXTH ONE IS THAT THE PROPOSED OFF STREET PARKING, THE VEHICULAR INGRESS AND EGRESS SHALL BE DEVELOPED SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE SITE PLAN THAT WAS SUBMITTED AS ATTACHED AND EXHIBIT B, THAT WOULD BE IN YOUR PACKET.
THIS SEVENTH IS THAT EVERGREEN SHRUBS OR A LANDSCAPE WALL NOT LESS THAN 3 FEET IN HEIGHT SHALL BE INSTALLED IN THE LANDSCAPE PLANTERS STRIP LOCATED BETWEEN PINETREE DRIVE AND THE OFF STREET PARKING TO PROVIDE VISUAL SCREENING.
THEN THE EIGHTH ONE WAS TO HAVE A SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT WITH AN ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER FOR VALET PARKING OR ADDITIONAL OVERFLOW PARKING, SHOULD THEY HAVE EVENTS AT THE PROPERTY.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO INVITE MS. TALIA BUNTING TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF HER APPLICATION AND HER REQUEST.
>> HI. MY NAME IS TALIA BUNTING AND I LIVE AT 813 WEST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE AND WE ARE SEEKING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR 620 PINETREE DRIVE TO USE AS A LODGING HOUSE.
I HAD A REALLY PRETTY SLIDESHOW LAST WEEK.
YOU MISSED IT. YOU WEREN'T HERE.
BUT IT'LL BE ONE OF THEM THERE WAS SOME PICTURES IT'LL BE THE QUEEN BEE AND HOPEFULLY A REAL WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.
WANTED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY FAMILY AND MYSELF FIRST.
MY HUSBAND, WHICH AGAIN HERE I HAVE THIS LITTLE PICTURE WHICH YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE.
MY HUSBAND JOE, AND THEN I HAVE THREE CHILDREN, MARSTON, REMY, AND SHOSHANA.
MARSTON IS IN FOURTH GRADE WITH MRS. ROBINSON AT FAVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND REMY IS IN SECOND GRADE WITH MS. HENRY AT WESTCHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SHOSHANA TURN FIVE LAST WEEK AND SHE CANNOT WAIT TO JOIN HER BIG BROTHERS.
MY HUSBAND IS A WRITER AND HE RUNS
[00:30:04]
AN ONLINE WEBSITE AND WE'RE BOTH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.I'M AN EXPERIENCED PROPERTY MANAGER.
I HAVE OVER 19 PROPERTIES UNDER MANAGEMENT FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS HERE IN METRO ATLANTA.
JOE AND I, WHO IS MY HUSBAND, HAD BEEN DREAMING ABOUT OPERATING AND BRINGING ONE TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH IN ATLANTA.
WHEN WE MOVED HERE SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE WERE IN EAST ATLANTA VILLAGE ORIGINALLY.
THERE WAS NOWHERE FOR ANYBODY TO STAY WHEN OUR FAMILY WOULD COME VISIT.
WHEN WE MOVED HERE TO DECATUR, WE STILL HAD THAT PROBLEM.
THEY EITHER HAD TO STAY IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA OR THEY WERE IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR, WHICH WAS STILL A LITTLE BIT FARTHER AND NOT QUITE AS CONVENIENT AND NOT REALLY THEIR STYLE BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE CORPORATE SETTINGS.
THE HOTELS HERE, WERE REALLY THAT.
WE STARTED DREAMING ABOUT WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO HELP PROVIDE HOSPITALITY TO THE CITY THAT WE CARE ABOUT.
WE LIVE 13 HOUSES DOWN FROM 620 PINETREE DRIVE.
WE MOVED HERE IN 2021 IN SPRING AND WE WILL PASS IT EVERY DAY AS WE WALKED OUR DOG AROUND TOWN AND JUST GO OH, THAT WOULD BE THE MOST PERFECT SPOT FOR A BED AND BREAKFAST.
THEN WHEN IT BECAME ON THE MARKET, WE GOT IT UNDER CONTRACT AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY COULD AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE HOSPITALITY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE WHO LOVED THE CITY OF DECATUR AND WANT TO STAY AND VISIT.
WE CARED DEEPLY ABOUT HOSPITALITY AND WANT TO DO IT WELL.
I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR CARES ABOUT AS WELL.
IN THE 2030 STRATEGIC MASTER PLAN, THE CITY OF DECATUR CALLS FOR IN SECTION EGO2 TO A BOUTIQUE HOTEL AS WELL AS A BED AND BREAKFAST ATTRACTING ONE TO THE CITY.
WE'RE HOPING TO BE THAT BED AND BREAKFAST.
IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, WE HAVE ALSO RUN A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OUT OF OUR HOUSE.
WE HAVE A LITTLE APARTMENT ABOVE OUR HOUSE THAT WE RENT OUT.
I WANT TO JUST SHARE A FEW OF THE REVIEWS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT THE CITY AND ABOUT WORKING WITH ME IN PARTICULAR.
THIS ONE PERSON SAYS THIS AIRBNB IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE, VERY CLEAN AND SPACIOUS, WALKABLE TO LITTLE DOWNTOWN DECATUR.
WE WERE IN TOWN FOR AN ELTON JOHN CONCERT AND IT WAS NICE TO HAVE THE MARTA STATION NEARBY.
TALIA IS A WONDERFUL HOST AND VERY RESPONSIVE.
ZACH SAYS, GREAT PLACE THAT IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED TO DOWNTOWN DECATUR AND WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE TO EVEN MORE.
WE WERE THERE FOR A SHOW AT THE EASTERN AND IT WAS A GREAT LOCATION.
CATHERINE SAYS, THIS IS SUCH A LARGE, LOVELY BRIGHT SPACE, REALLY ENJOYED THE LOCATION, TOO EASY WALK TO SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
I HAVE OVER 500 REVIEWS ACROSS ALL MY PROPERTIES WHICH I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE MORE ABOUT LATER.
I WANT TO SPEAK FIRST ABOUT SUITABILITY IN THE PARTICULAR LOCATION IT'S SURROUNDED BY SIMILARLY SCALED PROPERTIES.
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, AS WELL AS ST.
THOMAS MOORE ARE RIGHT THERE AND THEY'RE BOTH INSTITUTIONALLY ZONED.
IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM ST. THOMAS MORE AND IT'S IN SPITTING DISTANCE TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
THE POST OFFICE IS ALSO CATTY CORNER TO IT AND IT IS OBVIOUSLY PUBLICLY ZONED.
THEN HAMPTON COURT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AND IT HAS ABOUT 16 UNITS ON JUST OVER AN ACRE OF LAND WHICH IS COMPARABLE TO THE DENSITY WE WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE ON OUR PROPERTY.
ZONING REQUIREMENTS CURRENTLY CITY ORDINANCE SECTION 6.5.7 DOES ALLOW FOR A LODGING HOUSE OF UP TO EIGHT GUESTS WITH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
ALL OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WOULD FALL INTO THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ADVERSE EFFECTS.
I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO REACH OUT TO THE NEIGHBORS AND HAVE AS MANY CONVERSATIONS AS POSSIBLE TO BUILD CONSENSUS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE LEADING UP TO THESE MEETINGS AND JUST TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR MYSELF.
AS I SAID, I'M 13 HOUSES DOWN.
MY HOUSE BACKS UP TO PINE TREE.
I WANT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
THE THREE THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY COME UP WITH THE NEIGHBORS IS TRASH, PARKING AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER THING? GOODNESS. TRAFFIC, SORRY.
WE DON'T EXPECT THAT THIS WOULD REALLY IMPACT THOSE THINGS IN ANY MAJOR WAY.
[00:35:01]
THE PROPOSED INN IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL, RELIGIOUS, AND EDUCATIONAL USES OF ADJACENT AND NEARBY PROPERTIES AND RESIDENTS OF ADJACENT PROPERTIES, AS WELL AS VISITORS AND STAFF AT THE NEARBY CHURCHES WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM USABILITY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES UNHINDERED.IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC, THE ST. THOMAS MORE HAS 489 STUDENTS, NOT INCLUDING PARISHIONERS.
HAMPTON COURT HAS 16 UNITS AND THEY HAVE AT LEAST ONE CAR EACH AND THEN FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH HAS ABOUT 100 ATTENDEES.
WE WOULD HAVE EIGHT CARS MAX AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND 16 GUESTS.
IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, WE DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE CURRENT TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA.
IT'S ALSO CENTRALLY LOCATED, SO THERE'S A LOT OF WALKABILITY.
IT GETS A WALKABILITY SCORE OF 82.
AS I'VE SHARED EARLIER, 90 PERCENT OF MY GUESTS WHO STAY AT MY SHORT-TERM RENTAL WALK TO TOWN.
THEY LEAVE THEIR CARS, THEY WALK TO TOWN, OR THEY TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN.
WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN IT ADD TO THE CONGESTION OF CITY OF DECATUR TRAFFIC.
IN ADDITION, THE INN IS LOCATED RIGHT ON WEST PONCE DE LEON AND BACKS UP PINE TREE BACKS RIGHT INTO SCOTT BOULEVARD, SO WHICH ARE BOTH HIGH CAPACITY ROADS.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THE QUEEN BIN TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONGESTION.
THE NEXT THING WOULD BE PARKING, WHICH IS A REALLY VALID CONCERN.
I THINK THAT THE NEIGHBORS HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED, PARTICULARLY WITH ST. THOMAS MORE, THEIR SCHOOL PICKUP, THERE ARE ALWAYS CARS PARKED THERE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A RESOLUTION, SO WE'RE NOT ADDING TO THAT.
I'VE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVE SPOTS SHOULD WE RUN OUT OF PARKING SPOTS.
WE WORKED WITH OUR ARCHITECT TO DEVELOP A PARKING SYSTEM STRUCTURE.
DID YOU GUYS GET A COPY OF THIS? GREAT. THE ORDINANCE CALLS FOR ONE PARKING SPOT PER TWO GUESTS ROOMS. WE'RE GOING FOR SIX.
WE'RE TRYING TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND HERE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY MITIGATING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
SUSTAINABILITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO USE A COMPOSTING SERVICE.
WE'RE LOOKING TO REDUCE AND REUSE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE RECLAIMING ITEMS. I'VE BEEN IN HOSPITALITY FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY COMMITTED TO.
WE WOULD HAVE AN ENCLOSURE BEHIND THE HOUSE, WHICH DID YOU GUYS GET A COPY OF THIS? IT'S A VERY LESS FANCY COPY.
BUT THAT'S WHERE THE TRASH BINS WOULD BE IN AN ENCLOSURE.
JUST TO NOTE, IT'S GOING TO BE A NICE BED AND BREAKFAST.
IT HAS TO LOOK WELL MANICURED.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE I WILL BE OUT OF BUSINESS OF TRASH BECOMES A PROBLEM FOR ME SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR ME BEFORE IT'LL EVER MAKE IT A PROBLEM FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
>> I HAD SOME PICTURES ON THE SLIDESHOW, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO EMAIL YOU GUYS LATER IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING FOR AS WE DEVELOP THIS AND WORK WITH OUR ARCHITECT IS CREATING A PLACE THAT REALLY ADDS TO THE CHARACTER OF THE CITY OF DECATUR AND BECOME SOMETHING SPECIAL.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT.
WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SKYLIGHT DESIGNED, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH A BLACKSMITH THAT WOULD DESIGN THE IRON THAT GOES OVER THE SKYLIGHT, AND IT WOULD BE REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
I THINK IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE OF DECATUR COULD FEEL PROUD OF AND MY HOPE IS THAT IT WOULD BECOME A LANDMARK IN OUR CITY.
>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE ALL OF THE SLIDES THAT WORK.
>> WE DO. PERFECT. JUST, IN CONCLUSION, I WANT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER HERE.
I CARE ABOUT THIS CITY, I CARE ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY HUSBAND.
WE WANT TO DO IT RIGHT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WOULD SEE THAT AS WELL AND THAT THIS WOULD WORK OUT. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> IF WE HAVE SOME, WE'LL HAVE YOU COME BACK.
>> WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING PART OF THE MEETING.
I DO HAVE A LIST THAT IS DIVIDED BY THOSE WHO ARE SPEAKING TO THIS ISSUE, AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT ITEM B AFTER WE DISCUSS THIS, I DO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING ABLE TO HAVE CIVIC AND RESPECTFUL CONVERSATIONS AND WE'LL APPRECIATE YOU ALL SUPPORTING THAT AND BEING A PART OF THAT WITHOUT CLAPPING OR TALKING WHILE OTHER PEOPLE ARE TALKING, WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME RESPECT AND WE COULDN'T MOVE THE MEETING.
[00:40:07]
WE DON T HAVE ZOOM CAPABILITY AND ANOTHER FACILITY IN THE CITY AND WE CAN CURRENTLY DO THAT NOW, SO YOU'LL BE PATIENT WITH US.WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM EVERYONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP FOR THIS.
WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON ZOOM, THEN WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING AND DISCUSS IT AMONGST OURSELVES, AND WE MAY HAVE MS. THREADGILL OR MS. BENTON COME BACK UP AND ANSWER SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS.
WE DO ALSO ASK THAT YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENT, AND WE ARE USING A TIME LIMIT AND WE ARE GOING TO STICK TO THAT.
THERE WAS A VERY LONG PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, WE HAVE EVEN MORE ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS AFTER OUR PUBLIC HEARING, SO WE WILL ASK YOU TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS SUCCINT, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES, AND I WILL ASK YOU TO LEAVE THE MICROPHONE ONCE THREE MINUTES IS UP, SO I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
THE FIRST PERSON THAT WE HAVE IS TRISHA DRAKE, AND THEN WE HAVE WALT DRAKE.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TRISHA DRAKE.
I LIVE AT 617 PINETREE DRIVE FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN I HAVE WITH ONE OF THE POWERPOINT SLIDES, I BELIEVE IT'S NUMBER 19, THAT INDICATES THAT THE PROPERTY IS SURROUNDED BY THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND THE DECATUR POST OFFICE.
THE SIDE IS ACTUALLY SURROUNDED BY RESIDENTIAL HOMES ON THREE SIDES, AND ST. THOMAS MORE CHURCH AND THE SCHOOL ON THE OTHER NO OTHER NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
I THINK WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH QUAINT BED AND BREAKFAST, WHERE GUESTS RENT A ROOM AND SOMEONE'S PRIVATE HOME.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS, THE PROPOSED OWNERS WILL NOT LIVE ON THE PROPERTY, THEY LIVE SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY ON WEST PONCE WITH EIGHT UNITS FOR RENT, THIS IS A PURE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE, IN EFFECT, A HOTEL.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A LARGE NUMBER OF LETTERS OF CONCERN FROM NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS AND FATHER HUSSY AT ST. THOMAS MORE CHURCH AND SCHOOL, AND I CONCUR WITH THOSE STATEMENTS, MY MAJOR CONCERNS ARE TRAFFIC PARKING AND THE USE OF THE VENUE SPACE FOR WEDDINGS AND PARTIES.
REGULAR CAR TRAFFIC TO THE SITE WILL INCLUDE THOSE OF PAYING OVERNIGHT CUSTOMERS UP TO 16, THE CARETAKER, HOUSEKEEPERS, POOL MAINTENANCE, THE OWNERS, VARIOUS DELIVERY AND MAINTENANCE WORKERS, AND ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VISITING THE CUSTOMERS, ALL THESE VEHICLES AFFECT PARKING AND TRAFFIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YET THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES ONLY FIVE OR SIX PARKING SPACES, ALL IN THE PINE TREE DRIVES SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
IN EFFECT, THERE WILL BE PAVED PARKING ON WHAT IS NOW LAWN.
IT APPEARS AT LEAST ONE LARGE OLD TREE WILL NEED TO BE CUT DOWN FOR THIS.
EVEN WITH A HEDGE, CARS PARKED IN A PAID YARD IS NOT A DESIRABLE OPTIC FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
A CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY IS PROPOSED ADJACENT TO THESE NEW PARKING SPACES, WHICH REQUIRES AN ADDITIONAL CURB CUT.
THIS TWO WILL AFFECT TRAFFIC AND PARKING.
ALL THE OVERFLOW PARKING WILL HAVE TO EXTEND DOWN PINETREE DRIVE.
WEDDINGS AND PARTIES ARE PART OF THE PROPOSED BUSINESS PLAN.
THESE EVENTS WILL EXACERBATE TRAFFIC, PARKING, AND NOISE.
THIS IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, WHILE THE VENUE CAN ONLY BE USED FOR EVENTS HELD BY AN OVERNIGHT GUEST, I ASSUME I OR ANYONE ELSE COULD RUN A UNIT OR ALL EIGHT UNITS AND HAVE A PARTY, AND WHILE ALCOHOL CANNOT BE SOLD BY THE OWNER, GUESS COULD SUPPLY THEIR OWN, SO PARTIES AND EVENTS WILL MOST LIKELY INCLUDE ALCOHOL.
THIS IS CONCERNING NOT JUST FOR NEIGHBORS, BUT THE ADJACENT SCHOOL, WHICH IS LESS THAN 100 YARDS FROM THE PROPERTY, ONE COULD SAY THAT IF THERE ARE LIGHT OR LOUD PARTIES OR TRAFFIC OR PARKING VIOLATIONS, THE POLICE CAN BE CALLED.
BUT WHY SHOULD WE PUT NEIGHBORS IN A POSITION TO HAVE TO DO THIS? FOR THESE REASONS AND THOSE COVERED AND CORRESPONDENTS SUBMITTED BY OTHER RESIDENTS, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU DENY THIS CONDITIONAL USE PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS WALT DRAKE AND I TOO LIVE AT 617 PINETREE DRIVE.
I WON'T REPEAT THE CONCERNS JUST VOICED, BUT I DO CONCUR COMPLETELY WITH THEM.
I DO HAVE A FEW OTHER COMMENTS THOUGH THAT I THINK ARE PERTINENT, ALONG WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF NEIGHBORS RESIDING ON PINETREE DRIVE IN WEST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE, MANY OF WHOM HAVE PROVIDED WRITTEN COMMENTS AND CONCERNS IN OPPOSITION TO THIS APPLICATION, I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN ABOUT ALLOWING PERMISSION FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AT 620 PINETREE DRIVE.
SUCH COMMERCIAL USE IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR
[00:45:02]
THIS RESIDENTIAL LOCATION AND SETS AN UNDESIRABLE PRECEDENT.THE CURRENT OWNERS OF THIS PROPOSED SITE AT 620 PINETREE DRIVE ALSO OWN THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR AT 630, PINETREE DRIVE.
IF THE APPLICANT PURCHASES THE 620 RESIDENTS, THEY HAVE A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL ON THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR.
I HAVE CONCERNS THAT THAT PROPERTY ALSO BEING USED BY THE APPLICANT AS OVERNIGHT LODGING, WHETHER THEY TRIED TO SUBSEQUENTLY GET PERMISSION FOR ANOTHER LODGING HOUSE OR IF IT BECOMES A FIVE-UNIT BED AND BREAKFAST OR AIRBNB, NEITHER, WHICH I UNDERSTAND WOULD BE REGULATED BY THE CITY OR HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY, THUS CREATING AN OVERNIGHT LODGING RENTAL COMPLEX IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHILE I'M AWARE THAT THE DECATUR 2030 STRATEGIC PLAN CALLS FOR A POSSIBLE ADDITION OF A LODGING HOUSE, A CONDITIONAL USE, IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT STATE THAT IT'S TO BE OR SHOULD BE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
ONE OF THE VERY FEW COMMENTS THAT I SAW IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL THAT A RESIDENT WROTE IN THAT SAID THAT ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE AGAINST THIS JUST DON'T LIKE CHANGE.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE.
I DON'T LIKE TO OPPOSE THINGS OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DECATUR THE GOOD CITIZENS OF DECATUR AND OF WHICH I COUNT MY NEIGHBORS DECATUR LEADERSHIP, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND STAFF HAVE SUPPORTED SO MANY CHANGES IN DECATUR THAT HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR THE CITY, GOOD FOR ITS RESIDENTS, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND OUR ECONOMIC VIABILITY.
WE'VE HAD QUALITY DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICT AND PROTECTION OF OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT'S HELPED MAKE EVERYTHING GOOD POSSIBLE, AND THOSE RESIDENTS EXPRESSING OPPOSITION HAVE SUPPORTED RESPONSIBLE CHANGE IN DECATUR, AS WELL AS SERVING ON MANY CITY BOARDS, HOLDING ELECTED POSITIONS, SUPPORTING NUMEROUS CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND ENDEAVORS, AND THEY'VE GIVEN COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER HOURS TO THE CITY.
THEY HAVE SUPPORTED REASONABLE CHANGE.
THEY HAVE VALID REASONS TO OPPOSE THE CHANGE THAT DOES NOT SERVE THE CITY WELL.
THIS CHANGE CALL IT WHAT YOU MAY A BOUTIQUE LODGING HOUSE OR A HOTEL IS NOT IRRESPONSIBLE CHANGE.
IT IS AN ENCROACHMENT OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WITH CONSEQUENTIAL DETRIMENT TO THE NEIGHBORING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS DUE TO TRAFFIC PARKING, NON-RESIDENTIAL USES, AND DISRUPTIONS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR REQUEST.
>> RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU DENY THIS APPLICATION. THANK YOU.
>> THEN ANNE FACEY AND PEGGY SPENCER, I THINK ARE THE ONES ON DECK FOLKS.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS PROLLY MCCANEY.
MY FAMILY HAS LIVED HERE FOR 36 YEARS, FIRST ON CLAREMONT AVENUE IN A RENTAL HOUSE FOR 15 YEARS, AND THEN SINCE 2001 ON PINETREE DRIVE.
I CONCUR WITH BOTH THE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SO ELOQUENTLY PRESENTED ALREADY, AND I KNOW OF MANY NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS TO EACH OF YOU IN ADDITION TO WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, A BED AND BREAKFAST IS NOT A LODGING HOUSE, WHICH IS BEING PROPOSED.
A BED AND BREAKFAST USUALLY HAS ONE TO POSSIBLY THREE ROOMS THAT ARE RENTED AND AS WE'VE HEARD, IS NOT DUE TO HAVING REZONING OR THE QUESTIONS BROUGHT BEFORE THE CITY.
THE PROPOSED 620 PINETREE DRIVE PARKING PLAN AND CIRCULAR DRIVE ENTERING AND EXITING ON PINE TREE AT THE CORNER OF WEST PONCE DE LEON IS UNREALISTIC AND I BELIEVE DANGEROUS.
EXITING PINETREE DRIVE TO TURN LEFT ONTO PONDS REQUIRES EXTRA CAUTION ALREADY.
TURNING INTO OR EXITING THE PROPOSED CIRCULAR DRIVE THAT CLOSE TO THE CORNER IS LIKELY TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS.
THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN INCIDENCES ON THAT CORNER AND JUST DOWN FROM WATER STREET.
THE PROPOSED PARKING SPACES AND CIRCULAR DRIVE WOULD REQUIRE MAJOR RESTRUCTURING OF THE HILLSIDE SUPPORTING THE HOUSE.
THE EXISTING DRIVEWAY IS ALREADY VERY STEEP AND GENERALLY WOULD GENERATE MORE RUNOFF WATER DUE TO THE INCREASED IMPERVIOUS SURFACES AT THE HOUSE.
THE SOUTH SIDE OF PINE TREE WHERE PARKING IS PERMITTED IS USED FOR CARPOOL LINES FOR ST. THOMAS MORE SCHOOL, WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, MEETINGS, AND MASS AT ST. THOMAS MORE.
FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS, IT IS USED FOR THE MANY CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES AT THE NEIGHBORING HOUSE, 630 ON PINETREE DRIVE.
THE ADDENDUM ADDED TO THE PROPOSAL AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO PROVIDE CONTRACTED VALET PARKING FOR THESE EVENTS DOES NOT SOLVE THE DAILY PARKING HAZARDS AND CONGESTION.
WE HEARD TONIGHT FROM MS. BUNTING THAT THIS POSSIBLE 620
[00:50:01]
WOULD BE THE ADJACENT PARKING THAT THEY MIGHT PROVE THERE IS PARKING AROUND THE BACK.ALREADY, THIS IS THE SAME SORT OF SITUATION THAT MR. DRAKE WAS EXPLAINING HOW IT WOULD INCREASE THE COMMERCIAL SPACES.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT, I BELIEVE IS NOT CONSISTENT AND THAT'S THE WORD FROM THE ZONING DOCUMENT.
WITH ALL THE OTHER USES ON PINETREE DRIVE NOW COMPLETELY PRIVATE, LONG-TERM RESIDENCES, 620 PINETREE DRIVE IS BORDERED EXCLUSIVELY BY PRIVATE HOMES ON BOTH SIDES AS MRS. DRAKE PRESENTED.
PINETREE DRIVE IS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, A COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES SUCH AS THE QUEEN BEE, I BELIEVE IS NOT INAPPROPRIATE FIT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WELL-KNOWN CAN PLEASEYOU. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL VOTE NO.
>> ANNE FACEY, THEN PEGGY SPENCER, AND CAROL RAPPOLD.
>> HI, I'M ANNE FACEY AND I LIVE AT 627 PINETREE DRIVE AND I'VE BEEN A DECATUR RESIDENT FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
I'VE FOUND SUPPORTED A LOT OF YOUR BUSINESSES AND VOTED FOR A LOT OF YOU AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
I WANT TO MAKE TWO ADDITIONAL POINTS THAT HAVE NOT REALLY BEEN MADE.
TALIA MENTIONED THE THINGS THAT SHE SAID THE COMMUNITY WAS CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT SHE FAILED TO MENTION THAT THIS IS A PERMANENT CHANGE.
PERMANENT. THERE'S NO GOING BACK SO THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS STUCK WITH THIS LODGING HOUSE.
I DID MEET WITH TALIA BECAUSE I'M A NEIGHBOR AND I DISCUSSED HER PLAN AND SHE EXPLAINED TO US THAT IT WOULD BE VERY HIGH AND THAT THEY PLAN TO CHARGE 350-$500.
FROM ALL REPORTS WE MIGHT BE GOING INTO A RECESSION.
SUPPOSE THE RECESSION COMES, NO ONE COMES TO PAY $500 A NIGHT TO STAY AT OR IN AND THEN WHAT? WHATEVER HAPPENS IF SHE HAS TO SELL THE INN, IF IT GOES INTO FORECLOSURE, WE THE NEIGHBORS ARE STUCK WITH THIS PERMANENT SITUATION THAT THERE'S NO GOING BACK.
THAT'S ONE OF MY LARGEST CONCERN.
MY OTHER CONCERN IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS IN ESSENCE IS A HOTEL LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM A SCHOOL.
THERE'S NO SCREENING OF ANYBODY THAT COMES TO STAY AT THE HOTEL THAT WOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW.
WHAT IS TO PREVENT PEOPLE WITH VERY UNSAVORY APPETITES OR DESIRES FROM COMING AND STAYING THERE AND STALKING THE CHILDREN ACROSS THE STREET? IF I WERE A MOTHER THAT HAD CHILDREN GO INTO ST. THOMAS MORE, I WOULD BE VERY DISTRESSED TO HAVE A LARGE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY SCHOOL WHERE LITTLE CHILDREN PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND AND ARE INTO DIRECT SIGHT LINE OF PEOPLE STAYING IN THE HOUSE.
THAT'S NOT A STRETCH, BUT THOSE ARE TWO THINGS I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOU TO DENY THIS PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.
I AGREE WITH ALL THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED.
IF YOU ALL DECIDE TO VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL, IS THERE A WAY THAT IT CAN BE REVIEWED ON SOME BASIS TO STUDY THE IMPACT ONCE IT'S THERE OR IS IT PERMANENT FOREVER?
>> WE WILL HAVE TO DISCUSS THAT AFTER EVERYONE MAKES THEIR COMMENTS BUT THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S FINE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, CAROL RAPPOLD AND THEN CHRIS KEGLER I BELIEVE MAYBE.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S, THEN KELLY TOOL.
I LISTENED TO MISS BUNTING SAY THAT SHE DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS, BUT I CERTAINLY THINK I WOULD BE.
THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MADE A CHANGE SAYING THAT IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE PARTY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE A LOT OF GUESTS THAT WE WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT PARKING BECAUSE THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE VALET.
THEY MADE THAT STIPULATION, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THAT HELPS OUR SITUATION AT ALL BECAUSE THIS IS NOT LIKE A RESTAURANT.
ALL THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ARRIVE AT THE SAME TIME.
I ENVISION LINES LINED UP FOR THE VALET PARKING
[00:55:04]
TO BE AND IT'S GOING TO BE NOISY AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FEW FEET FROM MY FRONT DOOR, SO IT DOES IMPACT MY LIFE VERY MUCH.I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT NUMBER OF CARS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE STREET BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PARKING PLACES FOR THE GUESTS AND THERE'S GOING TO BE CLEANING PEOPLE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE CATERERS.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARTIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE HELD THERE BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT, THIS HOUSE COST OVER $2 MILLION.
THERE'S GOING TO BE ENORMOUS RENOVATIONS DONE TO IT THAT YOU CAN'T CHANGE THEM. THEY'RE IRREVOCABLE.
THEN ONES THEY ARE MADE, NO ONE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS HOUSE BACK THE WAY IT WAS.
THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE COMMUNITY QUITE OBVIOUSLY.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE MICRO PARTIES ARE GOING TO BE AN OCCASIONAL THING BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS HOUSE.
I THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT MRS. BUNTING WAS BUYING THIS HOUSE, BUT I THOUGHT I HEARD A HESITATION HER VOICE WHEN SHE WAS UP HERE SAYING THAT SHE AND HER HUSBAND ALWAYS DREAMED OF OWNING AND THEN SHE SAID OR SHE MEANT RUNNING A HOUSE LIKE THIS, A BOUTIQUE HOTEL LIKE THIS.
I WONDER IF SHE IS BUYING IT OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S AND IF THIS IS A CORPORATE ENTERPRISE OR NOT.
I THINK THAT A VERY BIG PROBLEM EXISTS AND THAT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO BE THAT DEVELOP ONCE THE 620 PROJECT TAKES PLACE.
THERE'S GOING TO BE NO WAY TO GO BACK IF PROBLEMS DO DEVELOP.
PLEASE LET THE BUSINESS DISTRICT OF DECATUR AND WHERE IT HAS ALWAYS ENDED.
IT'S ALWAYS ENDED WHERE WE FIND THE MARLEY TODAY.
THAT'S BEEN THE END OF THE DECATUR BUSINESS DISTRICT.
LET'S NOT ALLOW THE BUSINESS DISTRICT TO CREEP DOWN WEST PONCE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
CHRIS KEGLER, I BELIEVE IS NEXT AND THEN KELLY TOOL.
>> I'M CHRIS KEGLER WITH 413 MELROSE AVENUE INDICATOR.
I LIKE BOUTIQUE HOTELS PROBABLY MORE THAN THE NEXT GUY.
BUT PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS THEY ARE IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
THEY'RE NOT IN PEOPLE'S RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHEN MS. THREADGILL SET THIS UP AS AN INTRODUCTION TODAY SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS SAYING THAT IT WAS LIMITED TO THESE EIGHT BEDROOMS AND POTENTIALLY 16 PEOPLE BUT THEN AT THE END, IT SLIT IN WITH, THERE'S GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT FOR A SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT IN CASE THEY HAVE EVENTS.
WELL, THERE'S A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DISRUPTION THAT COMES WITH EIGHT BED AND BREAKFAST GUESTS OR ROOMS, AND WEDDINGS AND PARTIES THAT GET INVARIABLY LOUD.
AS SOMEBODY POINTED OUT, EVERYBODY DOES ARRIVE MORE OR LESS AT THE SAME TIME.
VALLEYS, THERE'S ONE OR TWO PEOPLE THERE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A QUEUE.
THE PEOPLE ON PINE TREE, THE PEOPLE ON PONDS ARE ALL GOING TO BE DISRUPTED BY THIS, AND IT DOESN'T NEED TO HAPPEN.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT THAT STILL WHAT YOU COULD CONSIDER UNDERUTILIZED AS A PROPERTY TYPE BY ONE OF THOSE AND TURN IT INTO ONE.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT AND LOVED TO SEE ONE, NOT A BIG FAN OF CHAIN HOTELS BUT THIS IS JUST NOT THE TIME AND PLACE FOR THIS ONE.
HOPE YOU VOTE AGAINST IT. THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. KELLY TOOL, AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM BARRY RHODES AND SARAH BAREFOOT.
>> THANK YOU, TOOL FROM 120 NORTHERN AVENUE.
I'M COMING ON BEHALF OF A NUMBER OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.
OBVIOUSLY, WE CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID AT THIS POINT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE COMMISSION DID NOT REALLY FULLY THINK THIS ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH RESTRAINTS ON THIS PROPERTY TURNING INTO A COMMERCIAL ENDEAVOR.
I SENT YOU ALL A LETTER TO THAT REGARD, ESPECIALLY THE FACT THAT THE IDEA THAT VALET PARKING IS ALSO NOT GOING TO DO IT.
WHAT VALET PARKING, IS IT REGULATED? HOW IS IT GOING TO BE REGULATED? WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO PARK ALL THOSE CARS? EVERYBODY HAS STATED IT WENT FROM A SIMPLE THERE'S GOING TO BE 16 GUESTS HERE TO MAYBE WE'RE HAVING THE GUESTS CAN INVITE PEOPLE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EVENTS THAT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ANIMAL IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD,
[01:00:04]
THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.I WAS ONE OF THESE NEIGHBORS, I WOULD BE DEVASTATED.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER IN MY LIFE, I'M 57 ATTENDING ONE OF THESE MEETINGS BECAUSE I'M SO APPALLED ABOUT PUTTING THIS UP ACROSS FROM A SCHOOL BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EVENT, ALCOHOL IS GOING TO BE SERVED, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE DRIVING AND DRINKING RIGHT NEXT TO A SCHOOL.
WE ALL KNOW HOW CROWDED THAT AREA IS WITH PEDESTRIANS.
WE SHOULD NOT BE ADDING TO THIS.
I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE KICKED BACK.
THERE IS NO RUSH TO BE DOING ALL OF THIS.
EVALUATE WHAT RESTRAINTS NEED TO BE PUT ON THIS PRODUCTION, AS EVERYBODY SAID, YOU CANNOT GO BACK, FIGURE OUT THE VALET PARKING AND WHAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO MAKE THE SAFE IF THIS IS GOING TO GO FORWARD OR RESTRICTED.
THEY CAN COME AND STAY LIKE A BED AND BREAKFAST, AND THERE ARE NO OTHER GUESTS INTO THIS PROPERTY BUT YOU NEED TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE YOU MAKE AN IRREVOCABLE CHANGE. THANK YOU.
>>THANK YOU. BARRY RHODES, AND THEN SARAH BAREFOOT.
I HAD HOPED WE COULD HAVE THE ORDINANCE UP ON THE SCREEN SO PEOPLE COULD SEE IT, BUT I HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT'S READY FOR Y'ALL TO SIGN AND NUMBER 2, IT CAN SEE ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS AT THE LODGING HOUSE SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR OVERNIGHT GUESTS ONLY, RIGHT THERE IN YOUR OWN ORDINANCE.
MEAL SERVICE SHALL BE LIMITED TO BREAKFAST AND AN AFTERNOON OR EVENING REFRESHMENT, NO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN PROVIDING LODGING WHERE REGISTERED GUESTS SHALL BE PERMITTED, PERIOD.
NUMBER 8, ON THE VERY SAME ORDINANCE, A SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT WITH THE NEARBY INSTITUTION OR COMMERCIAL ENTITY SHALL BE SECURED AND SUBMITTED TO THE ZONING ADMINISTRATION PRIOR TO HOSTING ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS FOR OVERNIGHT GUESTS AND MICRO WEDDINGS.
I DON'T SEE HOW THOSE TWO STATEMENTS IN THE VERY SAME ORDINANCE ARE REMOTELY POSSIBLE.
HOW CAN WE EVEN BE DISCUSSING IT WHEN THEY'RE CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS IN THE ORDINANCE? I AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE LOVELY TO HAVE A BOUTIQUE HOTEL INDICATOR.
I HAVE NO OPPOSITION TO CHANGE, BUT I DO WISH THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO THIS, THAT THE APPLICANT BE ASKED TO PROVIDE MORE THAN AN ARTIST'S SKETCH OF A PARKING.
I SEE NO NUMBERS TO SAY HOW MUCH IMPERVIOUS SURFACE IS GOING TO BE COVERED BY THE DRIVEWAY.
WE CAN'T HAVE CIRCULAR DRIVEWAYS IN OUR RESIDENTIAL LOTS.
I APPLIED FOR ONE WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE.
I COULD NOT HAVE A CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY AT MY RESIDENTIAL LOT ON PINETREE DRIVE.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PARK IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSES IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO OTHER PLACES.
I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THAT THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR A BOUTIQUE HOTEL. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAH BAREFOOT, I LIVE AT 637 PINETREE DRIVE, AND I'M HOPING YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE HANDOUT I PREPARED.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE DRAWINGS SUBMITTED BY MRS. BUNTING.
THE SECOND PAGE IS EXISTING CONDITIONS AND THE WAY THE PROPERTY LOOKS NOW.
THE THIRD IS A SKETCH OF THE PROPOSED PARKING AND LOCATION OF AN ADA SPACE.
THE FOURTH IS ON-STREET PARKING ON THE CURB ALREADY AT 620, PINE TREE, AND THE LAST IS A PHOTO OF THE INTERSECTION I'M STANDING AT ST.
THOMAS MORE LOOKING ACROSS TO WHERE PINE TREE DIET ENDS INTO WEST PONCE, WHICH IS ALREADY A BUSY CORNER INDICATOR.
NOW, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION.
FIRST I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT AN END TO ALL THIS BECAUSE THE APPLICATION IS NOT FILLED OUT CORRECTLY.
IT STATES UP THERE THAT YOU MUST ATTACH A PLAT PROPERTY DRAWN TO SCALE, PROPERTY LINES, LOCATIONS, HEIGHTS, THERE'S NO ELEVATION, NO DIMENSIONS OF THE PROPOSED BUILDINGS.
THERE'S REALLY NO LOCATION OF DRIVEWAYS OR PARKING LOADING AREAS, BUT MY FAVORITE IS, AND I QUOTE,
[01:05:02]
"A NORTH ARROW," AND THAT'S ON THE CONDITIONAL USE APPLICATION.THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE DOWN ON THAT TO NUMBER 3, WHAT ADVERSE EFFECTS DOES THE PROPOSED USE HAVE ON EXISTING USABILITY? I THINK IT'S GOING TO ADD ALMOST 2,000 SQUARE FEET OF IMPERVIOUS SPACE TO THE ALREADY ONSITE STORMWATER ISSUES.
THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE TO NUMBER 5 ON THAT SAME PERMIT APPLICATION, DESCRIBE HOW IT IS GOING TO AFFECT EGRESS AND INGRESS. GIVE ME A MINUTE HERE.
>> ACTUALLY, I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO NUMBER 4, SORRY.
ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE BURDEN IS GOING TO BE MORE PARKING.
AS AN EXAMPLE, ON SUNDAY, WHICH I THINK WAS YESTERDAY AT 5:40 IN THE AFTERNOON, THERE WERE 40 CARS PARKED.
THERE WERE THREE ON THE SIDE OF PINE TREE, NEXT DOOR TO THE 620.
THERE WERE NINE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE ON PINE TREE GOING UP TOWARDS WEST TRINITY.
ON THE SIDE OF ST. THOMAS MORE BETWEEN THE ENTRANCE AND THE EXIT OF ST. THOMAS MORE, THERE WERE 15 CARS.
THEN FROM THE EXIT DOWN TO WATER STREET, THERE WERE 13 CARS. FORTY CARS.
NOW, HOW ABOUT WE GO TO NUMBER 5.
THE EGRESS OF THE PARKING IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CAN'T LOOK AND SEE I MEASURED FROM THE CROSSROADS.
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE MEETING ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, TERRY BIRD AND THEN CLARKE LEMONS AND THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR THOSE WHO HAVE JOINED US ON ZOOM.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I AM TERRY BIRD, THE HOME OWNER AND TAXPAYER AT 735 WEST PONCE DE LEON SINCE 1995.
IN MY 27 YEARS I'VE SEEN DECAY TO GROW AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO GROWTH.
ON INFORMATION AND BELIEF, I THINK IT WOULD BE INSTRUMENTAL TO GIVE YOU SOME HISTORY OF THE PROPERTIES AT 630 AND 620 PANTRY DRIVE.
THEY WERE ORIGINALLY PLOTTED AS A ONE ACRE PLOT.
AS RECENTLY AS 40 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A SINGLE-STORY LARGE RANCH HOUSE ON THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY WHERE THE HOUSE IN QUESTION IS TODAY.
AT THE REQUEST OF A PROPERTY OWNER WHO BOUGHT IT.
FIRST OF ALL, THAT HOUSE WAS DEMOLISHED.
SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO BUILD HER DREAM HOUSE, HER FOREVER HOUSE AT 630 PANTRY DRIVE.
BY THE WAY, THIS CAN ALL BE VERIFIED, I BELIEVE IN THE RECORDS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.
AT THE TIME SHE MADE A COMMENT TO MY NEIGHBOR THAT SHE HAD NO INTENTION OF EVER SELLING THE LOT THAT FRONTED ON PONCE DE LEON.
IN FACT, THE HOUSE THAT WAS THERE PREVIOUSLY FACED PONCE DE LEON, EVEN THOUGH IT CARRIES AN ADDRESS ON PINETREE DRIVE.
IN FACT, THOUGH THE KOKOPELLI COMPANY BOUGHT THE LOT, THAT'S NOW 620 PINE TREE AND BUILT THE HOUSE THAT'S IN QUESTION.
IT HAS SUCCESSFULLY BEEN USED AS A RESONANCE BY TWO DIFFERENT OWNERS.
I WOULD SAY THAT EVEN AT $2 MILLION, IT IS STILL AN ATTRACTIVE RESIDENCE.
MS. BOND HAS TALKED ABOUT THE APPEAL TO HER FROM THE CURB.
I WOULD POINT OUT THAT ACROSS PONCE DE LEON, WEST PONCE, AND DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET IS A HOUSE THAT RECENTLY SOLD FOR OVER $2 MILLION.
IT'S BEEN A SLIPPERY SLOPE FOR THAT PROPERTY.
IT WENT FROM ONE ACRE TO TWO HALF-ACRE LOTS.
IT'S BEEN BUILT UPON THE PERSON WHO SAID SHE WANTED TO BUILD HER FOREVER HOME THERE HAS SOLD THAT HOUSE AND IT'S CURRENTLY BEING I GUESS, REMODELED.
I JOINED WITH MR. DRAKE, MS. ROSE, AND ALL THE OTHERS, BECAUSE AS A RESIDENT, I LIVE FIVE DOORS UP FROM WHERE MR. AND MS. BOND, THEIR PRESENT HOME IS.
I HAVE SEEN TRAFFIC FROM PEOPLE PICKING UP FROM ST. THOMAS MORE SCHOOL IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
I KNOW THAT WHEN THERE ARE FUNERALS OR WEDDINGS AT ST. THOMAS MORE, THE PARKING, FILLS UP THE STREET VERY MUCH.
[01:10:04]
THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACE IS TO BE A BED AND BREAKFAST DOES NOT SEEM APPROPRIATE TO ME.IT'S MUCH MORE A LODGING HOUSE OR IT'S BEEN CALLED A BOUTIQUE HOTEL.
I THINK OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS SUCCESSFULLY RESIDENTIAL AND CONTINUES, SO I THINK THIS WOULD BE A DISRUPTION, AND I AGREE WITH ALL THE OTHER COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> CLARKE LEMONS. I LIVE AT [NOISE] 735 WEST PONCE STREET.
>> WAS A QUICK THREE MINUTES. [LAUGHTER]
>> IF I CAN, MAY I GIVE MY MINUTES TO THE WOMAN WHO SPOKE JUST BEFORE MR. BIRD WHO DID NOT QUITE GET TO.
>> I'M SORRY, WE ARE RESTRICTING MINUTES FOR EACH PERSON TO THREE MINUTES, SO PLEASE MAKE YOUR REMARKS. THANK YOU.
>> I DO AGREE WITH YOU, MS. BENTON.
I HOPE SOMETIME YOU GET TO MAKE YOUR STATEMENT.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I DRIVE BY THIS INTERSECTION EVERY DAY, ESPECIALLY AROUND 3:00, 3:30, IT IS EXTREMELY BUSY.
I FEAR FOR TRAFFIC FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE COMING OUT OF SCHOOL OR GOING INTO SCHOOL, WALKING INTO PINE TREE WHERE CARS ARE PARKED OR WALKING UP MY STREET WEST PONCE WHERE CARS ARE PARKED.
THE TRADITION, THE OLD TRADITION, TO CATER CITY OF SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP.
THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS AREA RIGHT NOW.
THEY MAY HAVE A WEDDING IN THEIR BACKYARD.
THEY MAY HAVE AN ANNIVERSARY PARTY OR SO FORTH.
IT IS NOT PARCELED OUT TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS AND PEOPLE WE DO NOT KNOW.
NOW, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IF PEOPLE ARE COMING AND GOING ALL THE TIME, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE OR IN THE HOUSE JUST DOWN THE STREET, YOU DON'T FEEL THAT YOU ARE REALLY LIVING IN A COMMUNITY.
I THINK THIS IS THE COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN TODAY, AND I WOULD HATE TO HAVE THAT BE CHANGED.
I WOULD ALSO EMPHASIZE, YES, THERE'S A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BNB AND A LODGING HOUSE, AND I HOPE YOU KEEP THAT IN CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT IS PRESENT IN THE MEETING FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, SO WE WILL NOW OPEN COMMENTS UP TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US BY ZOOM.
THE PROCESS THAT WE WILL USE IS SIMILAR.
WE WILL ASK THAT YOU RAISE YOUR HAND AND MS. ERICK WILL HELP ME RECOGNIZE AND SEE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RAISED THEIR VIRTUAL HAND.
WE WILL CALL ON YOU, ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
YOU'LL HAVE THE SAME THREE MINUTES AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ACTION ITEM OR SPEAK AS PART OF THE HEARING FOR THIS ITEM, YOU'LL PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE YOU AND LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE DON'T SEE ANY ZOOM.
>> RIGHT. WE CAN SEE IT AND SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO, I'LL HAVE TO CALL ON THEM.
I DON'T SEE THEIR PICTURES EITHER.
WE JUST SEE THE NAMES AND THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR THEM JUST AS WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR THEM.
AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANYONE VIEWING ON ZOOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO, AND YOU'LL NEED TO RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND.
I THINK YOU CAN FIND THAT UNDER MORE; IS THAT CORRECT? IF YOU ARE JOINING ON A COMPUTER OR AN IPAD,
[01:15:04]
IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT BEFORE.WE'LL GIVE IT ANOTHER MINUTE AND WE'LL SEE IF THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO RAISE THEIR VIRTUAL HAND AND MAKE A COMMENT.
>> WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE LIST SEVERAL TIMES.
SO SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION AMONGST THE COMMISSIONERS.
I WOULD ASK MS. THREADGILL, IF I COULD GET ONE QUICK CLARIFICATION AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
I ALSO WAS CURIOUS AND READING THE ORDINATES WITH RESPECT TO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES, WHETHER OR NOT EVENTS, MICRO WEDDINGS OR OTHER EVENTS WOULD BE CONSIDERED COMMERCIAL EVENTS, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE LODGING HOUSE, I GUESS, COULD BE USED WITHOUT HAVING IT AVAILABLE FOR COMMERCIAL EVENTS, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO ME TO ALSO MAYBE SIGNIFY THAT'S A COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY HAPPENING AT THE PROPERTY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION.
>> SURE. THE WAY THAT IS WORDED IS THAT ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS THEY HAVE TO BE FOR GUESTS THAT ARE STAYING THERE OVERNIGHT OR GUESTS THAT ARE STAYING THERE AT THE PROPERTY.
SO IF BRIDES OR GROOMS ARE STAYING THERE AT THE PROPERTY OVERNIGHT, THEN THOSE FUNCTIONS THAT ARE RELATED TO THAT GUEST THAT CAN HAPPEN.
THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE, SO THERE COULD BE A MICRO WEDDING HOSTED PROVIDED THAT THE BRIDE OR THE GROOM WOULD BE STAYING THERE.
>> BUT IT COULD INCLUDE GUEST BEYOND THOSE WHO ARE STAYING THERE.
>> OKAY. SO COULD IT BE I'M ASSUMING THERE'S A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT COULD BE PRESENT BASED ON FIRE CODE AND THAT SORT OF THING?
>> YES. SO THERE ARE OCCUPANCY LOADS THAT WOULD BE DICTATED BY THE FIRE CODES, BUT THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, AS IT RELATES TO THE US SPECIFICALLY, DOES NOT HAVE SPECIFIC NUMBERS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID TALK ABOUT THAT IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LIMITING THE NUMBER OF GUESTS FOR THAT SPECIAL EVENT.
BUT WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO WAS REALLY THE ISSUE ABOUT PARKING AND THE OVERFLOW PARKING IF THERE ARE GUESTS THAT DRIVE.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY PUT IN THAT RECOMMENDED CONDITION TO HAVE THAT SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT WITH AN ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER, WHETHER THAT BE THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY DOWN PONDS OR MAYBE ONE OF THE OTHER INSTITUTIONAL USES TO HAVE THAT SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT.
>> I JUST WANTED THAT CLARIFIED IT A LITTLE BIT.
NOW I THINK COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.
>> THAT FIRST ONE THAT WAS FOLLOW-UP TO YOUR QUESTION.
>> MAYOR, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MISINFORMATION ABOUT THAT THIS USE WOULD BE SET IN PLACE, AND I WILL ADD THAT IF THERE IS AN UNRESOLVED MATTERS, SUCH A CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE THAT COMES UP, THAT REMAINS UNRESOLVED, UNANSWERED.
IT'S BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU COULD REVOKE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IF AN ISSUE IS UNRESOLVED.
>> I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FROM THINGS I HEARD TODAY AND I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EVERY HOMEOWNER IN THE CITY, IF THEY'VE EVER APPLY FOR A PERMIT, THE WORD IMPERVIOUS SURFACE AND EACH ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE TO SHOW WHAT THEIR IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE LOT COVERAGE IS.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY BIG CONCERN FOR REALLY BIG HOUSE ON WHAT'S CONSIDERED A STANDARD SIZE LOT.
THE SECOND QUESTION WAS INVOLVING THE CIRCULAR DRIVE.
I THINK THOSE ARE BOTH VERY VALID POINTS THAT I THINK SHOULD BE ADDRESSED LONG BEFORE I'M READY TO GO FORWARD
[01:20:01]
WITH MY THOUGHTS ON WHETHER WE APPROVE OR DENY THIS APPLICATION.I THINK THERE ARE SOME A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED IN THIS.
I WISH THAT ALL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND I THINK THERE IS SOME INCONSISTENCY IN OUR OWN ORDINANCE.
I MEAN, I WAS CONFUSED READING IT AND I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR SIX YEARS, SO I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ALL CAN GET ADDRESSED TONIGHT OR NOT.
>> I MEAN, I CAN ADDRESS WHAT THE CODE SAYS, BUT THEN I WOULD DEFER TO THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK TO THE IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE IN TERMS OF SQUARE FOOTAGES, BUT THIS PROPERTY IS ZONED OR 60.
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, THIS USE IS ALLOWED THROUGH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
BUT EVEN WITH THAT, THE IMPERVIOUS CALCULATIONS ARE AT A MAXIMUM 40 PERCENT.
SO 40 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL AREA CAN BE COVERED BY IMPERVIOUS SURFACES.
BUT AGAIN, I WOULD DEFER TO THE APPLICANT.
IN ADDITION TO THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACES AND OF COURSE, THAT ADDITIONAL CONCRETE THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO THE PROPERTY, IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, AND SO THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME ON-SITE STORM WATER DETENTION SYSTEM THAT WOULD NEED TO BE WORKED OUT AS WELL.
MOST LIKELY, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE PUT UNDER THE DRIVEWAY MOST TIMES THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS.
BUT AGAIN, I WOULD DEFER TO THE APPLICANT ON ANY OF THOSE CALCULATIONS.
>> I THINK I'M ASKING THIS IF I COULD JUMP IN.
I'M THINKING I'M ASKING THE SAME QUESTION, BUT TO MAKE SURE FROM WHAT WE KNOW NOW, BASED ON THE APPLICATION AND THE SKETCHES, WOULD THE APPLICANT NEED A VARIANCE TO DO THE PARKING AND OR THE CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY, OR IS IT WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE OR DO YOU KNOW?
>> AGAIN, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DEFER TO THE APPLICANT AND HER ARCHITECT TO LET US KNOW WHAT THOSE CALCULATIONS ARE.
SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE VARIANCE ON THE IMPERVIOUS.
AS FAR AS THE CIRCULAR DRIVE, MOST LIKELY THAT WOULD REQUIRE A VARIANCE BECAUSE AT LEAST TO KNOW R60 ZONING DISTRICT TWO CURB CUTS ARE NOT PERMITTED OUTRIGHT.
SO THAT EXTRA CURB CUT WOULD REQUIRE A VARIANCE FROM THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
>> COULD YOU SPEAK TO PROCESS THEN AS FAR AS THE SEQUENCE, IF THERE WERE A SEA OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AWARDED, BUT THEN THE APPLICANT CAN'T GET VARIANCES FOR THESE CRITICAL PARTS THEN THEY ARE NOT REWARDED.
>> THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO DESIGNED SO THEY ONLY HAVE ONE CURB CUT.
>> BUT THERE'S NOT A REVOCATION OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT BECAUSE THE PLAN CAN'T BE ENACTED, IT HAS TO BE REWORKED.
>> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REWORKED.
AND SO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WOULD HAVE TO BE ACTED ON BEFORE A VARIANCE COULD BE ACTED ON.
THAT'S THE SEQUENCE OF APPLICATIONS.
>> OKAY. QUICK FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
DO YOU KNOW OF ANOTHER LODGING HOUSE OF THIS TYPE IN THE CITY?
>> FOLLOW UP COMMISSION WOLF, SIX QUESTIONS.
THE CONDITION NUMBER 6 SAYS THE PROPOSED OFF-STREET PARKING WILL HAVE TO BE SIMILAR TO EXHIBIT B.
NOW, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT A VARIANCE, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT ANY OTHER STUFF.
WE'RE BASICALLY DOING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT THEN WOULD BE DEPENDENT UPON SOME KIND OF VARIANT OR SOMETHING ELSE?
>> WELL, IT WOULD BE. SO WHAT IS PUT FORTH BEFORE YOU IN TERMS OF THE PARKING IS SIX PARKING SPACES.
>> IT SAYS THE PROPOSED OFF-STREET PARKING, VEHICULAR INGRESS, AND SHALL BE DEVELOPED SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE SITE PLANS SUBMITTED, ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT B.
THAT'S FURTHER THAN JUST SIX SPACES, SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE PERMITTED UNDER HER COORDINATES.
>> BUT IF THERE IS A VARIANCE THAT WAS REQUIRED, THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
I GUESS I DON'T SEE IT BEING SET UP FOR [LAUGHTER].
WHAT I SEE IS THAT THE PARKING AREA IS TO THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THAT THERE ARE SIX PARKING SPACES AS FAR AS THE CURB CUT.
THAT EXTRA CURB CUT WOULD HAVE FURTHER REVIEW BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
IF THAT VARIANCE, LET'S SAY IF YOU MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT, BUT THEN THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS DENIES THAT VARIANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REWORK THAT PARKING LOT SO THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE CURB CUT.
>> I HAVE THE QUESTION, I'M NOT GOING TO HOG IT.
[01:25:01]
>> I FORGOT TODAY, BUT THE PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS SAID, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PARK IN FRONT OF A HOUSE IF YOU HAVE A DRIVEWAY, IS THAT ACCURATE? IS THAT SPECIFIC TO PINE TREE? I DID NOT THINK THAT WAS THE CASE AND I HEARD THAT TONIGHT AND I'M JUST CURIOUS.
I THINK IT WILL BE RELEVANT FOR OTHER CONVERSATIONS.
IF I HAVE A DRIVEWAY CAN I STILL PARK ON THE STREET?
>> YES, [NOISE] WITH A PERMIT.
>> DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, I DID HAPPEN TO NOTICE THAT THERE IS A REQUIREMENT OF RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING ONLY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF PINETREE DRIVE.
>> THIS IS SPECIFIC TO PINETREE DRIVE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT I'VE NOT BEEN VIOLATING THE LAW BY PARKING [LAUGHTER].
>> I DON'T KNOW. [OVERLAPPING].
>> TO SOME DEGREE IT IS REQUIRED YOU HAVE RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING.
>> I BELIEVE THOSE WERE TYPICALLY BASED ON NEIGHBOR REQUEST.
>> I BELIEVE SO, AND THERE'S 37 RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING-ONLY DISTRICTS IN THE CITY, AND THAT SIDE OF PINETREE DRIVE IS ONE OF THEM.
>> THEN I WANTED TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER.
ANYBODY CAN DO A BED AND BREAKFAST.
YOU DON'T NEED A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN ANY RESIDENTIAL SPACE TO DO ONE? THAT'S CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. IT'S ALLOWED AS A LIMITED USE.
THE PROCEDURES FOR THAT IS TO POST A NOTIFICATION IN THE YARD FOR 15 DAYS AND THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COMMENTING OR SHARING THEIR CONCERNS WOULD DIRECT THOSE TO THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR AND THOSE ARE PROVIDED TO THE APPLICANT.
THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE ADDRESSED.
BUT AFTER THOSE 15 DAYS, THAT PROPERTY OWNER COULD THEN START OPERATING A BED AND BREAKFAST PROVIDED THAT THEY HAVE THE STATE PERMITS AND THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FROM THE CITY, BUT THAT IS THE PROCEDURE.
>> THAT'S THE MAXIMUM OF HOW MANY?
>> [NOISE] IT'S THREE BEDROOMS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THREE BEDROOMS? IN ADDITION TO IF SOMEBODY'S TENANT?
>> WITH THE BED AND BREAKFAST, IT IS OWNER-OCCUPIED, AND SO IT'S THREE GUESTS ROOMS PLUS THE OWNER UNIT.
>> GOT IT. CAN I HAVE A MICRO WEDDING IN A BED AND BREAKFAST?
>> A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE COULD HAVE A WEDDING IN THEIR YARD.
I DO NOT SEE WHY A BED AND BREAKFAST COULD NOT ALSO HAVE A WEDDING FOR ONE OF THEIR OVERNIGHT GUESTS.
>> GOT IT. WE HAVE ALSO [NOISE] BOUTIQUE HOTELS AND THEN WE HAVE LODGING HOUSES.
>> LODGING HOUSES ARE UP TO 10. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> MAXIMUM OF EIGHT GUESTS ROOMS. THEN THERE'S ALSO THE REQUIREMENT OF PRETTY MUCH A 24/7 CARETAKER.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OWNER-OCCUPIED, BUT THERE HAS TO BE A PERMANENT CARETAKER, SOMEONE WHO'S MANAGING THAT PROPERTY DAY-TO-DAY.
>> OUR STRATEGIC PLAN SAYS WE WANT ONE OF THESE INDICATOR.
>> YES. UNDER THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH THEME [NOISE] OF 2030 STRATEGIC PLAN, IT DOES STATE THAT ANOTHER BOUTIQUE HOTEL, BED AND BREAKFAST, [NOISE] WOULD BE SUPPORTED.
WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL LODGING CHOICES IN THIS AREA.
>> BUT IT DOESN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY WE NEED A LODGING HOUSE.
>> NO, BECAUSE THAT'S A TECHNICAL TERM WITHIN OUR CODE.
IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THE STATE OF GEORGIA, THEY CONSIDER HOTELS WITH 20 ROOMS OR LESS TO BE A BED AND BREAKFAST.
THAT'S JUST THE TECHNICAL TERM WITHIN OUR CODE.
>> ATTRACTIVE BOUTIQUE HOTEL, THAT'S WHY IT'S LISTED UNDER BED AND BREAKFAST.
HAVING REGARD TO THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE AND PAVED WITH PERVIOUS CONCRETE, WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED IMPERVIOUS OR PERVIOUS UNDER OUR ORDINANCES?
>> FOR ZONING PURPOSES, PERVIOUS CONCRETE, WE WOULD COUNT THAT TOWARDS THE 40 PERCENT.
THERE'S NO CREDIT GIVEN FOR THAT.
HOWEVER, FOR STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PURPOSES, THERE IS SOME CREDIT GIVEN FOR PERVIOUS CONCRETE.
>> THEN FINALLY, IF WE ALLOW A CONDITIONAL USE FOR THIS LOT, WHICH IS OUR 60 FOR A LODGING HOUSE, DOES THAT SET A PRECEDENT THEN? IF I WANT TO DO A LODGING HOUSE IN ANY RESIDENTIAL AREA IN THE CATER, THAT I COULD ALSO APPLY FOR THAT?
[01:30:04]
IF YOU DECIDE TO ALLOW THIS USE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CITE THE REASONS WHY YOU THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE AT THIS LOCATION SO THAT THE NEXT TIME THAT ANOTHER APPLICANT COMES FORWARD TO REQUEST SOMETHING SIMILAR, THAT YOU CAN COMPARE THOSE NOTES FROM TONIGHT OR WHENEVER.
BUT THAT YOU CAN CITE, WELL, THE LAST TIME WE APPROVED IT, THESE WERE THE REASONS WHY AND THIS PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US IS DIFFERENT AND THEREFORE, WE MIGHT MAKE A [NOISE] DIFFERENT DECISION, IF THAT HELPS YOU.
>> WHAT DEFINES A MICRO WEDDING?
>> TYPICALLY, AND I'M DEFERRING TO SOME OF OUR SPECIAL EVENTS STAFF HERE AT THIS CITY, BUT A MICRO WEDDING IS TYPICALLY 20 GUESTS OR LESS.
>> I JUST GOOGLED THAT. [NOISE] I ASKED MR. GOOGLE THAT.
>> DID YOU ASK MR. GOOGLE, WHAT DID IT SAY? [LAUGHTER]
>> [INAUDIBLE], ON WEST PONCE.
WHY WOULD IT NEED TO BE ON PINE TREE IF IT WERE TO BE DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT WOULD MAXIMIZE BEING [NOISE] MORE OF A THOROUGHFARE AND MINIMIZE THE DISRUPTION TO THE RESIDENTS? I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHY THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE PLAN.
I'M ALSO CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW WE ARE ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS NOW WITHOUT REALLY SEEING ANY DOCUMENTED PLAN OF HOW OR THE STEPS THAT WILL BE TAKEN TO ADHERE TO THE PLANNING [NOISE] COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IF THE REQUEST IS APPROVED TODAY AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET?
>> LET ME ADDRESS YOUR FIRST QUESTION ABOUT THE DRIVEWAY.
JUST FROM LOOKING AT THIS PROPERTY, I BELIEVE THE TOPOGRAPHY AND THE PROXIMITY TO THE INTERSECTION WOULD BE AN ISSUE SHOULD A DRIVEWAY COME TOWARDS PONDS.
ALONG PINE TREE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ROOM AND SET BACK FROM THE INTERSECTION.
IN OUR STREETS CODES, A DRIVEWAY NEEDS TO BE AT LEAST 50 FEET FROM THE INTERSECTION.
IF A DRIVEWAY IS COMING TOWARDS PONDS, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM FROM THAT INTERSECTION.
[NOISE] THEN OF COURSE, THE TOPOGRAPHY, THERE'S JUST A REALLY STEEP SLOPE ALONG THE FRONT YARD.
>> I'M SORRY. I'M TRYING TO FOCUS ON WHAT MS. THREADGILL SAYING, AND SO IF YOU ALL COULD JUST REFRAIN FROM THE CHATTER JUST SO I CAN FOCUS AND HEAR THIS, PLEASE. GIVE ME ONE MINUTE.
>> THE APPLICANT MAY HAVE SOME REASONS FOR YOU AS WELL BECAUSE THEY MIGHT'VE LOOKED AT THIS WITH THEIR ARCHITECT.
I WILL DEFER TO TERRY ON THAT.
AS FAR AS THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE PLANS THAT ARE SUBMITTED FOR PERMITS AND THE SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT, WE WOULD WANT THAT.
THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR WOULD WANT THAT PRIOR TO A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY BEING ISSUED TO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT PARKING.
BUT A LOT OF THOSE APPROVALS WOULD COME BEFORE PERMIT OR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
>> SOUNDS LIKE WE MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION, THIS WAS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS.
IT DOES SAY ATTACHED A PLAT, I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT THIS APPLICATION DOES NOT ACTUALLY MEET THE [INAUDIBLE], THE DIRECTIONS.
>> WELL, THERE'S NO NEW BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED AND A SITE PLAN WAS PROVIDED TO US AND THE PRIMARY ISSUE THAT WE WERE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT WAS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE OFF-STREET PARKING.
THIS SITE PLAN WAS SUFFICIENT FOR THE STAFF REVIEW.
BUT IF YOU FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT IS NECESSARY,
[01:35:01]
THEN THAT NEEDS TO BE SHARED TO THE APPLICANT.BUT FROM THE STAFF POINT OF VIEW, THAT WAS SUFFICIENT FOR OUR REVIEW.
>> I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE TOPOGRAPHY AROUND THE PARKING AREA, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS HOW THAT FITS IN BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE A SECOND ISSUE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IS THE TOPOGRAPHY NOT AS STEEP ON PINE TREE?
>> [OVERLAPPING] NO, NOT AT ALL.
>> I STILL WANT TO TALK ABOUT IMPERVIOUS BECAUSE I'M JUST LOOKING AT STREET VIEW, AND THERE'S A LOT OF BRICK AND A LOT OF STONE AND [OVERLAPPING] A LOT OF IMPERVIOUS.
>> [BACKGROUND] UNLESS THAT INFORMATION IS IN A PACKAGE THAT SHE HAS READY, JUST NOT ALONE ENOUGH FOR ME TO SAY, [NOISE] PUMP THE BRICKS.
BECAUSE I'VE HEARD FROM MANY RESIDENTS IN THE CITY ABOUT PROJECTS AND THEY ALL START THE SAME WAY, HOW WAS THAT ALLOWED TO BE BUILT? IT LOOKS LIKE IT COVERS THE ENTIRE [BACKGROUND] MODEL.
I WILL NEVER TELL YOU SOMETHING IF I CAN'T PROVE THAT IT'S UNDER THAT RATIO OR AT THAT RATIO.
>> HELLO. THIS IS MY ARCHITECT.
HE IS ALSO A DECATUR RESIDENT.
>> CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
>> LET'S DO IT. LOT COVERAGE IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
OBVIOUSLY, IT HAS ITS RAMIFICATIONS GOING FORWARD TO THE RESIDENTS, TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TO ALL OF US.
THIS IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE ENTIRE REST OF OUR PROJECT.
I'LL BE HONEST, I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION ON A PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAYS EXACTLY WHAT THE LOT COVERAGE IS CURRENTLY, AND THAT'S WHAT I NEED IN ORDER TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
WE HAVE TO MEET THE LOT COVERAGE ESTABLISHED BY THE ZONING DEPARTMENT, BY THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT.
EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THOSE ORDINANCES, I HAVE NO WAY TO GET AROUND THEM.
WE WILL HAVE A SURVEY, WE WILL PLAN ALL THE TYPOGRAPHY.
WE WILL PLAN ALL THE PARKING LOCATIONS.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE IMPERVIOUS AREAS ARE ADDRESSED, THAT THE ON-SITE DETENTION THAT IS REQUIRED IS MET.
BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION TODAY.
>> IF YOU HAD COME BEFORE MY PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
>> BUT I'M NOT ASKING FOR YOU TO APPROVE A SITE PLAN.
THIS IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS.
>> IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO BE ABLE TO KNOW.
DOES THAT MEAN THEN THERE ARE PARKING SPACES THAT HAVE TO BE CUT OUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT; IS THERE SOMETHING? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT.
>> SOMEBODY MENTIONED A TREE COMING DOWN. I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE TREE ORDINANCES.
>> BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, THEN IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO SAY WE'VE GIVEN A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AND IF IT HAS TO BE TWEAKED TO MEET THAT, AND THAT TWEAK ISN'T A PART OF SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.
>> UNDERSTOOD. THE EXISTING SITE HAS A LOT OF PAVED AREAS AS IT IS.
WE MAY HAVE TO REDUCE SOME OF THE EXISTING PAVEMENTS.
SOME OF THE WALKWAYS MAY HAVE TO BE NARROWED, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE WILL HAVE TO MEET THE ZONING CRITERIA FOR THIS PROPERTY TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT BECAUSE WE WILL BE DOING SOME CONSTRUCTION TO THE SITE.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT THIS IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE ON ONE HAND, WE'RE BEING ASKED TO PROVIDE MORE PARKING ON OUR PROPERTY TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE GUESTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING HERE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE BEING ASKED TO REDUCE CURB CUTS AND REDUCE THE PARKING SURFACE AREA.
THOSE ARE THOSE ARE OBVIOUSLY COMPETING REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST THING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR THE PROPERTY, AND PROVIDE SPACE FOR PEOPLE ON THE SITE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN APPROPRIATE MANNER.
>> AGAIN, WE'RE BACK TO, YOU MAY HAVE 50 PERCENT LOT COVERAGE AT THIS POINT.
[01:40:05]
I THINK THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED IN FRONT OF THIS BODY BEFORE I AM COMFORTABLE WITH ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.I THINK YOU NEED THAT, AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.
I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND SAY, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HERE TO GIVE YOU ANY CONDITIONAL APPROVAL.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AMANDA MENTIONED ME ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
OFTEN SAID, ONCE YOU DO SOMETHING THE FIRST TIME, YOU NEVER PUT IT BACK.
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS THE FIRST TIME, I WANT TO BE RIGHT, THE FIRST TIME.
>> THIS PROBABLY FEELS REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW.
[OVERLAPPING] I KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO BE COMPLETELY RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE WHO IS IN HERE, WHO HAS COME IN AND MADE A STATEMENT.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART OF BEING A COMMISSIONER, I DO HEARING.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY COME IN AND SPEAK ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER TO THEM.
I KNOW THIS MATTERS TO YOU AS WELL, AND YOU'RE A MEMBER OF MY COMMUNITY TOO.
I WILL JUST SAY THESE PICTURES ARE GORGEOUS.
BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME REAL CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE HOUSE THAT IS ON THAT LOT ALREADY EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM COVERAGE, AND SO UNTIL I KNOW THAT, THEN I WOULD NOT ALSO BE ABLE TO MAKE A VOTE ON THIS.
SIMPLY BECAUSE, YOU WOULD BE DOING A COMPLETELY UTTER REDESIGN.
NONE OF THE OTHER CONCERNS ARE REALLY CONCERNS I SHARE BECAUSE I LIVE IN OAKHURST.
I'LL GO HOME NEAR A SCHOOL, NOT A BIG DEAL.
WE GOT OAKHURST ELEMENTARY, WE'VE GOT BEACON HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE'VE GOT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL ALL IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE ALCOHOL.
WE HAVE TRAFFIC EVERYWHERE, AND WE HAVE WEDDINGS AND EVENTS AT THE SOLARIUM.
FROM AN OAKHURST PERSPECTIVE, I'M LIKE, THOSE ARE MANAGEABLE THINGS BECAUSE WE DO IT EVERY DAY.
BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR NEIGHBORS LOTS FLOODING OR THE POTENTIAL FOR US NOT BEING ABLE TO MANAGE TRAFFIC AND PARKING AND YOU HAVING TO COMPLETELY REDESIGN YOUR PROJECT BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT'S WHERE I HAVE MY CONCERNS.
BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ENJOYING THIS.
>> I DO THINK THE PARKING PLAN NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED OUT A LITTLE BETTER AND HOW ARE EVENTS GOING TO BE MANAGED.
I THINK THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE EVENTS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN ASK OR FIND, SET ANY GUIDELINES AROUND.
I'M NOT SURE. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.
>> THIS IS PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR MS. THREADGILL.
IF THERE ARE EVENTS THERE AND IF THERE IS A BAND PLAYING, HOW LATE CAN THEY PLAY? HOW DO WE REGULATE NOISE IN THIS SITUATION?
>> IT'S SUBJECT TO THE NOISE ORDINANCE.
THE DECIBELS, THE ACTIVITY UP UNTIL A CERTAIN POINT, IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE NOISE ORDINANCE.
THERE IS A CERTAIN TIME BY WHICH THE NOISE WOULD NEED TO END.
MAYBE IF I HEARD MAYOR GARRETT SPEAK TO NUMBER OF EVENTS PER YEAR AND MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT OF AS AN ADDITIONAL CONDITION OF APPROVAL.
MAYBE SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT NOISE ORDINANCE.
>> COMMISSIONER, MAYOR IS CORRECT.
I HAVE HEARD, GENERALLY, SOME EVENTS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO COME BACK.
POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED AND SAID, SHUT THE BAND DOWN, IT'S TIME. YOU'VE GONE OVER.
WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS.
BUT THERE ARE EVENT SPACE IS EMBEDDED IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.
ARE THEY 20 FEET FROM OTHER RESIDENCES?
>> I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NEXT DOOR TOO ACROSS FROM. CORRECT.
>> GOOD QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT, IF I MAY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MS. PANTING
>> I'M YOUR NEIGHBOR ROUND THE BACK BEHIND TAQUERIA, AND I HAVE MET YOU AT THE DOG PARK.
THAT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE QUITE AWHILE BACK.
[01:45:02]
I JUST FORGOT FOR TWO SECONDS [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.DO YOU CARE TO SPEAK TO YOUR OWNERSHIP STATUS RELATIVE TO 620 AND 630? [OVERLAPPING] THAT MIGHT HELP US UNDERSTAND A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE DIMENSIONS HERE THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN?
>> SURE. ABSOLUTELY. 630 IS NOT FOR SALE. IT'S A NON-ISSUE.
THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO SELL AS ALL OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HAVE SHARED.
THEY'VE SPENT THREE YEARS RENOVATING IT.
THEY'RE NOT SELLING.IF THEY WERE TO SELL, QUITE FRANKLY, ONE OF MY GOALS IN WANTING TO HAVE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL WAS SO THAT I CAN HELP MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A SEAMLESS TRANSITION IN NEIGHBORS, AND THAT SOMEBODY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING THEMSELVES INTO.
>> IT WILL DETAIL YOU'RE UNDER CONTRACT ON 620.
>> WE ARE UNDER CONTRACT RIGHT NOW; 630 RIGHT BEHIND, SHE CURRENTLY OWNS 620.
WE'VE TALKED WITH HER AT LENGTH.
SHE'S VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BEING A BED AND BREAKFAST.
BUT NOT BUYING 630, JUST BUYING 620 UNDER CONTRACT.
OUR CONTRACT IS DEPENDENT ON A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
>> THE SQUIGGLY LINES THAT TALKED ABOUT ANCILLARY OR EXTRA PARKING, THAT'S NOT ON THE 630 PARCEL.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE AGAIN [OVERLAPPING] ABOUT THAT?
>> THE SQUIGGLY LINES ARE TRASH.
>> YEAH, AND THAT WOULD BE ON 620.
>> ON THE BORDER WITH 630 ALONG THE FENCE ON THERE.
>> THERE IS A HEDGE THERE, AND IT WOULD BE ON OUR SIDE.
>> THANK YOU. APPEARS WE PROBABLY NEED A MOTION AS A PART OF THAT MOTION, I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR TO THE APPLICANT THAT WE MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DIFFERENT IF WE ARE GOING TO ASK THEM TO COME BACK.
WE ARE PRO TEAM POWERS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TAKE GOOD NOTES.
[LAUGHTER] I KNOW I TALKED ABOUT IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, A PARKING PLAN.
>> [NOISE] WE TALKED ABOUT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION OR AS MY TIME CLOSE?
>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO A PERVIOUS SURFACE WHEN WE DO THE PARKING LOT AND SO WE CAN MAKE THAT A CONDITION OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
>> WHETHER IT'S PERVIOUS OR IMPERVIOUS AND IT STILL COUNTS AGAINST YOUR LOT COVERAGE, AND SO THE LOT COVERAGE IS 40 PERCENT.
>> THAT DOESN'T AFFECT IT, IT ONLY AFFECTS YOUR STORM WATER.
>> DOES GIVING HIM SOME CREDIT FOR NOT 100 PERCENT BUT THERE'S [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK THAT I COVERED THEM ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS OR DID I MISS ONE.
>> I WANT TO EXPLORE THE NUMBER OF EVENTS, THE FREQUENCIES.
>> DID WE ASK FOR SOMETHING RELATED TO CURB CUTS OR NO?
>> NO. THAT'S THE CIRCULAR DRIVE.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG MOTION MAYOR PROTEM.
>> JUST AS LONG AS SOMEONE BROKEN DOWN.
>> HOW SPECIFIC INITIATIVE PARKING AGREEMENT BE, KNOWING THE AREA I CAN'T THINK OF AN ACTUAL GREAT TARGET THAT SEEMS EVEN REASONABLE, THAT'S NOT MORE THAN A LONG CITY BLOCK OR TWO AWAY ACTUALLY.
>> THAT'S COMPLETELY THE CONCERN.
IF IT'S NOT EVEN A FEASIBLE THEN WOULD WE APPROVE SOMETHING THAT HAS A CONDITION THAT'S NOT EVEN FEASIBLE TO THE APPLICANT.
>> I THINK TWO OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING OUT IS WE'VE IDENTIFIED A MICRO EVENT OF ABOUT 20 PEOPLE.
THERE'S NOTHING REALLY THAT SAYS THAT IT COULD NOT BE MICRO WEDDING OR A MICRO EVENT OF 50 AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOME OF THE CONCERN AS WELL BECAUSE YOU REALLY ARE TALKING ABOUT A NUMBER, EVEN IF YOU'RE DOING VALET PARKING OR WHEREVER YOU'RE GETTING PEOPLE THERE, THAT'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN AND OUT AND SO ARE YOU AMENABLE TO HAVING A LIMITED NUMBER AS A PART OF EVENTS AND A LIMITED NUMBER OF EVENTS PER YEAR OR?
>> SURE. LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, I WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, I WANT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER.
IT WOULD NEED TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD STILL BE VIABLE FOR
[01:50:01]
OUR BUSINESS PLAN BUT LIKE I SAID LAST WEEK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I AM REALLY GOOD AT BEING CREATIVE AND COMING UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.IN SHORT, ABSOLUTELY WITH SOME WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT WOULD WORK FOR US. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> CREATIVE IN MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS? NOT CREATIVE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'LL GET REAL CREATIVE. NO, NOT AT ALL CLEAR.
WHAT I MEAN IS I'LL BE CREATIVE IN MY SOLUTIONS.
>> I GUESS THE LAST PART OF THAT IS, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL FOR YOU AS WELL, KNOWING THE ISSUE UNDER CONTRACT, HOW QUICKLY DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GET THIS STUFF? BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS SO OPEN-ENDED THAT SIX MONTHS FROM NOW WE'RE STILL HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS.
IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT WITHOUT AN APPROVAL TONIGHT.
>> SOME OF OUR OPTIONS ARE APPROVE, DENY, OR TABLE.
TABLE ACTUALLY GIVES, THERE WOULD BE A TIME FRAME ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
>> DEFER IT TILL THE NEXT MEETING.
>> OR DEFER TO THE NEXT MEETING.
>> IT WOULD BE TRICKY FOR US TO DEFER IT EVEN A MONTH JUST BECAUSE WE'RE UNDER CONTRACT AND THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES.
I WOULD HOPE FOR THE BEST, BUT THERE'S A VERY REAL SCENARIO.
IT DOESN'T WORK OUT AT ALL, IF WE DO THAT.
>> IS THAT A REQUEST FOR US TO BRING IT TO A VOTE?
>> PROVIDING YOU WITH THE INFORMATION, YOU ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO WEIGH THE VALUE TO THE CITY AND YOU DON'T KNOW ME, YOU'VE NOT WORKED WITH ME.
I CAN TELL YOU I WILL DO ALL THE THINGS BUT AGAIN, I GET THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ME AND YOU HAVE TO GO BY THE ORDINANCE SET BEFORE YOU AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE CALLED TO.
>> REFERRAL TO THE NEXT MEETING WOULD BE THREE WEEKS.
WE'RE TALKING TIMEFRAME BECAUSE WE WOULD MEET THE FIRST [NOISE] MONDAY IN NOVEMBER.
>> CORRECT, I'M JUST SAYING FOR EVERYONE'S INFORMATION.
>> THAT'S OUR NEXT RECOMMENDATION.
>> I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION BASED ON THE NEXT THING YOU TELL ME BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE THREE OPTIONS.
>> IF YOU THINK YOU CAN BE READY IN THREE WEEKS, THEN I WILL MOVE TO DEFER TO OUR FIRST MEETING IN NOVEMBER, PROVIDED YOU HAVE YOUR INFORMATION READY AND YOU'RE READY TO COME BACK.
>> IF I SAY I CAN'T DO THAT, YOU'VE MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> I'LL GET IT READY. I WILL DO THE THING.
>> WE WOULD VOTE. YOU MIGHT NOT GET THE OUTCOME JULY.
>> IT'S OKAY. WE WILL HUSTLE PONIES TO GET DONE, WHAT WE CAN GET DONE.
>> THE MOTION IS TO DIFFER WITH WHAT SPECIFIC INFORMATION WOULD WE LIKE TO HAVE BACK FROM HER.
>> IT WAS THE IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE, A SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT.
>> CAN I ASK QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
DO I NEED TO HAVE COME WITH A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT TO THAT MEETING OR JUST LIKE, BECAUSE THAT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I HAVE LOTS OF MEETINGS LINED UP.
>> THE NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE, THAT WAS A THIRD THING RIGHT?
>> CAN WE BE EVEN MORE SPECIFIC, THE NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT YOU WOULD PROPOSE TO HAVE IN A GIVEN YEAR.
>> THAT WOULD BE FEASIBLE FOR YOUR BUSINESS MODEL.
THAT WAY WE'LL KNOW THE NUMBER AND BE ABLE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT AND THE NEIGHBORS WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE COMMENTS [LAUGHTER] AT A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTENDING.
>> DEFINITION OF MICRO WEDDING.
>> A DEFINITION OF WHAT A MICRO EVENT.
>> HOW WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE THESE EVENTS?
>> LISTEN, I GO TO BED AT 07:30, SO I WAS DRINKING COFFEE AT FIVE [LAUGHTER] NOT LATE.
>> SOMETHING ELSE AMPLIFIED NOISE AFTER YOUR BUSINESS MODEL IS.
>> IF WE COULD SORT OUT ONE MORE CLARIFICATION, NOT ONLY FOR MY BENEFIT, BUT MAYBE THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE DRILLED DOWN TO IT.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THERE WOULD NOT BE AT ANY POINT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S ALLOWED IN THE CODE, IF I UNDERSTAND,
[01:55:01]
THERE WOULD BE NO ALCOHOL PERMITS AND ALCOHOL COULD NOT BE SOLD ON THE PREMISES, MR. GILL THAT'S CORRECT.>> CAN YOU CLARIFY EXACTLY HOW ALCOHOL GETS SHARED, DISTRIBUTED IN THIS ENVIRONMENT AND ANY RESTRICTIONS ON IT?
>> MAYOR, MS. THREADGILL. WE WOULD HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
I LIKE WINE, I'M A BIG WINE NERD.
I'D WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER WINE TO MY GUESTS IN THE AFTERNOON.
HAVE A GLASS OF WINE, HAVE A LITTLE NIBBLE.
WATCH THE SUN GO DOWN ON THE VERANDA, THAT THING.
THAT'S HOW I ENVISION IT LOOKING. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> YOU WOULD SERVE IT AT THE EVENTS?
>> AGAIN, I'D WANT TO REALLY DRILL DOWN ON SOME OF THOSE LAWS AND SEE WHAT IS PERMITTED AND WHAT IS NOT PERMITTED BUT WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW EVERYTHING.
>> THAT'S WHY I THINK WE SHOULD KNOW A LOT ABOUT.
>> WHAT I HAVE FOUND SO FAR IS YOU CAN APPLY FOR A CORKAGE LICENSE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU CAN APPLY FOR A HOTEL IN ROOM PERMIT.
HOWEVER, I DON'T BELIEVE THE LOCAL LAW ALLOWS THAT.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? THAT'S HOW IT WOULD LOOK.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT IN UNDER A CORKAGE LICENSE.
>> I THINK THAT ASPECT CHANGES SOME OF THE DYNAMICS OF WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING SO KNOWING MORE ABOUT THEM BEING VERY SPECIFIC, IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
FIRST MEETING IN NOVEMBER, WITH INFORMATION PROVIDED ON IMPERVIOUS SURFACE PARKING PLAN, PARKING AGREEMENT, A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF EVENTS PER YEAR, AND A DEFINITION OF A MICRO EVENT IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.
>> IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? [LAUGHTER] MOTION HAS BEEN MADE IN SECOND WITH ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION DEFERRAL.
SINCE THIS IS NOT AN ORDINANCE VOTE, WE DON'T NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, I'LL SEE YOU IN NOVEMBER 7.
[IV.B. The City of Decatur Community and Economic Development Department has requested text amendments to Article 2, Article 3, Article 6, Article 7 and Article 12 of the Unified Development Ordinance to allow duplex, triplex, and quadplex residential units in R-50, R-60, R-85, and RS-17 single-family residential zoning districts. The Planning Commission recommends denial. ]
>> NEXT, I BELIEVE WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU MS. THREADGILL, FOR ITEM B, THOSE WHO ARE EXITING, IF YOU CAN EXIT QUIETLY, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
I WILL ASK TOO AS PEOPLE LEAVE, THE TENDENCY IS TO GATHER IN THE HALL AND CHATTER AND SO IF YOU ARE HAVING ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS, IF YOU WILL MAYBE HAVE THOSE OUTSIDE, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. [BACKGROUND]
ANGELA THREADGILL, PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
THE SECOND ITEM THAT WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA LAST TUESDAY NIGHT WAS THE CITY OF DECATUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED TEXT AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 2, 3, 6, 7, AND 12 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO ALLOW DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, AND QUADPLEX RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN THE R50, R60, AND R85 AS WELL AS THE RS17, SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS BE DENIED IN THEIR CURRENT FORM.
I HAVE PREPARED THE DRAFT MINUTES FROM THAT MEETING THAT IS WITHIN YOUR PACKET AND WITHIN THOSE MINUTES THERE WAS A LIST OF ITEMS AND REASONS WHY THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL IN THEIR CURRENT FORM WITH FURTHER SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE UPON THEM.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO INVITE MS. KRISTIN ALLEN, CITY PLANNER TO THE LECTERN HERE TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION.
LET ME OPEN THIS UP FOR MS. ALLEN.
[LAUGHTER] LET'S SEE IF IT'S PLUGGED IN FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU. HELLO, GOOD EVENING.
[02:00:06]
>> JUST SHUT DOWN AND YOU'RE ALL SET.
I WORK FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I'M PLANNER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES AND I'M HERE TO DISCUSS MISSING MIDDLE ZONING PROPOSAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
SUCH NICE PRESENTATION IS AN APPLICATION FOR TEXT AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 2, 3, 6, 7, AND 12 OF THE CITY OF DECATUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO ALLOW DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, AND QUADPLEX RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN R50, R60, R85, AND RS17 SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN GENERAL IN DECATUR AND AT THE TOP I JUST HAVE 14 YEARS, FOUR YEARS, AND TWO YEARS.
FOURTEEN YEARS AGO IN 2008 THERE WAS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REPORT.
MEMBERS FROM DECATUR CAME TOGETHER AND TALKED ABOUT SOLUTIONS AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, JUST REALIZING THAT THE TRAJECTORY OF HOUSING IN DECATUR WAS HEADED IN AN UNSUSTAINABLE LEVEL.
THERE WERE SOME SUGGESTIONS MADE AND SOME WERE IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS BUT A LOT OF THOSE SUCH AS DENSITY BONUSES DIDN'T QUITE ACHIEVE I THINK THE MEANS THAT WERE HOPED FOR IN THAT 2008 REPORT.
IN 2018, FOUR YEARS AGO, THE HOUSING SUMMIT WAS A GROUP OF ADVOCATES FROM AROUND DECATUR TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AGAIN, TO REALLY FIND ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT THE ISSUE FROM CONTINUING FURTHER AND TO OPEN THE DOORS TO THOSE WHO WERE UNDERSERVED BY DECATUR'S REAL ESTATE MARKET.
THAT WAS IN 2018 AND THE RESULT OF THAT WAS A TASK FORCE TO REALLY GET IN AND STUDY THIS ISSUE, THE COMPLEXITIES BEHIND IT, AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO, TWO YEARS AGO, THE TASK FORCE REPORT CAME OUT IN 2020 WITH 23 ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THESE WERE AROUND CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PRESERVING, OVERSEEING AND FUNDING BOTH AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING IN DECATUR.
THESE WERE ACCEPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND FULLY INCORPORATED INTO THE STRATEGIC PLAN DESTINATION 2030 AND THEY'RE ALSO IN THE 2030 COMMUNITY WORK PROGRAMS. MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IS ONE OF THESE ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS TO TRY TO PROVIDE A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING.
I WANT TO POINT OUT ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND BEFORE I MOVE ON TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITY QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP.
THE NATIONAL CITIZENS SURVEY IS PERFORMED IN DECATUR EVERY YEAR.
SORRY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SMALL BUT OVER TO THE RIGHT THERE'S A GRAPH THAT SHOWS DECATUR'S SCORES FOR THINGS LIKE QUALITY OF LIFE AND RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT, PARKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IN THE GREEN YOU CAN SEE QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AVAILABILITY AT 21 PERCENT IS VERY LOW.
THAT'S REALLY A RED FLAG FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SCORE SO MUCH LOWER ON THAN REALLY ANY OTHER ISSUE IN DECATUR AND SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO WORK ON.
ANOTHER COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I LOOKED UP IN THAT REPORT WERE THE VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS, SCORE 44 PERCENT WHICH IS ALSO A LOW SCORE FOR DECATUR THAT SCORES VERY HIGH IN EVERYTHING.
AND ALSO THE COST OF LIVING AT 28 PERCENT.
THE VISION OUT OF THE DESTINATION 2030 PLAN IS THAT DECATUR WILL FOSTER AN EQUITABLE, THRIVING, AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ALL TODAY AND THE FUTURE.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW OF THE ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT THAT ARE ALREADY IN PROGRESS.
THIS IS IN RESPONSE ALSO TO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
MANDATORY INCLUSIONARY HOUSING, THIS IS SOMETHING A COUPLE OF PEOPLE ASKED ABOUT AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND SAID, NEW YORK DOES THE SYSTEM THAT SEEMS REALLY GREAT WHERE THERE'S A PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE UNITS, THEY HAVE TO BE IN ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE TASK FORCE REPORT AND DECATUR ADOPTED THAT IN 2020.
ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OVER FIVE UNITS HAVE TO HAVE 10 PERCENT AFFORDABLE UNITS AND THIS IS RENTAL AND OWNER UNITS.
THIS IS A REALLY GREAT ACTION ITEM FOR OUR LARGER MULTIFAMILY UNITS ESPECIALLY COMING IN DOWNTOWN TO INCLUDE AFFORDABLE UNITS AT 80 PERCENT AMI IN THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
ANOTHER ACTIONABLE ITEM WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LAND TRUST THAT WAS INCORPORATED AS A NON-PROFIT IN 2021.
THIS LAND TRUST IS A MODEL THAT OCCURS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES,
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PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE IS UP IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT AND THERE'S ACTUALLY ONE IN ATHENS AND ATLANTA.THE LAND TRUST MODEL IS THE BEST WAY I BELIEVE TO PRESERVE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE LAND TRUST WOULD BUY LAND POTENTIALLY WITH A HOME ON IT WHERE THEY COULD BUILD A HOME OR HOMES.
THEY KEEP THE LAND AND TRUST AND THEN SELL THE HOME AT AN AFFORDABLE LEVEL OR THEY COULD ALSO RENT THE PROPERTY ON THE LAND.
THE BEAUTY OF THE LAND TRUST IS THAT WHEN THEY SELL THAT HOME THEY CONTROL THE RESALE PRICE OF IT.
A ONETIME INVESTMENT IN THAT PROPERTY IS A PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOME AND THEY ALSO CONTROL THE RENT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE LANDLORDS, THEY CAN KEEP RENTS AFFORDABLE AS WELL.
THAT WAS ANOTHER ACTIONABLE ITEM THAT CAME OUT OF THE TASK FORCE REPORT.
ANOTHER THING THAT'S BEING WORKED ON RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE VERY CLOSE ON IS A YEAR-ROUND REPAIR PROGRAM CALLED DECATUR HOME REHAB.
THAT WAS ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TASK FORCE REPORT.
THIS IS A WAY TO HELP REHABILITATE LOW-INCOME SENIOR HOMES.
I'M HOPING THAT A PROGRAM, IF IT IS SUCCESSFUL MAY EXPAND INTO OLDER HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE PROVIDING NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIKE SOME OF OUR OLDER DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, AND QUADPLEX UNITS IN THE CITY.
BUT I THINK THAT PROGRAM HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO HELP PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> THE RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, THIS IS ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION OUT OF THE TASK FORCE REPORT AND IT'S TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF SMALLER HOUSING UNITS, DIVERSITY OF HOUSING FOR A DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE, ALLOW MORE OPTIONS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABILITY.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I'LL GO THROUGH A LITTLE LATER AND THIS EXACTLY WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS LOOK LIKE.
BUT OVERALL IT MEANS MAINTAIN THE SAME SCALE AND HEIGHT OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME, BUT CREATE MORE UNITS WITHIN THAT FOOTPRINT, AND THE ABILITY FOR REDUCED LAND COSTS OVER THE TOTAL DEVELOPED UNITS.
IF YOU HAVE MORE UNITS ON THE LAND, THAT'S A BETTER USE OF THE EXPENSIVE LAND THAT WE HAVE IN DECATUR.
THERE'S A SUBSIDY QUESTION OF AFFORDABLE VERSUS MARKET RATE WHICH IS UNSUBSIDIZED.
THIS RECOMMENDATION ALLOWS THE DUPLEX, TRIPLEX AND COMPLEX IN FOUR AFFORDABLE PURPOSES SUCH AS THE TATER LAND TRUSTS, BUT ALSO MARKET RATE WHICH WOULD BE UNSUBSIDIZED.
I THINK THE AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY OF HOUSING THAT IS NEEDED IS PRETTY OVERWHELMING, SO I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A MARKET OPTION IN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR A DUPLEX TRIPLEX, AND COMPLEX UNITS.
THERE'S ALSO A PRECEDENCE FOR TWO TO FOUR UNIT HOMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OLDER DUPLEX, TRIPLEX AND COMPLEX SCATTERED AROUND DECATUR.
PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE PART OF THIS PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WANTED TO DEFINE MISSING MIDDLE TUBE BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DEBATE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
I THINK THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY MEAN THREE DIFFERENT THINGS.
I'LL GO THROUGH THE THREE DEFINITIONS THAT I USE FOR MISSING MIDDLE.
THE OFFICIAL DEFINITION IS THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IS ARRANGE OF HOW SKILLED BUILDINGS WITH MULTIPLE UNITS, COMPATIBLE IN SCALE AND FORM WITH DETACHED SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES LOCATED IN A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU CAN SAY THEY'RE MIDDLE SIZED, BECAUSE THE UNITS ARE SMALLER, THEY'RE NOT HUGE HOUSES AND THEY'RE NOT LIKE TEENY MICRO APARTMENTS, MIDDLE-INCOME.
TYPICALLY THAT WOULD FALL BETWEEN 60-120 PERCENT AMI.
WE HAVE CONSIDERED THAT THE MIDDLE-INCOME AND CAN ALSO SIT IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN A LARGE APARTMENT AND A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.
WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT DIVERSITY OF HOUSING IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS? THIS SECTION IS GOING TO GO THROUGH JUST SOME DATA AND A LITTLE BIT OF TRAJECTORY ABOUT THE CITY OF DECATUR HOUSING.
THE CITY OF DECATUR IS APPROXIMATELY FOUR PLUS SQUARE MILES, A LITTLE CLOSER TO FIVE NOW, 67 PERCENT IS SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING, THE AVERAGE FOR SALE HOME PRICE IS OVER $800,000, AND THAT'S FROM SEPTEMBER OF 2022.
THE RENT DOWNTOWN FOR A TWO-BEDROOM RANGES BETWEEN 2,500 AND 3,200 A MONTH.
IF YOU INCLUDE SOME OF THE OLDER RENTAL HOUSING AROUND DECATUR, THE AVERAGE RENT IS PROBABLY CLOSER TO 1,800-2,000, AND THERE WAS A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING FORMERLY ALLOWED IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF DECATUR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THIS SO I LIKE TO POINT THIS OUT WHEN I DO THIS PRESENTATION THAT THE DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES AND COMPLEXES THAT ARE SCATTERED AROUND DECATUR WERE ALLOWED AND THEN ZONING WAS CHANGED TO DISALLOW THEM.
THOSE HAPPENED OVER TIME, BUT DUPLEXES WERE THE LAST HOUSING TYPE IN THERE WERE DISALLOWED IN 1986.
[NOISE] A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR HOUSING TRAJECTORY AND THIS TRAJECTORIES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT WORD IN THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ON A TRAJECTORY PRETTY MUCH AROUND SINCE THE TIME THAT THESE WERE DISALLOWED AND ONLY SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES WERE ALLOWED.
WE'RE AT A POINT RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT IS OUR TRAJECTORY FROM NOW INTO THE FUTURE.
THE MAP ON THE RIGHT SHOWS DEMOLITIONS FROM 2009-2020.
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ALL THE DEMOLITIONS THAT HAPPENED AROUND DECATUR ARE MARKED BY A RED FLAG ON THAT MAP.THE MAP ON THE RIGHT SHOWS WHERE HOMES WERE DEMOLISHED AND LARGER SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES WERE BUILT.
SOMETIMES THESE WERE MULTI UNITS THAT WERE DEMOLISHED AND SOME WERE SMALLER OLDER HOMES WHICH JUST OVERALL DEMOLITIONS AND THAT TREND TOWARD LARGER SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
ON THE MARKET AND ZONING RIGHT NOW IS ATTRACTIVE FOR [INAUDIBLE] OWNS AND THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE BUILT ARE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, SO THAT'S OUR ONLY OPTION INDICATOR.
SMALL HOMES HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH 1 MILLION DOLLAR PLUS HOMES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE GRAPH DOWN BELOW, IT SHOWS 2008, THE TIME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REPORT THAT I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, THE AVERAGE HOME SALE PRICE WAS 384,715, AND THE 2021 AVERAGE PRICES, 802,715.
THAT'S THE HOUSING TRAJECTORY THAT WE HAVE HAD OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES.
AS WE THINK ABOUT THE TRAJECTORY INTO THE FUTURE WHERE SOME OF THE SMALLER OLDER HOMES STILL EXIST INDICATOR, AND THIS MAP WAS IDENTIFIED THERE, A PROJECT I DID WITH ULI, THE MTAP GROUP TO IDENTIFY HOMES THAT ARE VALUED UNDER $500,000.
EACH QUADRANT INDICATOR, NORTHEAST, SOUTHEAST, NORTHWEST, SOUTHWEST HAS ABOUT 20-25 OF THESE OLDER HOMES, AND THESE ARE LIKELY TO BE REPLACED BY LARGER OR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THAT DEVELOPMENT IS LUCRATIVE.
FOR MISSING MIDDLE OPTIONS, IF THEY ARE DEMOLISHED, THEY COULD POTENTIALLY BE PRESERVED THROUGH THE DECATUR LAND TRUSTS.
THAT'S ONE GOAL OF THE LAND TRUST.
BUT IF THEY ARE TAKEN DOWN AND YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THIS PROPOSAL TO INSTEAD REPLACE SOME OF THEM WITH 2-4 UNIT DWELLINGS.
THIS IS CONSIDERED A GENERAL DENSITY, WHICH I'LL GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT LATER AS WELL.
THE MISSING MIDDLE ALSO GIVES PEOPLE THE OPTION TO SUB-DIVIDE THEIR HOMES.
IT'S NOT JUST REPLACING WITH NEW.
IT'S ALSO A SUBDIVISION OF HOMES.
>> THE HOME NOT NECESSARILY THE LOT.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT MAP SHOWED THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 80-100 LEFT.
>> YES, SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE SUMMARIZED THAT.
ABOUT 100 OR SO SMALLER OLDER HOMES LEFT IN DECATUR.
>> ONE BEFORE SHOWED A LOSS OF ABOUT 250; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. THIS TALKS ABOUT THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR HOUSING STOCK.
THIS IS FROM THE CENSUS DATA, THIS IS COMPARING 2000-2020.
IF YOU LOOK OVER TO THE FAR COLUMN ON THE RIGHT, THIS SHOULD SAY 2000-2020, NOT 2010 THAT WAS A MISTAKE, BUT THE PER NUMBER INCREASED FROM 2000-2020, SO WE'VE INCREASED OUR NUMBER OF ONE UNIT DETACHED HOMES, WE'VE INCREASED THOSE BY 478.
THE ONE UNIT ATTACHED HOMES OR TOWN HOMES WE'VE INCREASED BY 410, AND YOU CAN SEE WE'VE LOST OUR MISSING MIDDLE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE CALLING IT THE DISAPPEARING MIDDLE BECAUSE THEY'VE JUST BEEN VANISHING OVER TIME AND REPLACED BY LARGER HOMES.
BUT WE'VE LOST 61 TWO UNIT AND 281, 3-4 UNIT.
THIS IS 5-9 UNIT AND 276 OF THE 10-19 UNITS.
THEN ON THE LARGER SCALE END OF OUR APARTMENTS, WE'VE ADDED 1,100 OF THOSE.
>> CLARIFY FOR ME IF NO ONE ELSE, ONE UNIT DETACHED IS A SINGLE-FAMILY UNIT?
>> YES. ONE UNIT DETACH IS A SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
IN THAT TIMEFRAME, 2000-2020, WE'VE ADDED 478 OF THOSE.
>> WHERE ARE WE IN 2020? WHAT'S OUR HOUSING MIX LOOK LIKE? AND THIS IS JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE A PICTURE OF WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE ABOUT 67 PERCENT OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING AND A ONE UNIT DETACHED MAKES UP 53 PERCENT OF OUR HOUSING STOCK AND THEN THE TOWN HOMES OR WHEN YOU ATTACH TO MAKE UP 10 PERCENT, THEN YOU CAN SEE THE TWO UNIT, IT MAKES UP 3 PERCENT, 3 TO 4 UNITS MAKES UP 7 PERCENT, FIVE TO NINE UNIT 4 PERCENT, 10 TO 19 IS 2 PERCENT, AND THEN THE 20 OR MORE UNITS IS 20 PERCENT.
THAT'S WHAT THE HOUSING MAKEUP IS IN DECATUR.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. I'M SURE YOU WON'T HAVE IT TODAY BUT FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION, IS IT A WAY THAT WE CAN LOOK AT OUR PEER CITIES AND LOOK AT THAT SAME GRAPH WITH OUR PEER CITIES?
>> I'LL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT LATER BUT, THANK YOU.
>> I AM AWARE THAT HAVING BEEN SERVING ON THE ATLANTA AREA METRO AREA HOUSING TASK FORCE,
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THAT A NUMBER OF THE CITIES IN OUR COUNTY ARE WELL OVER 50 PERCENT APARTMENT IN RENTAL UNITS.AND SO SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER LEVELS THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF APARTMENTS IN ANY TYPE OF MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING.
>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE AND TRAJECTORY, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE HOUSING AND [NOISE] POPULATION ESTIMATES WERE IN DECATURS PROJECTED FROM THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION TO GROW BY AROUND 10,500 PEOPLE BY 2050.
IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS, WE'RE ALSO CONSCIOUS THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMING TO THE AREA AND THAT WILL BECOMING TO DECATUR.
WE CAN ADD HOUSING FOR THEM OR THE PRICES WILL KEEP GOING UP AND THEY'LL PROBABLY GO ANYWAY, DECATUR IS A VERY DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE BUT THERE'S THIS WHOLE TRAJECTORY OF POPULATION GROWTH WE'RE LOOKING AT.
WE ALSO HAVE A NATIONAL TREND OF BIRTH RATES LOWERING AND HOUSEHOLD SIZE GETTING SMALLER NOW THAN IN THE PAST.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TRAJECTORIES THAT I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BE AWARE OF AS FAR AS OUR HOUSING QUESTIONS GO.
I'M SEEING LITTLE HOUSING IT'S VALUABLE BECAUSE IT CAN ADDRESS ALL STAGES OF LIFE AND A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING AND PEOPLE.
A COUPLE OF THE NEXT SLIDES WE WILL LOOK AT SOME DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND JUST TO POINT OUT THAT MILLENNIALS AND GEN Z STRONGLY SUPPORT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.
THE STARTER HOME, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE READ THE ARTICLES BUT THERE ARE SO MANY ARTICLES RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE DISAPPEARING STARTER HOME AND HOW THAT REALLY IS CHANGING FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS MILLENNIALS AND GEN Z GENERATION AND REALLY TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM A STARTER HOME TO MORE OF A STARTER UNIT.
ARP IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPPORTERS OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING BECAUSE THIS WILL GIVE ALSO OPTIONS TO OLDER PEOPLE WHO ARE AGING OUT OF THEIR HOME AND MAY NOT WANT SUCH A LARGER SPACE TO LIVE [NOISE] ON OR MAY WANT TO SUB-DIVIDE THEIR HOME FOR RENT TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE HOME.
THE MISSING MIDDLE FIT IN THE OVERALL HOUSING GOALS, TOOLS ARE BEING PUT IN PLACE TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY.
I MENTIONED THE DECATUR LAND TRUST, THE CITY ALSO ESTABLISHED A HOUSING TRUST FUND FOR WHICH WE'RE CREATING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RIGHT NOW TO HAVE SOME FUNDING TO START [NOISE] DRIVING SOME OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS.
THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, PARTNERSHIP SUCH AS THE COTTAGE COURT, WHICH IS OVER ON COMMERCE DRIVE.
WE'RE LEARNING HOW TO USE PARTNERSHIPS TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SOME EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES OF 600 COMMERCE DRIVE WAS JUST PURCHASED RECENTLY BY THE CITY AND I HAVE A SLIDE ON THAT LATER ON TO DISCUSS SOME JUST HOW THESE FIT IN OVERALL HOUSING GOALS AND HOW IT MAY LOOK IN SOME OF THESE GOALS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT.
NOW ON TO A COUPLE OF SLIDES AROUND JUST DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.
THIS IS A TRAJECTORY FOR DECATUR REGARDING HOUSEHOLD SIZE BETWEEN 2000 AND 2020, YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR ONE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS AND TWO-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS HAVE SHRUNK AND THEN OUR 3 AND 4 PERSON HOUSEHOLDS HAVE GROWN.
DECATUR'S LACK OF HOUSING FOR ALL STAGES OF LIFE, THE PART THAT I CIRCLED IN THE MIDDLE IS THE 20 TO 24 YEARS AND THE 25 TO 34 YEARS.
WE CAN SEE HOW THE POPULATION FOR DECATUR WHICH IS IN THE BLUE LINE, IS HIGHEST IN THE 35 TO 44 AND THE 45 TO 54 YEARS, FOLLOWED BY THE UNDER FIVE, THE 5 TO 9 AND THE 10 TO 14.
THOSE ARE OUR BIGGEST AGE GROUPS RIGHT NOW AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT AGE GROUP 20 TO 24 AND 25 TO 34, THAT IS A LOWER SEGMENT OF POPULATION AND I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT COMPARED TO METRO ATLANTA, WHICH IS IN THE ORANGE, YOU CAN SEE THAT DECATUR'S POPULATION OF PEOPLE AT THAT AGE GROUP IS SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN WHEN COMPARED TO METRO ATLANTA.
THERE MAY BE REASONS YOUNGER PEOPLE [NOISE] WANT TO LIVE OTHER PLACES BUT DECATURS GOT A LOT OF AMENITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
BUT NOT REALLY THE HOUSING STOCK GIVEN OUR PRICE, WHERE OUR PRICE POINTS HAVE GONE FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE TO MOVE IN BECAUSE THESE ARE YOUR PEOPLE OUT OF COLLEGE, YOUR YOUNG FAMILIES OR YOUNG PEOPLE MOVING INTO AN AREA, YOUR PEOPLE WHO WANT STARTER HOMES, THAT'S THIS AGE GROUP.
DECATUR HAS ALSO HAD A DECLINE IN INCOME DIVERSITY, IF YOU LOOK TO THE FAR RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE 2010 VERSUS 2020 NUMBERS AND ESPECIALLY AT THE 200,000 OR MORE LEVEL, YOU CAN SEE HOW DECATUR HAS REALLY THE INCOME OF THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS OR THE PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOME 200,000 OR MORE HAS JUST SKYROCKETED AT THAT TIME, WE'RE SEEING A DECLINE IN INCOME DIVERSITY THERE.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING A DECLINE IN RACIAL DIVERSITY OF HOMEOWNERS, BLACK HOME OWNERSHIP DECREASED 14.9 PERCENT FROM 2000 TO 2020 AND HISPANIC WAS DOWN 22.7 PERCENT FOR HOME OWNERSHIP BY RACE.
[02:20:05]
>> MRS ALAN, ONE MORE QUESTION.
CAN YOU, FOR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS, CAN WE GO BACK TO THE, MAYBE THE 1990 CENSUS SO WE CAN HAVE A TRUE BASELINE FROM WHEN WE DIDN'T ALLOW DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES AND QUADS IN OUR BUILDING CODES SO WE CAN GET A FULLER PICTURE. IS THAT POSSIBLE?
>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO WITH THE WAY THE CENSUS WORKS, I CAN WORK WITH ARC TO SEE IF WE ARE ABLE TO FIND THOSE NUMBERS BUT WHAT I FOUND TRYING TO GO BACK PAST 2000 AND EVEN WITH SOME OF THE 2000 NUMBERS, WHICH IS WHY SOMETIMES I SWITCH TO 2010, IS BECAUSE SOME OF THE CATEGORIES SEEM TO CHANGE OVER TIME OR THE WAY THEY'RE CALCULATED.
BUT I DEFINITELY CAN TRY JUST FOR SOME REASON CENSUS DATA, IT'S NOT SO EASY TO GET GOING BACK THAT FAR.
>> THIS IS MY LAST TRAJECTORY SLIDE ON INCOME BY RACE AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INCOME, WE ALSO REALLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE WEALTH GAP, I MEAN, THAT IS A PROBLEM NATIONWIDE AND IT EXISTS HERE IN DECATUR AS WELL.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INCOME, MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME BY RACE IN DECATUR AND THIS IS FROM THE CLEAN ENERGY PLAN.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION THE MEDIAN INCOME IS 24,000, 148 VERSUS WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHITE HOUSEHOLDS, YOU'RE AT 141,014.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT LOW-INCOME, WE CONSIDER LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS 0 TO 80 PERCENT AMI, WHICH IS TYPICALLY WHO THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY SERVES.
THAT'S WHERE THAT INCOME, THE 24,000 INCOME WOULD FALL IN THAT IN DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY RANGE, WHEREAS THE LAND TRUST WOULD BE PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE UP TO 60 TO 80 PERCENT AMI.
THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY MANAGES AROUND 550 RENTAL UNITS, IN DECATUR IT'S ABOUT 1 PERCENT OF THE HOUSING STOCK AND THE WEIGHT LIST IS 12,000 LONG.
OUR MIDDLE INCOME IS DECREASING, WE'VE STRUGGLED TO START PEOPLE AT THE LOWER INCOME AS WELL, WHICH IS WHAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TYPICALLY DOES AND WE'VE TURNED INTO HIGHER HOUSEHOLD INCOMES OVERALL IN DECATUR.
NOW I'LL GO THROUGH SOME QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WERE RAISED AT THE LAST PLANNING MEETING.
ONE IS WHAT THE ESTIMATED IMPACT IS AND WE'RE STUDYING RIGHT NOW MINNEAPOLIS AND PORTLAND BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO LARGER CITIES WHO HAVE IMPLEMENTED MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING ZONING REFORMS. AND EACH OF THESE HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN ABOUT 0.096 PERCENT OF HOUSING UNITS, WHICH IN DECATUR WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 80 TO 120 UNITS OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A VERY GENTLE GROWTH IN NEW UNITS FROM THIS TYPE OF PROPOSAL, ABOUT ESTIMATED AROUND 8 TO 12 MARKET RATE UNITS A YEAR.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT REASONS FOR THAT WHICH I CAN GO INTO BUT OTHER CITIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS, STUDIED IT AND PORTLAND JUST ADDED SOME INCENTIVES TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE MULTI UNITS A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT THE GROWTH SO FAR IS GENTLE IN THESE HOUSING UNITS WHEN THESE POLICIES ARE INTRODUCED.
WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ALSO FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN IF A HOUSE WAS IN HISTORIC DISTRICT.
ALLOWING DUPLEX, TRIPLEX AND QUADS DOES NOT AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF A LOCALLY DESIGNATED HISTORIC DISTRICT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REGULATE INTERIORS, THE HISTORIC DISTRICT IS REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOME AND MODIFICATIONS CAN BE MADE WITHIN A HISTORIC HOME TO SUB-DIVIDE IT WITHOUT AFFECTING THE INTEGRITY OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOME.
EILEEN DE LA TORRE IS OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATIONISTS AND SHE REALLY LIKES TO POINT OUT THAT SUBDIVIDING HOMES INTO SMALLER SPACES HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A COMMON WAY TO PRESERVE PROPERTIES AS WELL, IT FITS WITHIN SOME OF THE HISTORIC PARAMETERS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> THE COMMUNITY ALSO HAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT PRESERVING OUR NOAH HOUSING ARE OLDER, NOAH STANDS FOR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH MEANS OLDER HOUSING STOCK, OLDER APARTMENTS, OLDER TRIPLEXES, THEREFORE TYPICALLY HAVE LOWER RENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE OLDER BUILDINGS.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT ALSO RECOMMENDS A PRESERVATION STRATEGY FOR THIS OLDER RENTAL HOUSING.
THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT TOPICS THAT I'VE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO APPROACH BECAUSE IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT TOPIC.
THERE ARE LIMITED MECHANISMS TO PRESERVING THIS HOUSING.
I THINK THAT THE REPAIR PROGRAM COULD BE ONE WAY TO DO IT TO ASSIST THESE UNITS WITH REPAIR.
TAX RELIEF IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL FOR, BUT THAT REQUIRES STATE LEGISLATION.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T HAPPEN, BUT IT'S A PRETTY HEAVY LIFT.
ONE POSITIVE OF LEGALIZING THIS TYPE OF HOUSING UNIT IS THAT WOULD MAKE THEM ILLEGAL AND CONFORMING AND WE DID HAVE
[02:25:03]
SOMEONE SPEAK UP AT THE LAST PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING THAT SAID THAT MAKING THEM LEGAL AND CONFORMING CAN HELP WITH LOANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.THAT COULD BE A POSITIVE FOR THE NOAH HOUSING IF APPROVING THEM OR REALLOWING THEM.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT TOO THAT THIS IS A BOTH AND THAT WE CAN ALLOW MISSING MIDDLE AND WE CAN FOCUS ON NOAH HOUSING.
HONESTLY, WE'RE HAVING TO FOCUS ON EVERYTHING AT ONE TIME.
WE'RE NOT JUST PICKING ONE THING OR THE OTHER EVERYTHING, ALL THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHOOL ENROLLMENT.
HOW WOULD THIS IMPACT SCHOOL ENROLLMENT? CSD ENROLLMENT IS CURRENTLY DOWN BY AROUND 183 STUDENTS FROM 2021, 2022, 2023.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE GRAPH, THE TALLEST BAR IS THE 9TH GRADE CLASS, WHICH IS WHERE MY SON IS.
YOU CAN SEE FROM THE 9TH GRADE CLASS GOING TO THE LEFT, DOWN TO THIS BAR IS THE KINDERGARTEN.
YOU CAN SEE THAT SLOWLY, WE'VE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT.
I DON'T THINK THAT EVERY PERSON AT EVERY SCHOOL IS SEEING THAT BECAUSE SOME SCHOOLS I THINK IT'S STILL FEEL LIKE THE ENROLLMENT IS HIGHER THAN SOME OF THE SCHOOLS.
SOME OF THEM, ESPECIALLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
BUT WE ARE ON A TREND WHERE THE ENROLLMENT HAS GONE DOWN SOMEHOW.
I KNOW THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS ENROLLMENT.
I ALSO DID RUN A PROJECTION ON REDEVELOPMENT OF 25 SINGLE-FAMILY LOTS, SO JUST THEORETICALLY SAYING THAT 25 OLDER HOMES ARE REDEVELOPED INTO EITHER A LARGER SINGLE-FAMILY HOME, A DUPLEX TRIPLEX OR QUAD FLEX.
I'M USING THE MULTIPLIERS THAT THE SCHOOL USES FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING.
THIS IS IN A REPORT THAT THE SCHOOL SCHOOL PUT OUT A YIELD ANALYSIS REPORT FOR 2020, THAT'S WHERE THESE MULTIPLIERS COME FROM.
BASICALLY JUST NOT TO GO THROUGH ALL THE DATA, BUT JUST IF YOU LOOK OVER TO THE VERY RIGHT COLUMN, THE TOP LINE IS IF 25 HOMES ARE REDEVELOPED INTO LARGER SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, YOU TYPICALLY WOULD SEE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 14 SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN JUST BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN TYPICALLY IN A LARGE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.
IF YOU REDEVELOPED INTO DUPLEXES WHICH WOULD USE A TOWN HOME MULTIPLIER, YOU'D ACTUALLY HAVE 50 UNITS INSTEAD OF 25, AND YOU'D END UP WITH ABOUT 18 SCHOOL CHILDREN, SO FOUR MORE.
REDEVELOPED INTO TRIPLEXES, I USED TWO DIFFERENT MULTIPLIERS FOR THIS, JUST BASED ON THE SIZE OF ONE LARGER UNIT AND TWO SMALLER UNIT.
TRIPLEX YOU'D END UP WITH 75 HOUSING UNITS AND THAT WOULD EQUATE TO 16 SCHOOL CHILDREN.
THEN IF YOU DEVELOPED ALL OF THESE 25 SMALLER OLDER HOMES INTO ONE-BEDROOM QUAD PLEXUS, YOU'D HAVE 100 HOUSING UNITS AND IT WOULD BE 13 STUDENTS.
YOU ACTUALLY USING THE MULTIPLIERS THAT ARE USED BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
A 100 QUAD FLEX UNITS WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE ONE LESS SCHOOL-AGED CHILD THEN 25 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
ANOTHER QUESTION FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS THE IMPACT ON SERVICES.
I'LL START OUT JUST BY SAYING THAT THERE ARE SEWER CAPACITY GUIDELINES IN PLACE IN THERE ARE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU HAVE IS SUBJECT TO A SEWER CAPACITY REVIEW.
IF THERE'S NOT CAPACITY, THERE ARE FEES THAT ARE PAID THAT GO INTO REPAIRING SEWER LINES AROUND THE COUNTY.
THAT'S HOW THE CAB COUNTY MONITORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY APPROVE THROUGH A CAPACITY RESEARCHING, AND THEN THERE ARE FEES APPLIED IF NEEDED.
THE CITY ALSO CHARGES FOR SERVICES PER UNIT.
LIKE TRASH, ALL OF THAT HAS A SEPARATE FEE. THAT'S BUILT-IN.
IF YOU HAVE FOUR UNITS, THAT'S FOUR TIMES THE FEES TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE SERVICES.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT HERE URBAN INFILL.
WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE IS PUTTING MORE HOUSING UNITS INTO AN URBAN AREA THAT ALREADY HAS SERVICES.
URBAN INFILL FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROJECTED GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION POTENTIALS PROJECTED OUT INTO 2030 FROM LOCAL POLICIES AND THAT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH REDUCING COMMUTE, SO BRINGING PEOPLE TOWARDS WHERE THEY WORK, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH THE TASK FORCE REPORT.
BUT YOU'RE ALSO RELATED TO THE SEWER CAPACITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU'RE ALSO PUTTING HOUSING UNITS WHERE YOU ALREADY HAVE SERVICES.
THAT IS ANTI-SPRAWL BECAUSE THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO TAKE HOUSING UNITS FURTHER OUT AND BUILD THE SERVICES, BUILD THE NEW SEWER LINES, PUT IN THE NEW FIRE STATIONS.
THAT'S WHY THIS URBAN INFILL IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ONLY REDUCING COMMUTE TIMES BY HAVING PEOPLE LIVE CLOSE TO WORK, BUT YOU'RE ALSO PUTTING PEOPLE IN WHERE YOU ALREADY HAVE SERVICES.
ON-STREET PARKING AND SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS IS ALWAYS A QUESTION THAT COMES UP.
[02:30:01]
THIS IS A MAP FROM THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN FROM 2018 OF ACCIDENTS INDICATOR.THIS IS TO POINT OUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR ACCIDENTS FOR BICYCLISTS, PEDESTRIANS, AND CARS OCCUR ON OUR STREETS WHERE WE MOVE OUR CARS THROUGH THE FASTEST.
YOU CAN SEE ON WEST COLLEGE THERE ARE A LOT OF ACCIDENT LOCATIONS, CHURCH STREET IN CLAREMONT, CANDLER, BUT WHEN YOU GET INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE DO HAVE ON STREET PARKING, THAT ACTUALLY SERVES AS A TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES.
I VIEW ON-STREET PARKING ACTUALLY AS A POSITIVE THING AS IT SLOWS PEOPLE DOWN AND MAKES OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREET SAFER.
IT PROVIDES A BUFFER BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE EDGE OF THE MOVING TRAFFIC.
ALSO I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE HAD COMMUNITY FEEDBACK INCLUDING THE DESIRE FOR MORE PROGRESSIVE PARKING POLICIES AS WELL.
THE POLICIES I PUT FORTH ARE REALLY A COMPROMISE BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT ANY PARKING TO BE ON THE STREET OR PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
A LOT OF THE CITIES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED MISSING MIDDLE, THEY ALSO REMOVE THEIR MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
THEY BASICALLY SAY THE MARKET IS GOING TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH PARKING WE HAVE.
THAT IS THE MOST PROGRESSIVE END OF WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKING, IT'S NOT REGULATED AT ALL.
THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT IT OVERREGULATED WHERE YOU HAVE ALL THE PARKING ON-SITE, WHICH LIKE WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING IN OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION, YOU SHRINK THE SIZE OF THE HOUSE OR MORE PARKING ON SITE TO MEET YOUR IMPERVIOUS SURFACE REQUIREMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THIS IS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE TWO.
JUST TO SUM THAT UP. QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WILL AN INCREASE IN HOMES AVAILABLE FOR LOWER MIDDLE-INCOME RESIDENTS IMPACTED MY HOME VALUE? THIS HAS BEEN STUDIED MULTIPLE TIMES.
THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE CENTER FOR HOUSING POLICY INSIGHTS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT INCREASE IN HOUSING AFFORDABILITY DOES NOT DEPRESS NEIGHBORING PROPERTY VALUES AND MAY EVEN RAISE THEM IN SOME CASE.
THE RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT TYPE OF ATTRACTIVE AND MODESTLY SIZED DEVELOPMENTS THAT CONSTITUTE THE BULK OF NEWLY PRODUCED AFFORDABLE HOUSING HELP MAINTAIN A THRIVING COMMUNITY, BUT THEY DO NOT AFFECT PROPERTY VALUES.
WE ALSO DISCUSSED INVESTOR HOME PURCHASES.
THIS IS A MAP OF THE METRO AREA AND FOR INVESTOR HOME PURCHASES.
I WILL ZOOM IN ON DECATUR ON THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT THIS IS TO SHOW THE DARK BROWN IS WHERE MOST OF THE INVESTOR HOME PURCHASES HAPPEN INDICATOR.
THE MEDIAN PURCHASE PRICE AMONG INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS WAS TYPICALLY 26 PERCENT BELOW THE STATE MEDIAN PRICE.
IN GEORGIA, THAT MEDIAN PRICE IS 256,962 AND THE INVESTORS TYPICALLY CAME IN AND PAY 26 PERCENT BELOW THAT.
THEY'RE PAYING IN THE LOW OF $200,000 RANGE FOR THE INVESTOR PURCHASED HOMES.
THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN AREAS OF HIGH INVESTOR INCOME IS $59,000.
INVESTORS ARE PURCHASING SINGLE-FAMILY, HOMES NEEDING REPAIR, AND IN MAJORITY RENTAL AREAS.
THOSE ARE SOME CHARACTERISTICS WHERE INVESTORS ARE LOOKING.
I SPOKE TO SOMEONE TODAY WHO HAS WORKED WITH SOME BIG INVESTORS.
THEY SAID THE REASON THAT THEY PURCHASE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, THEY RENT THEM OUT AND THEN EVENTUALLY THEY KNOW THEY CAN SELL THEM AS SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
THAT'S WHY THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IS THE DESIRABLE MODEL FOR INVESTOR PURCHASES.
THIS IS ZOOMING IN ON DECATUR.
SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE HARD WITH DATA BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY THEY, LIKE ON THIS MAP TO THE RIGHT IS A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF ACTUAL CITY LIMITS.
THIS GOES A LITTLE BIT SOUTHEAST OF DECATUR IN THEIR AREA THAT THEY MEASURE.
BUT IN 2021, METRO ATLANTA WAS AT 25 PERCENT INVESTOR HOME PURCHASES VERSUS 12 PERCENT IN 2015.
ATLANTA WAS AT 12 PERCENT IN 2015, THEY WENT UP TO 25 PERCENT IN 2021.
I THINK THEY'RE AT 33 PERCENT RIGHT NOW.
DECATUR IN 2021 WAS AT 10 PERCENT INVESTOR HOME PURCHASES, INCLUDING THE GREATER DECATUR AREA.
MORE PURCHASES HAVE OCCURRED IN PLACES OF LOWER-COST, AND IS INDICATED IN THE LAST SLIDE, AND DECATUR'S MARKET HAS NOT ATTRACTED LARGE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T BE PREPARED IF WE NEED POLICY SOLUTIONS FOR THAT, BUT DECATUR BECAUSE OF THE LAND COST HAS NOT BEEN A PLACE THAT INVESTORS HAVE SOUGHT.
I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND OWNER OCCUPATION OF RENTALS.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT A LOT OF OUR CURRENT NOAH HOUSING ARE OLDER UNSUBSIDIZED AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT EXISTS INDICATOR OR LOCAL OWNERS.
SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY SPOKE AT THE LAST MEETING AS WELL OR SMALLER OR MID-SIZED RENTAL COMPANIES.
THE HOUSE ON THE RIGHT IS OWNED BY A MID-SIZE RENTAL COMPANY INDICATOR.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT RENTING CAN BE UNNECESSARY OPTION DUE TO THE LACK OF STARTER HOMES, UNNECESSARILY OPTION FOR PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM HAVE PROBABLY RENTED AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES AND IT IS NECESSARY TYPE OF HOUSING TO PROVIDE.
HERE WE HAVE IT SCATTERED AROUND DECATUR, AND WE DO HAVE SOME LOCAL OWNERS AND WE DO HAVE
[02:35:02]
SOME RENAL COMPANIES RUNNING SOME OF OUR HOUSING.IF WE DECIDE TO GO TO AN OWNER OCCUPATION OF MULTI-FAMILY HOMES, WHAT ARE THEIR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THERE? BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALWAYS WANT TO LOOK AT.
HOW WOULD OWNER REGULATIONS APPLY TO CURRENT PROPERTIES WHO OWN RENTAL INDICATOR OR NO HOUSING? HOW DOES THAT POLICY IMPLEMENTED IMPACT PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OWN A RENTAL A FEW DOORS DOWN THAT THEY RENT OUT BUT THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY LIVING THERE? WHAT ABOUT OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS SUCH AS THE DLT OR THE DHA? WHAT ABOUT SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT ARE RENTED OUT IF THERE'S AN OWNER OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT? THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO REALLY LOOK MORE AT CODE ENFORCEMENT OR POLICY OPTIONS AROUND THAT JUST BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE OF MANDATING OWNERSHIP AND THE IMPACT THAT IT COULD HAVE ON SOME OF OUR EXISTING HOUSING STOCK.
>> SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAS COME UP A LOT IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AS WELL.
THIS COULD BE A POSSIBLE ACCOMPANYING POLICY TO MISSING MIDDLE.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS DEFINED AS RENTED FOR 30 DAYS OR LESS, LIKE AN AIRBNB OR A VRBO.
I'VE MANUALLY COUNTED FROM A WEBSITE THAT EXISTS OUT THERE.
WE CAN LOOK AT ALL THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE HAVE ABOUT 25 FULL-TIME THAT ARE RENTED 365 DAYS A YEAR.
THEN SOME PEOPLE WENT THERE AS PART TIME.
IT MAYBE 20 DAYS, 30 DAYS, 100 DAYS.
BUT WHEN YOU TOTAL ALL OF THEM, THAT'S AROUND 85-100 SHORT-TERM RENTALS INDICATOR.
THEY ARE A MIX OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOME RENTALS, ADUS, AND BEDROOM RENTALS.
IT'S ABOUT ONE PERCENT OF THE HOUSING STOCK.
SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED A REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS OUT THERE AND OTHERS HAVE IMPLEMENTED RESTRICTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH TOURISM AREAS OR AREAS EXPERIENCING GENTRIFICATION.
THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW THE CITY OF DICTATOR CAN INCENTIVIZE OR SHOULD THE CITY MANDATE AFFORDABILITY.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION HERE IS TO PROVIDE A MARKET RATE OR UNSUBSIDIZED OPTIONS SO THAT A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING AT DIFFERENT PRICES CAN BE DONE WITHOUT NEEDING A SUBSIDY.
THE SUPPORT FOR HOUSING OPTIONS VERSUS THE CONTINUING SINGLE-FAMILY HOME TRAJECTORY.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS SUPPORTING A VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS FROM THE DECATUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
THAT DIFFERENT MULTIPLES FAMILY HOUSING OPTIONS SUCH AS DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES AND QUADPLEX ARE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WITH SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
THAT WOULD MEAN REDUCING BARRIERS, MAKING IT AS EASY TO BUILD A SMALLER HOUSING TYPE LIKE A QUADPLEX AS IT IS A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THEY ARE ON THE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WITH EACH OTHER.
ALSO UTILIZING THE DECATUR LAND TRUSTS FOR HOME PRESERVATION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATIONS FOR AN AFFORDABLE PORTION OF THIS POLICY RECOMMENDATION.
ALSO THE CATER HOUSING TRUST FUND.
IT COULD BE THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS SOME OPTIONS IN HERE AS WELL.
THOSE WOULD BE OUR MORE AFFORDABLE EXAMPLES.
ALSO UTILIZING OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH MISSION-DRIVEN DEVELOPERS FOR SOME NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND INDICATOR.
ATLANTA HAS SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING AS WELL, WHERE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE LOW INTEREST LOANS IN EXCHANGE FOR AFFORDABILITY.
THAT COULD BE A CARROT WAY TO PROVIDE AFFORDABILITY.
THEY HAD HOUSING OPPORTUNITY BOND PASSED, SO THAT OPPORTUNITY BOND WENT INTO A TRUST FUND WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE LOW-INTEREST LOANS.
THAT IS SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT FOR MORE OF AN INCENTIVE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING VERSUS A MANDATE.
PRE-DESIGNED SAFETY SIZE AND PARKING.
AS PART OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE, THE CITY HOPES TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM OF PREDESIGNED UNIT STARTING WITH ADUS.
THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL BE WORKING ON FOR AN ADU PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH IS ALSO AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION THAT CAN BE EXPANDED IN THE FUTURE OF SUCCESSFUL TO ENCOURAGE SPECIFIC FASTTRACK DESIGNS FOR DUPLEX, TRIPLEX AND QUADPLEX.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I CAN GET READY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK SHOULD BE ON THE CITY'S AGENDA TO HAVE THINGS THAT CAN BE FAST-TRACK THROUGH PERMITTING THAT ARE DESIRABLE AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE.
NEW HOMES AND CONVERSIONS REQUIRE PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS MUST MEET STANDARDS.
THEY'RE TYPICALLY IS REQUIRED TO BE A FIREWALL IN ANYTHING OVER TWO UNITS.
A NEW QUADPLEX WOULD HAVE THE SAME PERMITTING AND INSPECTION PROCESS THAT WE HAVE WITH A SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, THEY ARE SAFE.
ANYTHING WITH FOUR PLUS UNITS MUST HAVE ONE ADA COMPLIANT UNIT.
MINIMUM UNIT SIZE REQUIREMENTS COULD BE IMPLEMENTED.
THE STANDARD FOR SOME OF OUR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING HAS 500 SQUARE FEET.
I HAVE AN EXAMPLE I'LL GO THROUGH THAT SHOWS WHY THAT COULD BE A LITTLE BIT PROBLEMATIC, BUT THAT IS A STANDARD OUT THERE IF WE WANTED TO IMPLEMENT MINIMUM SIZE UNITS OR AT MINIMUM UNIT SIZE REQUIREMENTS.
THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT ON STREET PARKING SPACE, WHY WE CHOSE A COMPACT CAR WHICH IS 15 FOOT LENGTH IN THE UDO, AND THE AVERAGE US CAR IS 14.7 FEET.
I PERSONALLY AS A STAFF MEMBER AND OUR STAFF FOR DECATUR FEELS COMFORTABLE RECOMMENDING THAT 15 FOOT BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO PLAY
[02:40:01]
AROUND THE AVERAGE CAR AND NOT THE BIGGEST POSSIBLE CAR THEY COULD PARK ON THE STREET.NOW GO THROUGH THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE FIRST POLICY IS THAT WE ALLOW DUPLEX TRIPLEX AND QUADPLEX CONSTRUCTION OR RENOVATION INDICATOR, BUT ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION WE HAVE TO CONFORM OR ANY RENOVATIONS WE WOULD HAVE TO CONFORM TO THE SAME REQUIREMENTS OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME TO ENSURE FIT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE COULD ALSO BE 50 PERCENT PARKING ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE UNIT.
FOR EXAMPLE A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME HAS TO HAVE ONE SPACE PER DWELLING UNIT.
A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME HAS TO HAVE ONE SPACE.
QUADPLEX WITH FOUR UNITS WOULD HAVE TO HAVE FOUR SPACES.
BUT TWO WOULD BE ALLOWED ON-SITE, TWO BE ALLOWED ON THE CURVE VINTAGE.
BUT THAT WOULD BE THROUGH A LIMITED REVIEW.
THE CITY STAFF WOULD REVIEW AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE FOR TWO CARS IF IT'S A QUADPLEX IN FRONT AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT CURB CUTS AND DRIVEWAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S THE WHY THERE WILL BE A LIMITED VIEW TO ENSURE THAT THAT DOESN'T FIT.
THE SUMMARY OF THE CODE SECTION IS TO ALLOW TWO UNIT OR DUPLEX AND THREE TO FOUR UNIT, WHICH WILL BE CALLED WALK-UP FLAT IN THE CODE TO BE CONSTRUCTED AS NEW UNITS OR CONVERTED UNITS INSIDE AN EXISTING FAMILY HOME, IN THE R50, R60, ALREADY IN OUR 17 DISTRICTS.
DWELLINGS WITH 23 OR FOUR UNITS MUST COMPLY WITH THE SAME BUILDING REGULATIONS APPLIED TO A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.
ALL DWELLINGS FROM ONE TO FOUR UNITS REQUIRED TO HAVE ONE PARKING SPACE PER DWELLING UNIT.
TWO TO FOUR UNIT RECOMMENDATIONS MAY SATISFY 50 PERCENT OF THE PARKING ON THE STREET PROVIDED AND CONFIRMED THROUGH LIMITED REVIEW THAT PARKING IS ALLOWED ON THE STREET AND THAT CURVE FURNISHED SPACE WILL ACCOMMODATE COMPACT VEHICLES.
WE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING THESE POLICIES INTO PERFORMANCE MEASURE, PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS SO THAT THERE'S AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE NUMBER OF MISSING MIDDLE UNITS CREATED, AS WELL AS DOING THIS READY FOR INCLUSIONARY HOUSING UNITS AND ANY AFFORDABLE UNITS CREATED.
TO LUMP ALL OF THIS AND WITH OUR ANNUAL REVIEW OF HOW MANY UNITS WE HAVE CREATED THROUGH DIFFERENT ZONING MODIFICATIONS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ZONING HAS THE ABILITY TO ADAPT.
ZONING EVOLVES OVER TIME AND WHEN WE SEE IT BECAUSE THESE WERE OUTLAWED IN 1986 DUE TO CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THEN.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO BRING FORTH RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS SITUATIONS AND TRAJECTORIES OF A CITY AS NEEDED.
CONCERNS RAISED DURING COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION AND THE POLICIES ARE ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION GIVEN THE DIFFERENT COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE SAMPLES OF DIFFERENT ESTIMATES FOR MARKET PRICE FOR NEW MISSING MIDDLE UNITS, JUST SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT POTENTIAL COULD BE.
THESE ARE REAL HOMES INDICATOR.
I WAS ABLE TO LOOK UP THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE HOME, THE PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE IT'S ALL PUBLIC RECORD.
I WAS ABLE TO LOOK UP THE INTEREST AT THE TIME OF THE HOME PURCHASE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PAYMENT IS.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE FROM A HOME-BUILT IN 2019.
IF THIS WERE BUILT AND RENTED TODAY.
THIS IS JUST SOME NUMBERS TO GIVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THIS 219 HOME WOULD LOOK LIKE IF IT WERE A DUPLEX TRIPLEX, QUADPLEX OR QUAD FLEXIBLES PLUS ADU.
THIS PARTICULAR HOME IS 4,700 SQUARE FEET.
3.94 PERCENT INTERESTS, FIVE BEDROOM, FIVE BATHS, AND IT WAS PURCHASED FOR $1.285 MILLION.
IF SOMEONE WERE TO RENT OUT THE WHOLE HOME, THAT WOULD BE 6,600 A MONTH.
A DUPLEX UNIT 3,304 FOR TRIPLEX 2,202, A QUADPLEX UNIT 1,652 AND QUADPLEX PLUS ADU FIVE UNITS WOULD BE 1,321.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THE QUADPLEX.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE QUADPLEX AT 1,600 A MONTH, THAT'S A RENT THAT YOU REALLY DON'T SEE IN A LOT OF OUR LARGER NEW BILLS.
IT'S NOT SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER IN SOME WAYS, BUT IT'S AN ACCESS POINT AND GIVING AVAILABILITY OF A RATE THAT'S A LOT LOWER AND GIVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOMEONE VERSUS THE SAME THING, SAME HOUSE AS A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.
THE BOTTOM, IF YOU LOOK AT IT AS A FORCED SALE, EACH UNIT IS FOR SALE.
IF IT WAS CONDOIZED OR AS A CO-OP, IS A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IS 1.285 MILLION A DUPLEX, EACH UNIT MIGHT BE AROUND 640,000, TRIPLEX, AROUND 428,000, AND QUADPLEX UNITS AROUND 321.
THAT 321, THE QUADPLEX UNIT IS MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT A STARTER HOME PROBABLY WOULD BE RIGHT NOW, A STARTER HOME UNIT.
THAT'S A REASON THAT I'VE STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT I FEEL STRONGLY THAT QUADPLEX ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE THIS NEW STARTER HOME.
THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A HOME-BUILT IN 2021, WHICH WAS FIVE BEDROOMS FOUR BATH, A MILLION DOLLARS, 3, 500 SQUARE FEET WITH A LITTLE BIT HIGHER INTEREST RATE AND YOU END UP, I THINK WHAT THE INTEREST RATE CHANGE, YOU END UP BACK AROUND THE SAME SPACE SO THAT THE UNITS ARE A LITTLE BIT SMALLER.
[02:45:04]
YOU'RE WOULD NEEDED TO A QUADPLEX UNIT AROUND $1,600 A MONTH, BECAUSE THE PURCHASE PRICE AT A MILLION DOLLARS, IF YOU SPLIT THAT INTO FOUR UNITS, THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE QUADPLEX UNIT IS 262,500.>> HI, CONVERSIONS OR ANOTHER WAY THAT THIS ZONING COULD HELP PEOPLE WITH FLEXIBILITY FOR THEIR LIFE NEEDS.
SOMEONE COULD POTENTIALLY SUB-DIVIDE A HOME TO ADD RENTAL INCOME AND THIS PROVIDES SOME RENTAL POSSIBILITIES WITHOUT THE NEED FOR SUBSIDY, WHICH IS REALLY NICE.
IT ALSO, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT MAKES CURRENT DUPLEX TRIPLEX AND QUADS LEGAL AND CONFORMING.
I LOOKED UP AN EXAMPLE OF A FOURSQUARE HOUSE INDICATOR TO SEE WHAT RINSE MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN AN OLDER HOME THAT'S CONVERTED.
THIS IS A HOME THAT WAS PURCHASED IN 2006, IT'S SIX BEDROOM FOUR BATHROOM.
THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS $600,000 3,500 SQUARE FEET.
IT WAS BUILT IN 1915 AND AT THAT TIME IN 2006, THE INTEREST RATE WAS 6.4 PERCENT.
IF THE WHOLE HOUSE WAS RENTED OUT, IT WOULD BE 4,600.
IF IT WAS A DUPLEX, EACH SIDE COULD BE RENTED AT 2,319.
A TRIPLEX UNIT AT 1546, A QUADPLEX UNIT 1159, AND QUADPLEX PLUS 8928.
IT GIVES A DIFFERENT LOOK AT AN OLDER HOME THAT IS CONVERTED AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY AND POTENTIALLY SOME RINSE THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER WITH THAT TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY.
I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF MORE EXAMPLES, THIS IS SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING TO AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE.
IF THIS POLICY IS IMPLEMENTED FOR SOME HOMES THAT ARE OWNED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY EXCITING POSSIBILITY, BUT IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE POSSIBLE FOR ALLOWING SOME FLEXIBILITY AND BEING ABLE TO SUBDIVIDE THESE HOMES.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORT STAFF AND TEACHERS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT AFFORDABILITY BY THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, THERE'S A CHART BELOW SHOWING WHAT DIFFERENT INCOMES ARE FOR 1, 2 AND 3 PERSON HOUSEHOLDS.
EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SUPPORT STAFF TYPICALLY ARE BETWEEN 30 AND 60 PERCENT OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
TEACHERS ARE TYPICALLY 60-00 PERCENT AMI, SO FOR MY EXAMPLE, I CHOSE 60 PERCENT OF AMI JUST TO SHOW WHAT THAT LEVEL COULD BE WITH HOMES THAT ARE OWNED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
JUST TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE NOT QUITE SURE IF TEACHERS WOULD WANT TO LIVE IN DECATUR.
BUT THERE IS A SURVEY THAT WE DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT SAID 89 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN DECATUR.
FIFTY NINE PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS TO THE SURVEY LIVE OVER SIX MILES FROM DECATUR.
FIFTY FOUR PERCENT CURRENTLY RENT, 46 PERCENT PREFER A TWO BEDROOM, AND 45 PERCENT DID NOT HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OVER THE AGE OF 18.
WE DO HAVE SOME DATA AROUND TEACHERS AND THE INTEREST IN LIVING NEAR WHERE THEY WORK.
THESE ARE THE FORD BOARD OF EDUCATION OWN HOMES.
THEY RANGE FROM 1,921 SQUARE FEET UP TO 2,700 SQUARE FEET.
ALL OF THEM ARE FOUR BEDROOM AND THEN THEY HAVE EITHER TWO OR THREE BATHS.
ONE THING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IS HOW TO BEST PUT THESE HOMES TO WORK FOR THE CSD STAFF.
THE OBVIOUS EXAMPLE, I GUESS, ALSO GIVEN THE SURVEY AND THE PRICE POINTS FOR AMI ARE THAT SUBDIVIDING THESE HOMES WOULD PROVIDE A VERY REAL OPTION TO GO FROM PROVIDING FOUR DIFFERENT HOMES, OR EIGHT OR 12, DEPENDING ON WHAT THOSE HOMES LEND THEMSELVES TO.
IT GIVES US OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WITH THIS MISSING MIDDLE ZONING.
IF THE WHOLE HOUSE, EACH OF THE WHOLE HOUSES WILL BE PRINTED OUT AT 60 PERCENT OF AMI FOR A FOUR BEDROOM HOUSE, THAT'S $1,678 PER MONTH.
IF YOU CHANGE THIS TO A TRIPLEX PLUS AN ADU ON THIS PROPERTY, THE ADU WOULD RENT FOR, IF IT'S A ONE-BEDROOM ADU OR A ONE-BEDROOM INSIDE THE HOUSE THAT WOULD RENT FOR $1,085 AND IF IT'S A TWO-BEDROOM THAT WOULD RENT FOR 1,300 A MONTH.
THAT REALLY GETS THE RENT IN THE SPOT THAT THE TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF COULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD.
A DUPLEX PLUS ADU IS ANOTHER OPTION, WHICH IT'S 60 PERCENT AMI THE ONE-BEDROOM ADU WOULD RENT FOR 1,085, THE TWO BEDROOM FOR 1,300 OR THE TWO BEDROOM FOR 1,300 A MONTH.
THIS IS A WAY TO PROVIDE MORE TEACHER HOUSING AT THESE LEVELS THAT ARE NEEDED.
POTENTIAL MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY IS ALSO AT 600 COMMERCE DRIVE THAT WE MENTIONED THAT'S OWNED BY THE CITY.
THIS COULD BE A QUADPLEX OPPORTUNITY.
IF WE HAD TWO BEDROOM UNITS AT 100 PERCENT OF AMI, THE SALE PRICE WOULD BE $260,000 A PIECE.
IF THEY'RE NOT AN OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS, THIS COULD ALSO BECOME MORE OF A LEASE PURCHASE PROGRAM.
WITH THE INTEREST RATES BEING HIGH, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN GET IN AND THEN POSSIBLY HAVE THE OPTION TO PURCHASE THEM LATER.
JUST TO WRAP UP ON THIS, THERE'S HAS BEEN A LOT OF INFORMATION.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT AND
[02:50:01]
THE RESULTING RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE RE-ALLOWING MISSING MIDDLE.THESE ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF WORK OVER A DECADE HONESTLY.
CITY STAFF IS COMMITTED TO LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING IN THE COMING MONTHS TO DRAFT THE BEST POSSIBLE POLICY.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF REALLY THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY THAT'S COME OUT AND TALKED ABOUT IT, WRITTEN LETTERS CALLED AND WE ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO MAKING A POLICY THAT IS, I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THE GOALS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
THE LAST QUOTE IS JUST THE END OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
HE HAD A QUOTE THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY SPEAKS TO THE TIME THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, IT KIND OF AN INFLECTION POINT FOR DECATUR, IS THAT THE TIME FOR TRIAL IS OVER.
EITHER WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO BE INCLUSIVE.
I'VE SEEN OF LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS PUSHED OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND EITHER OF THAT IS NOT OKAY OR WE NEED TO DECIDE THAT WE ARE A WEALTHY COMMUNITY THAT IS NOT OPEN FOR EVERYONE AND ONLY THE PRIVILEGED FEW GET TO LIVE HERE AND WE NEED TO LEAN INTO THAT BUT WE CANNOT DO BOTH AS A PROBLEM CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MAY HAVE YOU COME BACK UP IN A LITTLE WHILE.
SIMILAR MANY OF YOU WERE HERE FOR THE EARLIER PUBLIC HEARING.
I WILL BE CALLING OUT NAMES AND WE WILL HAVE A CLOCK AND WE'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT REASONABLE PEOPLE, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, NEIGHBORS CAN HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO COME AND SHARE YOUR COMMENTS BEFORE US.
PLEASE RESTATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MAKE YOUR COMMENTS SO WE'LL GET STARTED.
LET ME BE CLEAR TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEM WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING WHICH WE DIFFER TONIGHT.
WE ARE TAKING PUBLIC INPUT AND PER STATE LAW, WE HAVE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING.
THEN WE HAVE TO WAIT THREE MONTHS AND THEN WE WILL TAKE TWO VOTES AND THOSE VOTES WILL BE IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AS ADVERTISED ON THE BLUE SIGNS EVERYWHERE.
WE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK TO STAFF THIS EVENING AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS, BUT THERE WILL NOT BE A VOTE ON THE MISSING MIDDLE ORDINANCE RECOMMENDATIONS THIS EVENING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY TO BE EXACT?
>> I'M SORRY. IF YOU ALL WILL REFRAIN IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION WHEN YOU COME FORWARD.
I DON'T HAVE THOSE MEETING DATES RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
BUT WE WILL CALL FIRST SUZANNE THIGPEN, THEN CHRIS THIGPEN, MARY GOULD AND THEN ASHLEY MCCLURE.
I'M HERE WITH MY HUSBAND CHRIS.
WE DID LIVE WITH DECATUR FROM THE YEAR 2000 TO THE YEAR 2008.
WE MOVED TO DENVER TO A HIGHLY URBAN A REAL URBANIZED AREA IN DENVER, COLORADO FOR 13 YEARS AND HAVE RECENTLY MOVED HOME FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AREA, AND REALLY DID NOT LIVE IN AN URBAN AREA AND WE REALLY WE PURCHASED A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME THAT WE WANT TO BE OUR FOREVER HOME AND WE'RE VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE INVESTING IN FOR OUR FUTURE IS BEING COMPROMISED WE THINK BY THIS ORDINATES.
I CERTAINLY DO SUPPORT DIVERSE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UNFORTUNATELY, FREE MARKETS PEOPLE FORGET.
THE ONLY WAY YOU FOLKS CAN REALLY CONTROL HOUSING IS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAND TRUST OR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AND I REALLY SUPPORT THOSE IDEAS THE OTHER WAY THAT YOU-ALL NEVER TALK ABOUT IS TAXES.
WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY IN TAXES HERE AND I WAS WILLING TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT, WOW, THIS IS AN AREA I REALLY WANT TO BE IN.
TAXES, YOU'LL NEVER TALK ABOUT IT, A THIRD OF MY MORTGAGES IS TAXES.
I BOUGHT LESS THAN THE AVERAGE PRICED HOME.
I'VE GOT A 750,000 DOLLAR HOME AND I THINK I PAID $1,200 A MONTH IN TAXES.
HEY, THERE'S A GREAT WAY TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE TO LIVE IN DECATUR THAT NO ONE TALKS ABOUT.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IF ANYTHING IS WITHIN THE REMIT OF THIS ORGANIZATION, IT IS MAINTAINING TAXES.
I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR RECITAL 342 OF THESE MIDDLE MISSING MIDDLE RESIDENCES.
[02:55:02]
YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT THE REAL DIVERSITY OF THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE OUR DEPARTURE FROM INDICATOR YEARS AGO, THERE WERE THOUSANDS, IT LOOKS LIKE A CONDOMINIUM COMPLEXES.THROUGHOUT DECATUR AND AVONDALE, THERE WAS PLENTY OF DIVERSITY OF HOUSING CHOICES IN DECATUR THEY'RE STILL NOT AFFORDABLE.
THIS AIN'T GOING TO CHANGE THAT.
INSTEAD, WE SEEM TO RESENT THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME OWNER WHO'S PAYING THE TAXES AND, WHO ARE THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE ATTRACTED TO THE DECATUR AREA.
THE REASON PEOPLE ARE NOT ATTRACTED TO THE DECATUR AREA IS BECAUSE OF TAXES.
THE PEOPLE THAT WILL MOVE TO THE DECATUR AREA ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CITY SCHOOLS.
THEY WILL LOOK AND THEY WILL SAY, WELL, PAYING THOSE REALLY HIGH DECATUR TAXES.
NOBODY HERE IS TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT HEY THAT'S LIKE A SUBSIDY, A PRIVATE SCHOOLS SUBSIDY I'LL PAY THAT.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE NUMBERS, THAT'S WHY YOU'VE SEEN THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING INCREASE.
BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO THINK LIVING THE IN DECATUR IS WORTH IT.
THAT'S A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM THAT ISN'T BEING ADDRESSED.
THE OTHER REALLY UNUSUAL THING IS YOU'LL ACT LIKE WE'RE LIVING IN A BUBBLE.
YOU'RE ACTING LIKE IF SOMEONE CAN AFFORD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DECATUR THEY CAN'T GO TO CLARKSTON.
>> I'M SORRY. WE'RE NOT TRADING TIME SO TIME IS UP YOU ARE WELCOMED TO SPEAK NEXT, MR. THIGPEN.
>> OUT OF KINDNESS EVERYONE MY HUSBAND WILL SIT AT THIS TIME.
>> MARY GOULD AND THEN ASHLEY MCCLURE.
I'M FROM 422 SECOND AVENUE, BUT I HAVE SINCE MOVED TO A RETIREMENT HOME.
BUT MY HEART IS INDICATOR, SO I FEEL THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO.
WE'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE A LOT LONGER, AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU SPEND AWAY FROM HERE STUDYING ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU GAVE THE GO-AHEAD FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT LEGACY PARK.
I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE FROM HAROLD BUCKLEY LAST MONDAY, BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE SAID IT REALLY WELL.
HAROLD SAID LAST WEEK, "EITHER WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO BE INCLUSIVE AND HAVE A DIVERSE RANGE OF PEOPLE OR WE AREN'T." I'VE LIVED IN DECATUR FOR 44 YEARS AND I HAVE SEEN A DIVERSITY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.
I THINK DIVERSITY SHOULD INCLUDE NOT ONLY RACE, AGE, ECONOMIC STATUS, BUT ALSO REFUGEES WHO WILL ADD, REALLY ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY.
AT THE HOUSING SUMMIT FOUR YEARS AGO, WE LEFT VERY HELPFUL THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I HOPE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THE ORDINANCE IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> ASHLEY MCCLURE AND THEN EVE WYATT.
>> HELLO AGAIN. ASHLEY MCCLURE OF 115 MAXWELL STREET.
I LIVE RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DECATUR VILLAGE, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY THIRD UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING THAT WAS RECENTLY RENOVATED AND REBUILT REALLY BY DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WE LOVE OUR STREET AND WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE BLOCK PARTIES IN OUR STREET, WE HAVE PORCH FAST, OF COURSE.
OUR DAUGHTERS HAVE FRIENDS THAT LIVE NEARBY, BOTH IN THE APARTMENTS AND SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES.
IF I TAKE A SECOND AND CONSIDER HOW I'M HERE AND CAN SEE THE STRING OF SMALL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOWED US TO PURCHASE A HOUSE IN 2011.
MOST MONEY WE'D EVER SPENT, $241,000 FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE.
OF COURSE, NOTHING IS AVAILABLE IN THAT PRICE RANGE ANYMORE IN THE CITY.
[03:00:01]
ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, WE WERE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THE EQUITY THAT WE HAD IN THE HOUSE TO RENOVATE, ADD ONTO IT TO MAKE IT LOOK BETTER FOR OUR FAMILY.WE HAVE PLANS TO ADD ON AN ADU IN OUR BACKYARD SO THAT WE CAN EXTEND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO JOIN US IN OUR PROPERTY.
THE REASON I TELL YOU ABOUT MY FAMILY'S REAL ESTATE HISTORIES BECAUSE OF IT'S EVIDENCED OF WHAT A SMALL AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITY CAN DO.
MY FAMILY HAD OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE OF A SPECIFIC TIME AND PLACE AND MANY OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYMORE.
IN THE PAST 11 YEARS DECATUR HAS BECOME A PLACE WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR THE WEALTHY.
THE DECATUR WE FELL IN LOVE WITH WAS AN ECLECTIC COMMUNITY THAT WAS WELCOMING TO PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE, ALL AFFILIATIONS AND ALL ECONOMIC STATUSES.
I STILL THINK THAT'S MOSTLY WHO WE ARE, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT MADE THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION SOUND FEARFUL.
THEY SEEMED FEARFUL OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO THEM AS INDIVIDUALS IF WE BECOME MORE FOCUSED ON BEING A WELCOMING COMMUNITY.
THEY TALK AS THOUGH EVIL DEVELOPERS ARE SITTING READY AT THE CITY LIMITS WITH BULLDOZERS.
I HOPE WE CAN CHANGE THE NARRATIVE TONIGHT THOUGH, AS WE TRY TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMATIC INEQUALITIES OF HOW WE HAVE USED THIS LAND FROM THE MUSKOGEE PEOPLE THROUGH CIVIL RIGHTS AND ISSUES THAT STILL EXISTS TODAY.
THAT WE CAN USE THAT KNOWLEDGE TO TRANSFORM OUR CITY INTO PLACE THAT IS PART OF A BELOVED COMMUNITY, A PLACE FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL.
WE ARE ALL PRIVILEGED TO BE IN THIS PLACE.
WE'VE EXPERIENCED INCREDIBLE REAL ESTATE GROWTH IN THE LAST 11 YEARS.
AND EVERYONE WHO OWNS A HOUSE HERE IS MORE THAN BENEFITING FROM THE HOUSING MARKET.
IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE SINCE THE 60S, 70S OR 80S, EVEN MORE SO.
WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE EITHER BUILD THE WALLS OF THE CITY HIGHER OR WE DO IT AS NEEDED TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE PEOPLE.
PLEASE MOVE TO GIVE MORE PEOPLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR CITY, OUR REGION IS GROWING AND CHANGING AND WE HAVE TO GROW AND CHANGE WITH IT.
YES, PUT IN SAFEGUARDS TO LIMIT INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS, ENCOURAGING AFFORDABLE HOUSING RATES FOR THESE UNITS REQUIRE GOOD DESIGN.
BUT PLEASE ALLOW PASSAGE OF ZONING CHANGE BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE DECATUR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AND SUPPORT OUR CITY.
LET'S BE PROUD OF OUR INCLUSION OR SUSTAINABILITY AND EVEN OUR DENSITY.
THIS ZONING CHANGE WILL GIVE MORE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITIES NEEDED TO START A LIFE HERE IN DECATUR.
I URGE YOU TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
>> JANE CLARK, AND THEN LIZ POST.
>> JANE CLARK, I BELIEVE AND LIZ POST.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JANE CLARK.
I LIVE AT 183 VIDAL BLVD DECATUR AT THE BIG GREAT WHERE ALL THE WATER DRAINS.
FROM SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS, I MIGHT HAVE ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS THAT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP TONIGHT WAS THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STORM WATER IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE PROPOSING SOME OF THESE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHEN WE START LOOKING AT SERVICES TOO TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
HOUSE DIRECTLY BEHIND ME AT GARDEN LANE WAS CONDEMNED AND IT WAS MADE A VACANT LOT AND MADE A PARK BY THE CITY.
NOW WE HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ROUTINELY PLAYING THE GRADES, BUT THEY'RE PUSHING TRASH INTO THE STREAM DOWN THAT FAR AND OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON GARDEN LINE.
I PAY ATTENTION TO THINGS LIKE THAT SINCE MY HOUSE CAN FLOOD AND THE HOUSE NEXT TO ME FLOODS THEIR WHOLE DOWNSTAIRS APARTMENT, WHICH USED TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I THINK THAT THE PLAN THAT YOU OFFERED US WAS ACTUALLY OKAY EXCEPT FOR THE DEFINITION OF TERMS. WE WERE LACKING DEFINITION OF TERMS, WE WERE LACKING SPECIFIC PLANS FOR HOW THESE HOUSES WOULD LOOK.
WE GOT A GENERIC WAY OF HOW THEY WOULD LOOK.
WE LACKED THE SPECIFICS FOR HOW THE REGULATIONS WERE GOING TO BE ENFORCED WHEN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS WERE PUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEN MOST OF ALL AND MOST CONCERNING TO ME, WAS WE'D REALLY ONLY HAD ONE OUTCOME VARIABLE THAT WE LOOKED AT IS HOW MANY NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS DID WE ACTUALLY CREATE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LONG-TERM STUDIES FROM THE ONES THAT WERE PRESENTED AS THE BASELINE FOR WHY WE WANTED TO DO THIS WITH JUST HAPPENING ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A VERY LONG FOLLOW-UP.
WE HAD GERMAN LAST WEEK THEY SPOKE TO SOME LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP THOSE PROJECTS.
WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ALTHOUGH IT STARTED AFFORDABLE, OVER TIME BECAME VERY UNAFFORDABLE BECAUSE RENTS IN FACT WENT UP, COST OF HOUSES WENT UP, ET CETERA.
I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT MORE LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF THOSE UNITS.
THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT THERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE BEYOND WHAT WE'RE PRESENTED IN THE REPORT THAT I THINK CERTAINLY WOULD BARE ATTENTION AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER SOME OF THOSE POSSIBILITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ADDITION TO THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP.
CERTAINLY WITH WHATEVER PLAN YOU END UP VOTING ON, HOPEFULLY THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE DETAIL SO THE RESIDENTS OF
[03:05:03]
THE CITY CAN FEEL MORE CONFIDENT IN THE FACT THAT THEY WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN TERMS AND ACTUALLY MONITORED MORE CLOSELY AND EVALUATED.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'D VOTE THAT, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU'D NOT VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED SO FAR THAT.
>> THANK YOU. LIZ POST, CARSON POST.
I LIVE AT 401 ADAMS STREET AND THE HISTORIC MAC DISTRICT.
I ATTENDED THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING LAST WEEK AND THERE WERE MANY CONCERNS ABOUT BLANKET ZONING CHANGES IMPACTING THE ENTIRE CITY OF DECATUR.
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS AND WONDERING, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH UPROAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CITY OF ZOOM OFFICE HOURS MEETINGS.
WHEN I HEAR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I SAID, GREAT, LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I BELIEVE IN EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION.
IF THE CITY OF DECATURS CAN WORK TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES, I HAVE PLOTTED THEIR EFFORTS.
ONCE THE BLUE SIGN SHOWED UP ON EVERY STREET, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS IS ABOUT ZONING.
SORRY, I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.
I STARTED BY RESEARCHING THE INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY AND TALKING WITH MY NEIGHBORS.
THEN I WATCHED THE ZOOMS. I CONTACTED EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY.
SOME OF THEM WERE SITTING IN THIS ROOM TO SEE HOW THE PROPOSAL ACTUALLY FACILITATES AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE MORE RECENT RESEARCH I DID, THE MORE QUESTIONS I HAD AND I WANT TO STATE SOME OF MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS TONIGHT.
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT ABROAD ZONING CHANGE WITHOUT ANY OTHER STIPULATIONS WILL NOT CREATE MORE DEVELOPER DRIVEN INTERESTS WITHIN OUR CITY? DEVELOPERS HAVE SHOWN THEIR BOTTOM LINE, AND IT'S THEIR PERSONAL RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT, NOT THE CITY OF DECATUR.
NOT TO FORGET THAT ON THE CITY'S INFORMATIONAL ZOOM MEETING FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
THEY HAD TWO PANELISTS THAT WERE DEVELOPERS.
THAT WAS OUT OF SIX TOTAL PANELISTS.
THAT'S A THIRD THAT WE'RE DEVELOPERS.
NUMBER 2, DO WE WANT TO CATER FILLED WITH OVERPRICE MULTIFAMILY UNITS? I CERTAINLY DON'T AND INDICATES AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOW CAN WE HAVE A CITY BUILT ON COMMUNITY AND INCLUSION WHEN TAXPAYERS ARE SPEAKING UP AND SAYING THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THERE'S TOTAL TRANSPARENCY WITHIN THE CURRENT PROPOSAL? ONE OF THE MANY REASONS THAT PUT DECATUR AND THE CURRENT POSITION OF HIGH HOME VALUES IS DEVELOPERS TEARING DOWN AFFORDABLE HOMES AND ERECTING NEW HOMES.
WELL OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
A DIRECT CORRELATION TO A HIGHER PRICE AND SQUARE FOOTAGE.
THERE IS A DEVELOPER IN THE CITY OF DECATUR WHO HAS DONE JUST THAT SPECIFICALLY IN DECATUR ON HER WEBSITE.
IT SHOWS OVER 50 HOMES WITHIN ONE SQUARE MILE.
HOMES THAT WERE SOLD TO HER BETWEEN 200 AND $500,000 THEY WERE THEN TORN DOWN AND NOW WE HAVE HOME'S SELLING FOR OVER A MILLION DOLLARS ON THOSE PREVIOUSLY AFFORDABLE LOTS.
THREE, WHAT HAS THE CITY DONE TO KEEP HOUSING PRICES AFFORDABLE WITH DEVELOPERS THAT WANT TO TEAR DOWN EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVER 50 TIMES BY ONE DEVELOPERS SHOWS THAT WE WILL HAVE A CONTINUED ISSUE.
IF WE OPEN THE DOOR TO DEVELOPERS, INVESTORS BUILDING MULTIFAMILY UNITS.
WE WILL SEE DEVELOPERS AND INVESTORS BUILDING MULTIFAMILY UNITS ON ONE LINE AND SELLING THEM FOR 700,000, MAYBE EVEN THE MEDIUM OF 800,000.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO SELL THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MY BOTTOM LINE IS WHY IS THE CITY HANDING OVER A FREE-FOR-ALL TO DEVELOPERS? HOW CAN THE CITY PASS A PROPOSAL THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT A GROWTH PLAN FOR INCREASING ITS CURRENT DENSITY.
I'VE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, INCLUDING PEOPLE SITTING IN THIS ROOM.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY INFORMATION BACK ABOUT DEVELOPERS.
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW HOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT TRYING SOMETHING AND JUST SEEING WHAT HAPPENS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS CARSON POST.
I ATTENDED THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING LAST WEEK AND A FEW THINGS STUCK OUT TO ME THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE ARE PUBLIC RECORD DURING THE MEETING.
NUMBER 1, AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING PER THE CITY PLANNER, DECATUR WOULD BE EXPECTED TO SEE 8-12 NEW UNITS PER YEAR, WHICH IS CONSIDERED GENTLE DENSITY.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE SHOWING GENTLE DENSITY OTHER THAN THE PRESENTERS STATING THAT AS A FACT.
THERE'S A DEVELOPER IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO SAYS ON HER LINKEDIN THAT SHE HAS AT LEAST FOR NEW PROJECTS A YEAR.
ONCE THE DOORS OPEN, THIS POTENTIALLY ALLOWS FOR 16 UNITS AND THAT'S FROM ONE DEVELOPER.
A FEW QUESTIONS ON THIS POINT.
WILL THE CITY LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF MULTI-UNIT HOUSING, SO IT FITS THE IDEA OF 8-12 UNITS? WILL THE CITY HAVE ANY CONTROL AS TO WHO BUILDS THE AFFORDABLE UNITS ONCE THIS ORDINANCE IS AMENDED? WILL THE CITY MAKES SURE THE UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE? WILL THE CITY LISTEN AND VALIDATE ADJACENT NEIGHBORS OPINIONS ABOUT THE CHANGE ON THEIR STREET.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY BRUSHING OVER THE NEIGHBORS CONCERNS WITH A BED AND BREAKFAST AT THE LAST MEETING.
[03:10:01]
NUMBER 2, PER THE CITY PLANNER, THE CITY WOULD CONDUCT PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS TO COLLECT DATA ON THE NUMBER OF NEW UNITS CREATED IF THE POLICY WAS ADOPTED.PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS COULD ALSO BE USED FURTHER AMENDMENTS IF IT IS WARRANTED.
A FEW QUESTIONS ON THIS POINT.
WHY ARE WE RUSHING TO APPROVE A PROPOSAL WHERE PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS COULD COME BACK AND HURT THE CITY? WHY ARE WE WILLING TO LET THINGS DEVELOP AND THEN SAY THIS WAS WRONG? WHAT WILL THE CITY DO TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T LOOK BACK ON THIS AND SAY, WOW, WE MADE A HUGE MISTAKE? WILL THE CITY AMEND THE ORDINANCE AGAIN? IF WE SEE HOUSING PRICES RISE FROM UNAFFORDABLE MULTIUNIT HOUSES.
NUMBER 3, THE CASE STUDIES USED WERE PORTLAND AND MINNEAPOLIS.
CAN WE GET CASE STUDIES FROM CITIES THAT ARE THE SAME SIZE? WHY ARE WE RELYING ON THE DATA FROM CITIES THAT ARE NOTHING LIKE DECATUR? FINALLY, I FOUND THIS QUOTE ON THE CITY OF DECATUR'S WEBSITE.
IT IS A QUOTE FROM COMMISSIONER WALSH ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I QUOTE.
"LET'S MOVE TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN SAY, I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INSTEAD OF I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT.
THE REASONS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE WORD "BUT" HAS CLEARLY BEEN EXPRESSED BY MANY NEIGHBORS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
THE WORD "BUT" IN THIS CASE, IS TO MAKE SURE WE AREN'T BURDENED WITH CONSEQUENCES FROM A PROPOSAL THAT HAS TOO MANY ISSUES THAT CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE SOLUTIONS.
YOUR ROLE IS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THESE CHANGES.
MY ROLE AS A HOMEOWNER IS TO BE A RESPECTFUL MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, VOICE MY CONCERNS AND PAY MY PROPERTY TAXES.
WE NEED REAL ANSWERS, REAL AGREED-UPON MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS AND REAL TRANSPARENCY OF WHETHER WE ARE MEETING THE INTENDED PURPOSE OR NEED CHANGES IN ADVANCE OF ANY APPROVAL.
APPROVAL WITHOUT CHANGES GOES AGAINST THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION.
MANY NEIGHBORS IN THIS ROOM AND ALLOWS FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS TO QUESTION IF THEIR CONCERNS ARE VALID." THANK YOU.
>> MARY VISHER, CAROL TANGAM, I BELIEVE, AND GUSA ECKHART.
I UNDERSTAND THAT INTRODUCING DUPLEXES TRIPLEXES IS IN QUADS PLEXUS IN DECATUR SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS WILL ALLOW FOR MORE DIVERSE HOUSING OPTIONS AND ENCOURAGE HIGHER DENSITY.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE CONCEPT AND PRINCIPLE.
IN FACT, MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS.
WE'RE LOCATED BETWEEN CLAREMONT ROAD AND WEST PARTS.
OUR PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD IS DOMINATED BY SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
BUT WE INCLUDE DUPLEXES, TWO-STOREY TOWN HOMES AND OTHER SUBDIVIDED LOTS.DICTA
>> IF THE CITY ULTIMATELY PASSES AN ITERATION OF THE ORDINANCE, I WANT THE CITY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH SUBDIVIDED HOUSING UNIT.
REQUIRING OFF STREET PARKING FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE CAR PER UNIT BEHIND THE BUILDING SETBACK LINE.
REQUIRING THE NUMBER OF UNITS PER HOUSE TO RELATE TO AND TO BE PROPORTIONATE TO LOT SIZE.
RECOGNIZING THAT SOME SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES DO NOT HAVE DRIVEWAYS OR PARKING BEHIND THE FRONT SETBACK AS THEY EXIST TODAY.
STREET PARKING MAY ALREADY BE AT A PREMIUM FOR THESE RESIDENTS AND ALLOWING MULTIFAMILY IN THE VICINITY HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING OR EXACERBATING PARKING PROBLEMS AND HARDSHIPS FOR THOSE RESIDENTS.
REQUIRING ALL EXISTING BUILDING CODES TO BE MET, SPECIAL ATTENTION TO FIRE SAFETY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
WALLS AND CEILINGS WILL HAVE TO MEET APPROPRIATE FIRE RATINGS TYPICAL OF ANY NEW MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
THIS SHOULD INCLUDE UNITS WHICH ARE SEPARATELY METERED AND WIRED.
MEET EGRESS CODES HAVE EITHER SEPARATE HVAC VENTING OR FIRE DAMPERS BETWEEN UNITS AND HAVE FIRE RATED SEPARATION BETWEEN UNITS, SMOKE AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS INCLUDED.
I THINK THAT REQUIRING THREE AND FOUR UNIT HOUSES SHOULD SEEK MORE STRINGENT APPROVAL, INCLUDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH CITIZEN INPUT AND SPECIFIC APPROVAL BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
ALSO, I THINK WE SHOULD DISALLOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS FOR THESE TYPES OF UNITS.
POSSIBLE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR BLENDED SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD BE THE EXPLOITATION OF VALUES BY CORPORATE INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP OF DEVELOPERS TO CITY LAND TRUSTS WOULD BE.
[03:15:05]
IF ABSENTEE OWNERS AND LANDLORDS WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE, WHAT WOULD THE ANSWER TO THAT BE NOW? HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF AND CAN THE CITY REQUIRE OWNER OCCUPANCY? IS THAT LEGAL? [OVERLAPPING]>> I'M SORRY, YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. CAROL TANGAM, GUSHA HOCHAR AND LYNN GATHER COLE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CAROL TANGAM.
I'VE LIVED IN DECATUR FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS FIRST AS A RENTER AND THEN AS A HOMEOWNER AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE RAISED THREE KIDS HERE.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DIALECT TONIGHT.
I AM 100 PERCENT IN SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I REALIZE THAT THE CHALLENGE OF COURSE, IS TO IDENTIFY THE STRATEGIES THAT CAN TRULY HELP US TO ACHIEVE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS.
AT LAST WEEK'S PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MANY OF US HEARD THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED ABOUT THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES, QUADRUPLEXES.
OF COURSE IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REJECTED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION BUT AT THAT MEETING MANY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND REALLY VALID CONCERNS WERE RAISED AND MY UNDERSTANDING AND I TRUST THAT THOSE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
TO THAT LIST OF CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS, I DID WANT TO UNDERSCORE AND ADD THE FOLLOWING THREE POINTS.
THE FIRST POINT IS THAT I REALLY HAVE STRUGGLED WITH TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW ADDITIONAL DUPLEXES, TRIPLEX, AND QUADRUPLEXES REALLY GOING TO HELP TO SOLVE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN DECATUR.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE.
ON THE CITY OF DECATUR WEBSITE, THERE IS A CHART THAT DEFINES AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN REALLY TANGIBLE AND USEFUL WAYS.
FOR EXAMPLE, FOR SOMEONE EARNING 60 PERCENT OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR THE AMI AND ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF DECATUR WEBSITE, THIS WOULD TYPICALLY INCLUDE TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, SCHOOL NURSES, ETC.
AN AFFORDABLE RENT FOR A TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT WOULD BE $1,300 PER MONTH AND AN AFFORDABLE PURCHASE PRICE FOR A TWO-BEDROOM HOUSE, IF YOU COULD FIND ONE WOULD BE ABOUT $157,000.
WHILE UNITS IN A MULTIPLE RESIDENT UNIT ARE OF COURSE, LIKELY TO RENT FOR LESS THAN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME, IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO IMAGINE THAT A TWO BEDROOM DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, OR QUADRIPLEX, AT LEAST ONE THAT MEETS THE SAFETY AND QUALITY AND BUILDING STANDARDS THAT WE WOULD EXPECT IS GOING TO RENT IN THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR $1,300 A MONTH OR LESS.
I THINK IN FACT IT WOULD COST AT LEAST DOUBLE THAT.
MY SECOND POINT IS THAT ALTHOUGH I DO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE US TO NOT GO BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN WE ALLOW ADDITIONAL DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES QUADRUPLEXES, I ALSO TRY TO BE A REALIST AND I REALIZED THAT THE ISSUE IS GOING TO PROBABLY BE RAISED AGAIN AND AGAIN.
IF WE DO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROPOSAL, I WANT TO REITERATE A FEW OF THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE EARLIER IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT THERE ARE LANDLORDS THAT LIVE ON THE PREMISES, ENSURING THAT THERE'S ADEQUATE PARKING, ETC.
THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT I DON'T THINK I'VE HEARD NECESSARILY COME UP BEFORE.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY OF DECATUR TO THINK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY FOR EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THOSE THAT WE WANT TO ATTRACT INTO THE CITY AS NEW RESIDENTS.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT AND IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO FINISH YOUR COMMENTS, I ENCOURAGE YOU CAN SEND THOSE.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ALL LISTENED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, HAVE THE MINUTES FROM THAT AND WE HAVE READ MANY EMAILS AND HAD CONVERSATIONS SO WE JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE DID COME IN HERE HAVING LISTENED TO A NUMBER OF COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. GUSHA HOCHAR 801 SOUTH CANDLER STREET.
AS A CITY OF DECATUR RESIDENT AND THE PROFESSOR OF CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING, I OPPOSE THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES.
THE PROPOSAL IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO ACCELERATE GENTRIFICATION AND INCREASE HOUSING PRICES AND RENTS.
THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT CREATE HOMEOWNERSHIP, NOR DOES IT CREATE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL STABILITY.
THE PROPOSAL IS BASED ON SOME SIMPLIFIED AND WRONG ASSUMPTIONS AND ARGUES IF WE INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY, PRICES WILL COME DOWN.
UNFORTUNATELY, HOUSING MARKETS, RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SUPPLY-DEMAND, PRICE ELASTICITIES ARE NOT THAT SIMPLE.
[03:20:02]
PLACING MULTIPLE UNITS ON A SINGLE-FAMILY LOT WILL INCREASE THE EXPECTED PROFITS FOR DEVELOPERS.WITH THIS, DEVELOPERS WILL BE WILLING TO PAY MORE TO ACQUIRE HOUSES AND LOTS IN DECATUR, WHICH IN TURN WILL INCREASE LAND VALUES.
THE INCREASE IN EXPECTED PROFITS AND INCREASES IN WILLINGNESS TO PAY WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TEAR DOWNS.
I HAVE REVIEWED THE DECATUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT AND READ STATEMENTS LIKE THE INCREASED DENSITY WILL FACILITATE REDUCED LAND COSTS.
THE ASSUMPTION IN THE TASK FORCE REPORT IS SIMPLY WRONG WITH NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS.
THIS IS CONTRADICTING ESTABLISHED URBAN ECONOMICS PRINCIPLES.
IN INTRODUCTION TO URBAN ECONOMICS, WE TEACH HOW LAND PRICES CHANGE WITHIN A CITY AND HOW BID RUNS FOR LAND INCREASE AS YOU COME CLOSER TO CENTRAL AREAS.
PRICES INCREASE AT AN INCREASING RATE WITH DENSITY, SUCH AS TALLER BUILDINGS IN CITY CENTERS.
IT IS SAD TO SEE THAT MOST OF THE PROPOSAL IS HINGED UPON A WRONG ASSUMPTION.
MS. KRISTIN ALLEN STATED THAT CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN CITY OF DECATUR ISN'T PROBLEMATIC AS THE PERCENTAGES HAVE BEEN LOWER AS COMPARED TO ATLANTA.
THIS WILL NO LONGER HOLD TRUE IF THE PROPOSAL IS ADOPTED, AS I MENTIONED ABOUT INCREASES IN EXPECTED PROFITS WILL INCREASE INVESTOR'S WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR HOUSES AND SUDDENLY WE WILL SEE INCREASES IN CORPORATE INVESTORS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
GIVEN THE HIGH LAND VALUES IN DECATUR, THESE HOUSES WILL TURN INTO HIGH-END RENTAL PROPERTIES.
NEXT, THE CITY WILL BE TRANSFERRING ONE OF ITS VALUABLE ASSETS, IT'S LAND TO CORPORATE INVESTORS.
I'D LIKE TO PRESENT SOME EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE AGAIN, DURING THE PRESENTATION, WE TALKED ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS ELIMINATING SINGLE FAMILY ZONING RESTRICTIONS.
IT RECENTLY PUBLISHED PEER-REVIEWED STUDY IN THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION PLANNING FIELDS FLAGSHIP JOURNAL REPORTS 3-5 PERCENT INCREASES IN HOUSING VALUES IN AFFECTED AREAS.
A SIMILAR STUDY LOOKS AT CHICAGO'S UPZONED NEIGHBORHOODS AND AGAIN FINDS INCREASED HOUSING PROPERTY PRICES.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO READ A QUOTE FROM A RECENT STUDY THAT LOOKS AT NEW YORK CITY DATA AND STATES UPZONING ACTIVITY IS POSITIVELY AND SIGNIFICANTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ODDS OF A CENSUS TRACT BECOMING WHITER, SUGGESTING NEIGHBORHOODS UPZONINGS MIGHT ACCELERATE RATHER THAN TAMPER GENTRIFICATION PRESSURES.
THANK YOU. LYNN GATHER COLE, TIM SASS, AND MARK VALENTINE.
>> BEFORE I START, I'VE GOT SOME MESSAGES FROM FRIENDS, OR SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET ONLINE OR DIDN'T GET A LINK TO THE MEETING TONIGHT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? DIDN'T GET A MEETING LINK.
[NOISE] CAN WE CHECK TO SEE IF THEY'VE SENT OUT?
>> I BELIEVE THE MEETING LINK IS ON IT'S ON THE AGENDA.
>> NO. YOU HAD BUT THEY CLICKED TO GET REGISTERED, BUT THEY DID NOT RECEIVE A LINK BACK.
MAYBE WE CAN SEE IF THERE'S SOME THAT ARE FAILED OR SOMETHING?
>> WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU THE NAMES.
DOES THE TIME START WHEN I INTRODUCE MYSELF OR DOES THE TIME START?
>> OKAY GREAT. THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT DOES NOT EVEN STATE THAT IT SUPPORTS DOING THIS WITHOUT PROPER RESEARCH.
THEN THAT REPORT WOULD THEN PASS DOWN TO THE DECATUR '20 AND 2030 REPORTS.
>> LET ME REMOVE MY GLASSES. THIS IS FUN.
THE DECATUR 2030 AND DO NOT INCLUDE ONLY CITY DECATUR RESIDENTS.
IT INCLUDES DECATUR RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE HERE.
THERE'S NO STUDY, NO FACTS THAT MAKES THE CASE FOR THIS MASSIVE CHANGE OTHER THAN WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING.
IT'S NOT PLAN TYPE THAT WE'RE TAUGHT.
IT'S NOT THE LAND TYPE THAT WE HAVE HERE, IT'S WHAT WE HAVE ON THE LAND.
WE HAVE 55.6 PERCENT OF THE HOUSES HERE ARE SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES, 44.4 OR MULTI, AND OVER 33 PERCENT RENT.
BY THE WAY, ONLY FOUR PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DECATUR ACTUALLY WORK IN DECATUR.
SINCE 2015, WE HAVE HAD A MASSIVE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 19.
OVER 3,734 CHILDREN HAVE COME INTO OUR CITY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE ALSO INCREASED BY 5,250 PEOPLE LIVING HERE.
THIS DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE THE APARTMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
[03:25:02]
OUR SCHOOLS ARE HAVING 26 PLUS KIDS PER ROOM, OR ARE THERE LANDLOCKED? NOT ALRIGHT.BY THE WAY, DECATUR HAS A DECREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE SINCE 2015.
THE CITY COMMISSION HAS INCREASED THE PROPERTY TAXES SINCE 2015 BY 79.9 PERCENT.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO ADJUST FOR INFLATION, WHICH IS THE THINGS THAT I DON'T SEE ON REPORTS OUT HERE AND IT'S ACTUALLY 57.8 PERCENT.
WE HAD THE MONEY TO FUND A SENIOR TAX BREAK AND IT'S BEEN SQUANDERED.
I'M STILL COMING UP WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE SPENT MONEY ON A LOT OF IT IN NOW THIS IS YEAR AFTER YEAR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER $23.3 MILLION OF INCREASED SPENDING BY THIS CITY, THIS SIDE OF IT.
NOW, I'M EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE SCHOOLS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS CITY COMMISSION.
IT'S ENOUGH, IT'S TIME TO START SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS HAVING ANY SAY IN HOW WE AS PEOPLE IN DECATUR, SPEND OUR MONEY, WE SHOULD HAVE.
HOW WOULD THE AUDACITY FOR ME TO THINK THAT I CAN GO INTO SOMEBODY ELSE'S COMMUNITY AND PUSH MY OWN AGENDA AND THOSE SHOULD NOT BE HERE WITH US?
>> I'M SORRY, YOUR TIME IS UP.
[NOISE] TIM SASS, MARK VALENTINE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TIM SASS.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR 11 YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO THE CITY'S UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
I BELIEVE THESE CHANGES ARE REASONABLE POLICY APPROACH THAT WILL PROVIDE GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR MIDDLE-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO RESIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE THE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL NOT BE A PANACEA FOR THE DWINDLING ECONOMIC DIVERSITY IN OUR CITY.
BUT NOR WILL THEY WREAK HAVOC ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WITH AN ESTIMATED INCREASE OF 8-12 UNITS PER YEAR, THE IMPACTS WILL BE MODEST.
UNFORTUNATELY, GIVEN THE LACK OF UNBUILT LAND IN THE CITY AND THE POLICIES ALREADY ENACTED, THERE JUST AREN'T MANY TOOLS LEFT IN THE TOOLBOX TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE.
BUT THIS IS AT LEAST A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I RECOGNIZE THAT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL PLAY OUT IN THE HOUSING MARKET.
UNLESS WE'RE WILLING TO WAIT FOR YEARS TILL WE CAN OBSERVE WHAT'S HAPPENED IN OTHER CITIES WE WON'T KNOW.
THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE IS TO MOVE FORWARD.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT ANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES CAN BE DEALT WITH BY MODIFYING THE ZONING REGULATIONS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MARK VALENTINE AND THEN MAX RUTENBERG MARSHALL, I BELIEVE, AND LORENZO CELL ASADA.
>> GOOD EVENING DECATUR NEIGHBORS.
GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU. MY NAME IS MARK VALENTINE.
I LIVE AT 131, BUHL BOULEVARD, MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 41 YEARS.
I HAVE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY BOTH OF US ARE IN OUR OBJECTING TO THIS PROPOSAL.
SERIOUSLY I THINK THERE'S SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND.
I WOKE UP BUHL BOULEVARD ON A DAILY BASIS AND WITH THE CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREETS IS PROBABLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A EMERGENCY VEHICLE DOWN THAT STREET.
I TALKED TO A DECATUR FIREMEN AND HE SAID THAT IF WE GO DOWN THE STREET WHERE THERE ARE CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES, WE WOULD TYPICALLY HAVE TO STOP, GET OUT, AND GUIDE THE TRUCK THROUGH THAT SPACE, WHICH MEANS IT TAKES LONGER TO GET TO AN EMERGENCY.
I THINK EMERGENCY VEHICLES ARE GOING TO RUN INTO THE SAME SITUATION.
ONE POINT, ANOTHER POINT THERE ARE STUDIES CONTRARY TO WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THIS REPORT.
AN MIT STUDY SPECIFICALLY POINTS OUT THAT UP-ZONING WILL NOT DECREASE THE PRICE OF PROPERTY OR HOUSING.
ON THE CONTRARY, IT WILL INCREASE IT BECAUSE DEVELOPERS ARE GOING TO PAY WHAT THEY NEED TO PAY AND IT'S GOING TO DRIVE THE PRICES UP.
I THINK THE COMMISSION SHOULD CONSIDER SINGLE VARIANCES RATHER THAN CARTE BLANCHE CHANGING ZONING.
I DON'T KNOW WHY OR HOW REZONING MY HOUSE ON
[03:30:04]
BUHL BOULEVARD IS GOING TO REDUCE PRICING FOR HOUSES THROUGHOUT THE CATERER.I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU ARE PLANNING ON SUBDIVIDING YOUR HOUSES, ARE YOU? [LAUGHTER].
>> LET'S SEE. MAX IT LOOKS LIKE ROTHENBERG, MARSHALLS.
THANK YOU. THEN THE LORENZO CELL ASADA, AND THEN KYLE WILLIAMS.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M MAX RUTENBERG MARSHALL 517 DREXEL.
I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE AMENDMENTS, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WITHOUT MAJOR REVISIONS TO PROTECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS.
DENSITY DOES NOT NECESSARILY EQUAL AFFORDABILITY.
THE ASSUMPTION THAT A QUAD WOULD ONLY COST ONE-QUARTER OF WHAT A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME DOES IS FLAWED.
THAT'S THE ASSUMPTION WE SAW ON MS. ALLEN'S SLIDE.
THE RENTS WILL MATCH THE MARKET RATES FOR UNITS OF SIMILAR SIZE, WHICH BASED ON THE RENTS AND THE HOMILY ARE ABOUT TRIPLE THE COST OF WHAT WAS ON THAT SIDE.
THIS DENSITY HAS A LOT OF DRAWBACKS.
IT'S BEEN CITED THAT ABOUT 8-10 UNITS COULD BE EXPECTED PER YEAR, BUT THERE ARE NO LIMITS ON THE TOTAL IMPACT ON A SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF ONE DUPLEX BUILDS ON MY STREET, THAT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL.
BUT IF TWO QUAD PLEXUS BUILT ON MY STREET, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL.
I URGE YOU TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TOTAL MULTIFAMILY UNITS PER BLOCK TO FOUR UNITS PER BLOCK, FOR EXAMPLE, TWO DUPLEXES OR ONE TRIPLEX OR QUAD FLEX.
DURING THIS PROCESS, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON MATCHING THE BUILDING RESTRICTIONS OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES FOR THESE MULTIFAMILY UNITS.
WE SHOULD HAVE THAT SAME GOAL FOR PARKING SO THAT IT IS NOT DISRUPTIVE TO THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE DESIGNED SO THAT THEY EXPECTED RESULTING PARKING IS THE SAME AS FAR AS SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.
IF THE LOAD IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THAT MUCH PARKING, THEN IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THAT MANY UNITS.
PARTICULARLY ON STREETS LIKE DREXEL, WHICH ALLOW ONLY PARKING ON ONE SIDE, WE HAVE 50 PERCENT OF THE PARKING STARTING OUT THAT'S AVAILABLE ON OTHER STREETS.
IF THE PARKING IS NOT RESTRICTED SO THAT IT'S SIMILAR TO A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME, I WOULD URGE YOU TO KEEP HOUSES ON STREETS THAT ONLY ALLOW PARKING ON ONE SIDE, ZONED TO SINGLE-FAMILY, SO THAT WE DON'T RUN OUT OF PARKING SPACE.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A GREAT GOAL, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS.
AS OUR CITY COMMISSION, YOUR PRIORITIES TO EXISTING RESIDENTS AND NOT TO HYPOTHETICAL FUTURE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>LORENZO SALICATA, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME. MAKE SURE I'M [OVERLAPPING].
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS LORENZO SALICATA AND I LIVE AT 1020 SCOTT BOULEVARD.
I LIVE IN DECATUR FOR FIVE YEARS, SOME OF IT RENTING AND IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AS A HOMEOWNER.
I THINK IT'S AWESOME GETTING TO HEAR FROM SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED HERE SINCE THE 60S AND 70S AND EVEN EARLIER.
I MEAN, WHEN I SAY THAT I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU IN 30 OR 40 YEARS.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE IS UNDER ANY ILLUSION THAT THIS MEASURE BY ITSELF IS GOING TO DO ALL THAT MUCH TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON AFFORDABILITY.
THE AUTHORS AND ITS SUPPORTERS HAVE SAID AS MUCH ALREADY.
BUT I DO THINK THAT IF WE AREN'T WILLING TO MAKE THESE ENDS OF MODEST CHANGES, THAT NEEDLE IS BASICALLY NEVER GOING TO MOVE.
IT'S A COMMON POINT THAT I'VE HEARD FROM LONG-TERM RESIDENTS THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MOVE HERE IF THEY HAD TO DO SO NOW.
IN THIS, I'M ALSO IN THE SAME CATEGORY.
AT A LITTLE OVER A $1,000 A MONTH IN MY OLD APARTMENT, I WAS ABLE TO SAVE ENOUGH TO AFFORD A DOWN PAYMENT.
I TOOK A LOOK AT MY OLD APARTMENT A FEW WEEKS AGO OUT OF CURIOSITY, I'D BE PAYING MORE FOR ONE-HALF OF A TWO-BEDROOM THERE THAN I AM RIGHT NOW FOR MORTGAGE ON A TWO-BED CONDO.
OF COURSE, IF SOMETHING'S WORTH DOING, IT'S WORTH DOING RIGHT.
PARKING, TRAFFIC RUNOFF, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS AND IF THIS GOES FORWARD, THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE A FEW MORE MONTHS TO DISCUSS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND AMONG OURSELVES ON THE BEST WAY TO GO FORWARD.
BUT IF YOU DO DECIDE TO TURN THIS MEASURE DOWN, THEN ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS TOPIC.
WHEN YOU LOVE A PLACE IT'S NATURAL TO WANT TO PRESERVE IT.
I CERTAINLY SYMPATHIZE WITH THIS BECAUSE I LOVE THE CITY TOO.
BUT CHANGE IS THE ONLY REAL CONSTANT IN THIS WORLD.
IF WE HOLD TO THE STATUS QUO, THAT IS ITSELF AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANOTHER KIND OF CHANGE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHANGE.
THE KIND OF TAKES THE DECATUR DREAM WE'VE ENJOYED, WHETHER FOR FIVE YEARS OR 50 FURTHER OUT OF REACH.
THERE'S THE KIND THAT IT LOOKS AT WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SO SPECIAL, THE VIBRANCE AND THE SENSE OF POSSIBILITY THAT BROUGHT US HERE AND THAT KEEPS US HERE AND PRESERVES THAT INTO THE FUTURE. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
[03:35:03]
>> THANK YOU. CARL WILLIAMS, MARY KOWALSKI, I BELIEVE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] KYLE I THINK HE LEFT.
>> OKAY. HE DIDN'T [OVERLAPPING] SEND US AN EMAIL.
>> MARY KOWALSKI. I LIVE AT 119 BERRY STREET AND I'M A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN EVERYBODY ELSE'S.
I'M REALLY NEUTRAL ON THIS BECAUSE OVER IN THE OLD DECATUR NEIGHBORHOOD BY THE OLD RUBBER DEPOT, WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE EXISTING PROPERTIES.
I HAVE BEEN SHARING PROPERTY LINE WITH A QUADPLEX FOR OVER 35 YEARS.
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE.
I THINK THE PROPOSAL IS NAIVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS OVER AND VERY STRAIGHT, IT'S A LIVE AREA.
WHEN I MOVED IN, THE 14 EAST HOWARD, THE BACKYARD WAS A VEGETABLE GARDEN AND ONE OF THE LADY WHO'S LIVED IN THE QUADPLEX, TENDED IT.
SHE WAS REALLY NICE. WE CHATTED OVER THE FENCE AND THAT WORKED OUT REALLY GOOD UNTIL THE PATH WENT IN AND ALL THE PARKING GOT ORGANIZED.
I CAME HOME ONE DAY, VEGETABLE GARDEN WAS GONE AND THEY HAD GRAVEL THE ENTIRE BACKYARD, CAUSE A LOT OF RUNOFF ONTO MY PROPERTY.
HE SAID, "WELL, IT CAN'T BE THAT MUCH MORE WATER." IT WAS.
WORKED THROUGH THAT. IT'S BEEN 20 PLUS YEARS.
WE'VE WORKED IN GOTTEN OVER THAT.
BUT I THINK THE THING IS THE PARKING IS REALLY NAIVE, 141 BERRY STREET, THAT'S THE CORNER OF BARIUM PAINT THAT'S UP BY COMMERCE FOUR OFF STREET PARKING FOR THAT QUADPLEX.
THAT BACKS UP TO ME 14 EACH TOWER.
IT'S DISORGANIZED, BUT I'VE SEEN REGULARLY 4-6 CARS PARK LESSON AND THERE WAS FIVE CARS PARKED BACK THERE FOR 16 EAST HOWARD NEXT DOOR.
THEY HAVE A LONG DRIVEWAY AND IT'S GOT THREE.
THAT'S WHAT 13 PARKING SPACES FOR THOSE EIGHT OR 10 UNITS, OR 10 OR 12 UNITS.
I THINK YOUR PARKING IDEAS ARE NAIVE AND IT'S LIKE THEY PICKED BASED UPON ZONING, THEY'VE PICKED THESE PARKING NUMBERS, AND THEY HAVEN'T GONE AROUND AND COUNTED THE PARKING AT THESE EXISTING PROPERTIES IN THE CITY AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MORE REALISTIC.
BERRY STREET SMACK IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN THE DICTATOR MARTA STATION AND ABIGAIL, IT'S FLAT BOTH DIRECTIONS, SO IF MARTA WAS GOING TO BE THE ANSWER FOR ANY OF THE FOLKS IN THESE UNITS, THIS WOULD BE THE PLACE.
IT'S 10 MINUTES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND IT'S FLAT.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY IS ABOUT THESE UNITS ARE WHAT YOU WOULD CALL AFFORDABLE.
THAT THEY'RE AFFORDABLE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT VERY WELL MAINTAINED BUILDINGS.
IN FACT, 141 BERRY IS A DUMP [LAUGHTER] AND THAT'S BEING POLITE.
BUT IT'S NOT A DUMP BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO MAINTAIN IT.
IT'S A DUMP BECAUSE IT'S PAID FOR AND THERE IS NO INCENTIVE TO MAINTAIN IT.
HE JUST HAS TO CHARGE WHEREVER HE WANTS TO CHARGE FOR THOSE UNITS.
THE TAX BILL IN THOSE UNITS IS PROBABLY $200 A UNIT.
I DON T THINK HE CARRIES MUCH INSURANCE OTHER THAN PROBABLY LIABILITY INSURANCE.
THEY PUT A LITTLE COAT OF PAINT ON IT RECENTLY, BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANY REPAIRS BEFORE THEY PAINTED IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> DON'T BE NAIVE ABOUT THIS IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE. CHRIS KEGLER, THOMAS LAWTON AND STEVE SHARP, I BELIEVE AND THEN THE TWO FOLLOWING THAT ARE KATHY HODGES AND PHILIP HODGES BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK.
>> HELLO, I'M CHRIS KEGLER, 413 MELROSE AVENUE.
GENERALLY, I BELIEVE THAT DENSITY AND DEVELOPMENT IS APPROPRIATE AND BENEFICIAL AND A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
THE FACT THAT ATLANTA IS THE POSTER CHILD FOR SPRAWL IS PROOF POSITIVE OF THAT.
HOWEVER, THAT OCCURS PRIMARILY OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER.
ONE OF THE LOVELY THINGS ABOUT DECATUR AND ITS NEIGHBORHOODS IS THAT WE'VE BEEN DENSE FOR 100 YEARS.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS BUILT BY MR. ADAIR IN THE 1920S AND HERE WE ARE IN 2022.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN DENSE.
IN THE TIME THAT I'VE LIVED THERE, EVEN HALF THE TIME I'VE LIVED THERE, WHICH IS 22 YEARS, WE'VE ADDED APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MULTI-FAMILY UNITS OF HIGHLY DENSE DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
THE AVERAGE WRAP BUILDING WITH A STRUCTURED PARKING DECK IS AROUND 300 UNITS AND THERE'S 10 OF THEM WITHIN THE CITY.
[03:40:01]
THERE'S ANOTHER 10 IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE OF US, THAT 6,000 UNITS.IF THOSE AREN'T AFFORDABLE, WHAT MAKES ANYBODY BELIEVED THAT ADDING THIS DENSITY INSIDE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN MY OPINION, RUINING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS GOING TO SOMEHOW CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? IT'S SIMPLY ISN'T.
I THINK THAT THIS STUDY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO IT IS BASED ON A BUNCH OF FLAWED ASSUMPTIONS, AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HELP ANYTHING BY PURSUING IT IN THIS MANNER.
I DON T THINK YOU WANT TO KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG, AND THAT'S THE TAXPAYER FROM THE SINGLE-FAMILY LOTS THAT WE LIVE ON.
WHEN I CAME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR AT LEAST WHEN I BUILT THE HOUSE AND BOUGHT THE LAND BACK IN THE '80S, THEY HAD THOSE MULTIFAMILY UNITS THAT WERE LEGAL AND THEY HAD JUST MADE THEM ON A LEGAL RIGHT BEFORE THAT WHERE YOU COULDN'T BUILD ANY MORE DUPLEXES.
BUT THE PLACE WAS READY AND I'M NOT SPEAKING RHETORICALLY.
THERE WERE LITERALLY RATS RUNNING AROUND.
IT'S A LOT NICER NOW AND THAT'S WHY.
BECAUSE WE GOT RID OF THAT STUFF AND WE MADE THE HOUSING BETTER.
BUT WHEN THEY PUT ONE DOWN TO BUILD AN INFILL HOUSE A FEW YEARS AGO, THE RATS SCATTERED EVERYWHERE.
FOR WEEKS THEY WERE RUNNING AROUND.
IT IS NOT GOING TO PROVIDE THE BENEFIT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR BY DOING IT THE WAY YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO IT, AND IT IS GOING TO RUIN THE CITY, IN MY OPINION. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M THOMAS LAWTON, I'M A RESIDENT AT 328 OAKLAND STREET.
MY WIFE AND I ARE LONG-TERM RESIDENTS AND OUR OPPOSED TO THE CHANGES TO THE AMENDED ARTICLES FOR THE PROPOSED TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
MANY THINGS TO SAY. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT FIRST, HOWARD BUCKLEY JUNIOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT WAS QUOTED IN THE SLIDE PRESENTATION.
ENORMOUSLY JOIN OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND THAT THE PROPOSAL BE DENIED IN ITS CURRENT FORM.
>> I TOOK A LOOK FROM OUR BACK PORCH LAST WEEKEND AFTER ATTENDING THE MEETING LAST WEEK AND REALIZED FROM MY BACK PORCH, WE CAN SEE 10 OTHER RESIDENCES AND ACCESSORY BUILDING UNITS THAT ARE GRANDFATHERED INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE IN A VERY DENSELY DEVELOPED PORTION OF DECATUR AS MANY PEOPLE ARE.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT HOUSING DENSITY DOES NOT LEAD TO AFFORDABILITY.
WE HAVE VALUABLE PROPERTY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING BY ADDING DUPLEXES AND MORE QUADPLEXES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
WE DISALLOW THE PRACTICE OF BUILDING DUPLEXES.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DUPLEXES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW AND THERE'S ALSO A RENTAL PROPERTY AND OTHER FORMS OF HOUSING AVAILABLE, IS A PRETTY GOOD MIX OF HOUSING.
THE BUILDING OF DUPLEXES, ACCORDING TO SOME THINGS I SAID WAS DISALLOWED IN DECATUR IN 1988.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT MAINTAINED.
THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER CONVERSATION REGARDING THE MATTER.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, I BELIEVE IS STEVE SHARP, KATHY HODGES, PHILIP HODGES.
MY NAME IS STEVE SHARP AND I LIVE AT 423 MELROSE.
MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO NOT APPROVE THIS CHANGE IN OUR AMENDMENTS.
[03:45:09]
>> HELLO. I'M KATHY HODGES, I LIVE AT 234 WEST BENSON STREET, LIVED IN DECATUR FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO CUT BACK ON THIS BECAUSE IT'S GETTING LATE AND I KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SAID OR I WAS PLANNING TO SAY HAS BEEN SAID, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE THAT I REALLY CANNOT SEE HOW DOING A BLANKET REZONING LIKE THIS IS GOING TO ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MY ONE STATEMENT HERE THAT I HAD TYPED WAS THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING THAT SHOWS ME HOW A DEVELOPER IS GOING TO ACTUALLY DO THIS AND MAKE MONEY AND MAKE A UNIT THAT'S AFFORDABLE TO BUY, WHICH I THINK WAS THE FIRST GOAL OF A LOT OF THIS HOUSING THING WAS TO BE STARTER HOMES, WHICH IN MY MIND IS HOUSES PEOPLE CAN BUY AND LIVE IN.
NOW WE'VE TURNED IT INTO RENTAL HOUSING DISCUSSION.
I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THEY'RE GOING TO AFFORD TO BUY THEM.
OR A BUILD IT, THEY'RE GOING TO BUY SOMETHING TO SELL IS GOING TO BE A DUPLEX THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS ON EACH SIDE.
I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA.
I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN IN NASHVILLE WITH THIS TYPE OF ZONING, IS JUST NOT GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE.
THEN I WAS GOING TO SAY I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY EXAMPLES OF THAT.
THEN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT CAME UP WITH SOME EXAMPLES, WHICH I HAVE TO SAY, I'M AN ACCOUNTANT AND THAT PROPORTIONAL EXAMPLES WE SAW ARE VERY SIMPLISTIC.
I THINK THAT THE MARKET DRIVES PRICING.
YOU CAN'T JUST SAY BECAUSE IT COSTS THIS AND WE DIVIDE IT BY FOUR, THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET AN AFFORDABLE RENT WHEN IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR WE HAVE THOUSANDS THAT AREN'T AFFORDABLE AND THEY'RE DENSE.
I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE SIMPLISTIC.
BUT MAINLY I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING IF IT'S DOING THIS BLANKET PROPOSING IS WE ARE GIVING AWAY MUCH OF THE CONTROL WE HAVE TODAY.
WHILE YOU MAY FIND A LAND TRUST INVESTMENT THAT COULD BUILD, POTENTIALLY MAKE UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE.
THE MARKET WILL BE IN PLAY AND FOR-PROFITS BUILDERS ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PROFIT AND WILL MAXIMIZE THE PROFIT BY BUILDING THE MOST SQUARE FOOTAGE THEY CAN TO MAKE CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH PRICE, LOTS PROFITABLE.
IF GREATER DENSITY ASSURES AFFORDABILITY, WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT IN DOWNTOWN.
WE'LL HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT THE UNITS LOOK LIKE AND WHETHER THEY WILL BLEND INTO THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD.
TO ME, THE ARGUMENT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THIS TYPE OF UNIT AND THEY LOOK GREAT, IS NOT VALID.
MOST OF THOSE UNITS WERE HOUSES, THEY WERE CONVERTED INTO MULTI-UNITS, SO THEY LOOK LIKE HOUSES AND THEY FIT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
NEW CONSTRUCTION IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME.
WE WILL HAVE NO CONTROL OVER CORPORATE RENTAL PROPERTIES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT, AND THE PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH ABSENTEE LANDLORDS AND AIRBNBS.
I HONESTLY DO NOT SEE ANY REASON TO NOT JUST HANDLE THESE REZONINGS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
IF THE LAND TRUST WANTS TO DO ONE, YOU EVALUATE THAT WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND GO THROUGH THOSE APPROVALS, BUT A BLANKET, WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROLS.
I THINK IT WILL DO A LOT TO CHANGE THE LOOK AND FEEL OF OUR CITY, BUT IT WILL ACTUALLY DO NOTHING TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I RECOMMEND DENIAL. THANK YOU.
AFTER PHILIP HODGES, JULIA FALCON I BELIEVE, AND JOHN LEAK.
>> GREAT. PHILIP HODGES ALSO 234 WEST BENSON STREET FOURTH GENERATION DECATUR.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
IT'S HARD WORK. I HAVE THREE OBSERVATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ONE, MOST RESIDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN REACHED AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING.
WHILE THE CITY HAS ATTEMPTED TO REACH ALL THE TAXPAYERS IN DECATUR, MOST ARE BUSY WITH LIFE AND ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED AND HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT THEM.
I SUGGEST BEFORE PASSING SUCH A SWEEPING CHANGE THAT WILL IMPACT ALL RESIDENTS AT THE CITY TRY HARDER TO REACH EVERYONE WITH A BALANCED MESSAGE.
CONSIDER ADDITIONAL WAYS TO REACH RESIDENTS WHERE THEY ARE SUCH AS COMMUNICATING IN NEIGHBORHOODS, SCHOOLS, PTA, SPORTS EVENTS, YMCA, ETC.
ADDITIONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT A SWEEPING CHANGE SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE PUT TO THE VOTERS IN A REFERENDUM.
IF YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED THIS OUT FOR LOTS OF REASONS, MANY PEOPLE ARE HESITANT TO SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT PROPOSALS SUCH AS THIS.
TWO, THIS PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE WILL DO A LITTLE, IF ANYTHING, TO HELP WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHILE THIS ZONING CHANGE MIGHT INCREASE DENSITY IN OUR ALREADY DENSELY POPULATED LITTLE CITY, I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS PROPOSAL WILL IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DECATUR.
IF HIGHLY DENSE DOWNTOWN APARTMENTS AREN'T AFFORDABLE, HOW CAN QUALITY HOUSING OF 2-4 UNIT DENSITY ON SINGLE-FAMILY LOTS BE AFFORDABLE? SOME SIMPLE MATH SHOWS THAT THE LAND COST CAN BE DIVIDED BY MORE UNITS, BUT THE HOUSING UNITS WILL STILL NOT BE AFFORDABLE.
TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I SUGGEST LOOK TO MUCH HIGHER DENSITY AROUND TRANSIT IN CITY CENTERS AND DEAL WITH
[03:50:04]
ZONING FOR DUPLEXES TO QUADRUPLEXES ON AN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY BASIS, ON LOCATIONS APPROPRIATE FOR THE LAND TRUST AND OTHER SUBSIDIZED METHODS.THREE, THE PRESENTATIONS ON THIS PROPOSAL ARE NOT COMPLETE AND BALANCED, THE AFFORDABLE TASK FORCE REPORT PREPARED BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES IS ROSY IN MY VIEW AND HAS NOT CONSIDERED ALL FACTORS IN A BALANCED WAY.
DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT SOME POLICIES AND POTENTIAL UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ZONING PROPOSAL HAD NOT BEEN CONSIDERED AS AN EXAMPLE IN MY VIEW AND OTHERS, YOU HEARD TONIGHT THE PROPOSAL FOR PARKING IS NOT PRESENTED FAIRLY AND IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
FURTHER, THE RENDERING SHOW NICE-LOOKING STRUCTURES THAT FIT INTO THE STYLE AND FILL THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS POSSIBLE.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS TO ENSURE THAT ANYTHING CAN BE BUILT AND DEVELOPERS WILL MAXIMIZE ALLOWED LIVABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE ABOVE ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE BEFORE CONSIDERING SUCH A SWEEPING ZONING CHANGE, SUCH AS TO BETTER INVOLVE AND INFORM ALL TAXPAYERS MAKE A BALANCED PRESENTATION THAT FAIRLY ADDRESSES ISSUES SUCH AS ADUS, SHORT-TERM RENTAL POLICIES, PARKING ISSUES, ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS, ENFORCEMENT, TOTAL TAX BURDEN, AND ULTIMATELY PUTTING THIS PROPOSAL TO A VOTE OF THE TAXPAYERS OF DECATUR.
PLEASE CONSIDER THESE OBSERVATIONS BEFORE ELIMINATING SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING IN DECATUR. THANK YOU.
AFTER THAT, I BELIEVE PAM PRIVETTE AND THEN DAN CARTER.
>> THANK YOU. JOHN LEAK, 255 WOSPARKWOOD ROAD SINCE 1953.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, COMMISSIONERS. IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
I WAS HAVING THE SAME DISCUSSION WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH CHAIRMAN BUCKLEY, AND I TELL YOU WHAT, IT IS GOING TO BE QUITE THE DISCUSSION OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
BUT THERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO GET OFF MY CHEST RIGHT NOW BECAUSE MS. KRISTIN, WHICH HE PRESENTED THIS, THERE IS A PROBLEM OF DEFINITIONS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROPOSAL.
BUT THE MAIN THING IS THERE WAS THIS CLAIM FROM OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT OWN STREET PARKING WOULD CALM TRAFFIC.
THERE IS NOTHING MORE OPPOSITE FROM TRAFFIC CALMING AS YOU ALL KNOW THAN OBSTRUCTING AND SLOWING TRAFFIC.
THAT DOES NOTHING TO DO CALM TRAFFIC.
ALL IT DOES IS PLACE CHILDREN THAT RUN OUT BETWEEN PARKED CARS IN DANGER.
THE WHOLE PART OF TRAFFIC CALMING IS FOR VISIBILITY TO BE OPEN, FOR PEOPLE BY FORCE OF HABIT TO LEARN TO DRIVE THROUGH SHORTCUTS AT A REASONABLE PACE WITH FULL VISIBILITY.
THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE IN MY STREET, OAKWOOD, 27 FEET WIDE.
YOU COULDN'T EVER PARK CARS ON THE STREET AS PART OF AN AUTHORIZED ASSIGNMENT AND MAKE ANYTHING WORK.
IT JUST WOULDN'T WORK. THAT'S ONE THING.
THE SECOND THING THOUGH, AND THIS ONE WILL GO INTO OVER THE TIME THAT'S COMING, I'M SURE IS THE FACT THAT I'VE WORKED, IN FACT WITH SOME OF YOU ON DEVELOPERS DOING TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT OR SOME OTHER DEVELOPMENTS HERE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YOU SEE HOW DEVELOPERS WORK.
THIS PROPOSAL REALLY SMACKS OF REAL ESTATE INVESTOR, NOT DEVELOPER. REAL ESTATE INVESTOR.
IT SMACKS OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COLLECT SEVERAL HOUSES IN A ROW AND TURN THEM INTO QUADRAPLEXES AND HOLLOW OUT A NEIGHBORHOOD IS WHAT THEY DO.
WHAT HAPPENED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD BACK IN THE 80S, THIS WAS A DEVELOPER, NOT A REAL ESTATE INVESTOR, PUT TOGETHER A PATCH OF LAND AND THEY MADE WEMBLEY PLACE.
THEY REZONED IT, ALL A17, BUILT IT OUT.
ON DREXEL AVENUE, THEY BUILT CHELSEA PLACE.
I WAS PART OF THAT ONE IN THE 80S.
IT WAS REZONED ALL A17 AND SIX TOWN HOMES WERE PUT UP.
THEY WERE AFFORDABLE AT THE TIME.
I DOUBT IF THEY ARE TODAY AND I DOUBT IF WEMBLEY PLACES ARE AFFORDABLE.
THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT GOING TO BRING ANY KIND OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S ONLY GOING TO HELP REAL ESTATE INVESTORS.
THERE'S REALLY NOT ANYTHING WORSE THAN REAL ESTATE INVESTORS.
[03:55:04]
DEVELOPERS ARE A LOT BETTER.[LAUGHTER] YOU CAN'T WORK WITH REAL ESTATE INVESTORS.
>> I'M PAM PRIVETTE AND I LIVE AT 111 MOCKINGBIRD LN, DECATUR GEORGIA AND I HAVE LIVED IN DECATUR SINCE '87.
I AM ALL FAR CHANGING LIMITED ZONING, BUT NOT FOR THE BLANKET CHANGING AND YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.
THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN DO THAT, I THINK, IS FOR Y'ALL ON A INDIVIDUAL BASIS, AS LOTS COME UP, YOU GOT TO HAVE TO BUY THESE UNDER THE LAND TRUST OR DO SPECIAL FINANCING WITH INCENTIVES FOR BUILDERS THAT THEY HAVE LOW INTEREST RATES FOR MONEY.
THEY CAN'T RAISE THE RATES OF THE TENANTS FOR LIKE, WHAT IS IT, 30 YEARS, WHATEVER.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY BECAUSE THE MARKET'S GOING TO DO JUST LIKE WHAT'S IT'S DONE DOWNTOWN.
IT'S GOT TO BE NOT AFFORDABLE.
WE CAN'T DO IT AFFORDABLE AND GUARANTEE IT, OR THAT IT NEEDS TO BE VERY LIMITED AND Y'ALL COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS ON KEEPING IT AFFORDABLE AND DO IT AT A CASE BY CASE I THINK AS PARCEL LAND COMES UP THAT ARE MAYBE NOT SO EXPENSIVE AND YOU CAN DO THEM INTO DUPLEXES AND I AM ALL FOR DECREASE.
IT SHOULD HAVE TWO PARKING SITES PER UNIT BECAUSE THE PARKING ON THE STREET IS TERRIBLE AND THE WATER ISSUES, AS WELL AS ANOTHER BUT THOSE ARE MY TWO THESES.
IT'S GOT TO BE AFFORDABLE AND IT'S GOT TO BE LIMITED SO THAT IT IS AFFORDABLE BECAUSE I'M ALL FOR IT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE BECAUSE THIS IS A HARD JOB.
>> I BELIEVE IT'S EITHER CARTER OR COTTER DAN AND O'SHEA.
MY NAME IS ANDY [INAUDIBLE] I LIVE AT 136 5TH AVENUE.
I'M SO SLEEPY. I ACTUALLY HAVE TO READ THAT.
[LAUGHTER] HAVE LIVED IN CITY DECATUR SINCE 2006.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF AND CONVERSION TO DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES AND QUADRAPLEXES ON LAND CURRENTLY ZONED SINGLE-FAMILY.
I DON'T HAVE ANY EXCITING NEW INSIGHTS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SHARED, OTHERWISE BUT I'M JUST HERE TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT THAT POSITION.
I THINK DIVERSIFYING THE TYPES OF HOUSING AVAILABLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS A POSITIVE STEP TOWARDS MAKING DECATUR MORE INCLUSIVE THAN AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FRANK BURDETTE. YOU'RE STILL HERE.
THOMAS CAMPBELL AND THEN [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> IT IS STILL EVENING, WE'RE NOT [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> AMAZING WORK, YOU'VE VERY BUSY, OBVIOUSLY.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN DECATUR SINCE 2001.
I MOVED HERE FROM ATHENS, RESIGNED FROM MY POSITION AS A BOARD CHAIR OF THE ATHENS LAND TRUST, SO I'VE BEEN PROPONENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE LAND TRUST MODEL INDICATOR EVER SINCE.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE'S SOME TRACTION FINALLY.
I DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD A CONFLICT, BUT I HAVE WATCHED IT AND ITS ENTIRETY AND LOTS OF VERY PROVOCATIVE AND STIMULATING COMMENTS AND RELEVANT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED OBVIOUSLY.
I WOULD SAY IF IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE AS A CITYWIDE INITIATIVE, PERHAPS AN OVERLAY DISTRICT COULD BE ATTEMPTED WHERE IT'S APPROPRIATE, PERHAPS HALF-MILE OF MARTIN STATION, FOR INSTANCE, TO ENCOURAGE DENSER DEVELOPMENT IN THE SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS WITH WALK-ABILITY TO TRANSIT.
THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT ON STREET PARKING ANOTHER VERY VALID POINT, PERHAPS REQUIRE MAJORITY OF THE PARKING ON SITES AND IT WON'T BE APPROPRIATE FOR EVERY SITE.
NOT EVERY SITE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT.
[04:00:01]
THAT'LL WEAN OUT A LOT OF SMALLER LOTS WHERE IT WON'T WORK.CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSIENT OR APATHETIC TENANTS, I THINK CAN BE ADDRESSED BY REQUIRING OWNER OCCUPANCY FOR A MAJORITY OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE ON THESE PARCELS.
CERTAINLY CONCERNS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY MIGHT BE ADDRESSED BY PREVENTING TEAR DOWNS THROUGH REQUIRING THAT FACADES BE MAINTAINED OF EXISTING STRUCTURES.
I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF THIS IS LEGAL, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE EXPLORED.
THEN CERTAINLY INCENTIVES TO MAINTAIN AFFORDABILITY.
INCENTIVES TO D LOTS TO THE DECATUR LAND TRUST.
INCENTIVES TO DESIGNATE UNITS FOR THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
THERE'S A HUGE NEED FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS FOR SENIORS.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND PLEASE CARRY ON.
I HOPE WE CAN ADDRESS THIS IN A WAY THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
THOMAS CAMPBELL AND THEN [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 23 YEARS AS OF NEXT MONTH.
[LAUGHTER] VERY NICE TO BE HERE, THAT'S WHY I'M STILL HERE.
I AGREE WITH OTHERS WHO SAID THAT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR AFFORDABLE RENTS.
THIS PROPOSAL, I THINK IS GOING TO ATTRACT INVESTORS AND ABSENTEE LANDLORDS, WHICH I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
I HADN'T THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE, BUT I LIKE THE COMMENTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO SAID THAT WE OUGHT TO ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF SINGLE VARIANCES VERSUS CARTE BLANCHE UNRESTRICTED ZONING THAT JUST GETS RID OF SINGLE-FAMILY [NOISE] ZONING.
ON MELROSE, WE HAVE ONE-SIDED STREET OF THE STREET PARKING.
IT'S A DEAD-END STREET, AND FOR SAFETY REASONS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT CHANGE THROUGH WHICH WE REALLY APPRECIATE BECAUSE NOW EMERGENCY VEHICLES CAN GET DOWN THE STREET.
THE INCREASED NUMBER OF CARS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ON THE STREET WITH MULTI-FAMILY [NOISE] UNITS LINKED, THIS WOULD DEFINITELY EXACERBATE THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS THAT WE DO HAVE.
WE ALSO HAVE RAIN RUNOFF ON A DOWNHILL STREET THAT FEEDS INTO THE CREEK.
BIG CONCERN THERE IF WE'D HAVE MORE IMPERMEABLE SURFACE.
ALWAYS THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, THERE IS IMPACT ON TREES, ROOT DAMAGE TO BORDER TREES, AS WELL AS CUTTING DOWN EXISTING TREES.
I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
LASTLY, I WANT US TO GUARANTEE THAT THESE WILL NOT TURN INTO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, JUST CLUSTERS OF AIRBNB'S AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSAL AS IT IS, BUT I VERY MUCH SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
GENTRIFICATION HAS RUINED DIVERSITY INDICATOR AND I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TRY TO BRING IT BACK IN SOME WAY. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. [NOISE] AFTER HANS UTZ, WE HAVE C. WINSOR AND MIKE CRAIG, AND THEN SUSAN MESSING, AND THAT WILL COMPLETE THOSE WHO WERE IN OUR MIDST.
WE'LL TAKE COMMENTS FROM THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING [OVERLAPPING] IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN HOME.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. MY NAME IS HANS UTZ, 690 SYCAMORE STREET.
I AM ALSO A CITY SCHOOL'S DECATUR BOARD MEMBER AND I BELIEVE THAT I AM REQUIRED TO MAKE IT CLEAR.
I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AS A CITIZEN OF DECATUR AND NOT REPRESENTING ANY PERSPECTIVE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.
BUT I DO SUPPORT THIS MEASURE AND I WANTED TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE TO THANK Y'ALL FOR THE LEADERSHIP YOU'RE SHOWING ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO GRAPPLE WITH REALLY HARD POLICY.
THIS IS HARD POLICY AS YOU CAN HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY.
MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE DEALING WITH RUNAWAY HOUSING VALUES AS CITIES MASS RE-URBANIZE, AND SO I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT'S THE VANGUARD OF TAKING A LOOK AT THIS.
WE REALLY DO FACE CALAMITY, AND I DON'T USE THAT WORD UNREASONABLY.
I MOVED TO THIS CITY 15 YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF ITS SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY, ITS CULTURAL DIVERSITY, AND ITS RACIAL DIVERSITY, AND ALL THREE OF THOSE ARE UNDER MASSIVE SUSTAINED THREAT.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE ATLANTA AREA WHERE WE COULD LIVE IN MONO-CULTURAL INCOME-GATED COMMUNITIES IF WE WANT TO.
[04:05:05]
I DO NOT WANT TO.I AM PLEASED TO SEE US TAKING HARD STEPS TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT DIVERSITY THAT WE ALL REALLY WANT.
BUT THAT SAID THAT THIS ZONING CHANGE IN ISOLATION ISN'T GOING TO FIX THAT, I THINK THAT'S LARGELY BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER INITIATIVES AND THERE'RE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED THAT HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD IN ORDER TO FIX IT.
I DO ACTUALLY SUPPORT ALL OF THE COMMENTARY AROUND.
BASICALLY THE WORST-CASE OUTCOME OF THIS WOULD BE FOR US TO INCREASE THE DENSITY AND HAVE A BUNCH OF MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR MULTI-UNIT HOMES ON THE PROPERTIES.
IF IT DOESN'T ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY, THEN EXACTLY WHAT ARE WE DOING IT FOR.
I WANTED TO PUT FORWARD A COUPLE OF THINGS TO CONSIDER AS YOU GUYS LOOK AT THIS POLICY.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE PERMITTING TO ALLOW FOR HIGHER DENSITY SO LONG AS IT IS AFFORDABLE.
IF DEVELOPERS BRINGING FORWARD IDEAS THAT DO NOT MEET AFFORDABILITY STANDARDS, DON'T GIVE THEM THE PERMIT.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD CONSIDER YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT IS A MECHANISM TO REVISIT THIS CHANGE ON A ROUTINE BASIS, WHETHER IT'S A SUNSET CLAUSE OR SOMETHING THAT BRINGS IT BACK AND FORTH IN FRONT OF YOU SO THAT TWEAKS CAN BE MADE OVER TIME AND THAT YOU'RE FORCED TO MAKE TWEAKS OVER TIME.
I THINK THAT WOULD GIVE A FAIR NUMBER OF PEOPLE SOME COMFORT, THAT IT'S NOT JUST A PERMANENT CHANGE, THAT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO REVISIT EVEN IF IT DOESN'T WORK, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
ALL OF THAT SAID I JUST AGAIN WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU. C. WINSOR AND MIKE CRAIG.
>> YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE UP OF THE TWO.
>> I'M MIKE CRAIG 250 SUPERIOR AVENUE.
I AM ONE OF THE MIDDLE-INCOME HOMES AND A BLUE DOT ON THAT CHART, BEEN HERE FOR 35 PLUS YEARS, MOVED IN WHEN WE COULD AFFORD IT, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT GOES.
YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU CAN AFFORD IT.
I'M AGAINST GENERAL-PURPOSE REZONING.
FOR A REASON I MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING, WHICH IS YOU CAN CONTROL WHAT THE BUILDER BUILDS THROUGH THE PERMIT PROCESS, BUT YOU CAN'T CONTROL ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT.
HE CAN SELL IT TO WHOEVER HE WANTS TO SELL IT TO AT ANY PRICE HE WANTS TO SELL IT TO.
IF HE SELLS IT TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO RENT IT, THEY CAN RENT IT FOR WHATEVER THEY WANT TO, BUT YOU CAN'T CONTROL THAT.
IF YOU USE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THEY DO IT, YOU CAN CONTROL IT, BUT A GENERAL PURPOSE SALE IS ONCE IT'S SOLD THIS OUT OF YOUR PURVIEW, SO NO CONTROL.
PARKING, NUMBER OF CARS, CAN'T CONTROL IT.
YOU CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS, BUT PEOPLE CAN PARK ON THE STREET JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PARK ON THE STREET.
I THINK THE TERM PERMITTED PARKING, NOBODY WANTS TO MAKE THEIR STREETS ALL PERMITTED PARKING JUST TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM PARKING ON IT, BUT WITHOUT PERMITTED PARKING, [NOISE] YOU CAN HAVE MULTIPLE CARS AND PARK THEM ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO.
I KNOW BECAUSE A GUY FROM SCOTT BOULEVARD PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE FOR THREE WEEKS BEFORE I CALLED THE POLICE AND SAID, WHOSE CAR IS THAT? THEY FOUND OUT AND THEY SAID TO SOME KID OVER THERE, THAT'S PROBABLY HIDING FROM HIS GIRLFRIEND, SO HE'S PARKING HIS CAR IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE.
BUT ANYWAY, SO YOU CAN'T CONTROL ANY OF THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I'M AGAINST GENERAL-PURPOSE ZONING.
I'M OKAY WITH VARIANCES, BECAUSE THEN JUST LIKE WE SAW WITH THE BED AND BREAKFAST, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEIGHBORS TO GET INVOLVED AND TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU REALLY CAN'T CONTROL IT AFTER THAT EITHER BECAUSE THE BUILDER CAN BUILD IT EXACTLY HOW WE SAID AND THEN HE'S SOLD IT AND GONE.
THE SECOND THING FOR AFFORDABILITY.
EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE GOT AFFORDABILITY AND MAYBE YOU GET THE HOUSING GROUP INVOLVED AND IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GUESS WHO THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE TRYING TO GET INTO THOSE PLACES, THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY IN APARTMENTS DOWNTOWN WHO ARE PAYING 3,000, 2,500 A MONTH, WANTING TO GO DOWN TO 1,200 A MONTH.
ALL THIS TO BRING NEW PEOPLE IN, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND PEOPLE EXITING STRUCTURES THAT THEY'RE IN BECAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY STRUGGLING TO STAY THERE RIGHT NOW, TRYING TO GET INTO THE MORE AFFORDABLE PLACES.
MAYBE THAT'S GOOD, MAYBE THEY NEED TO BE IN THE MORE AFFORDABLE PLACES.
I'M GOING TO CHANGE TOPICS A LITTLE BIT SINCE I AM A MIDDLE-INCOME.
THE CHART EARLIER GAVE THE IMPRESSION LIKE THERE WERE ONLY 100 MIDDLE-INCOME SIZE HOUSES LEFT IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I LOOKED AT AN AJC ARTICLE FROM 2020, THERE WERE ABOUT 950 MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSES AT THAT TIME.
[04:10:05]
THE CHART SAID YOU'VE LOST ABOUT 430 OR 440 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.MY MATH SAYS THAT'S BETWEEN 400 AND 500.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> NO. HI, I'M CYNTHIA WINSOR AND I LIVE AT 250.
IT REALLY WASN'T AFFORDABLE BACK IN THE 1980S BECAUSE I WAS EATING RAMEN NOODLES THREE MEALS A DAY, BUT I WANTED TO LIVE IN DECATUR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE SUBURBS AND IT WAS A LITTLE MORE QUIRKY, ALTHOUGH THOSE GREAT THINGS HAD SIDEWALKS AND PEOPLE WHO WERE OUTSIDE.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION, A LOT OF GOOD COMMENTS FROM A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE SOME GREAT BACKGROUND.
I WASN'T AT THE PLANNING MEETING, BUT I WATCHED A LOT OF IT.
WHAT I WOULD HOPE BEFORE YOU GO FORWARD WITH THE VOTE AND BEFORE YOU GO WITH, AND I AGREE, MORE OUTREACH TO THE NEIGHBORS, TO ALL THE TAXPAYERS, IS HAVE WHAT I DIDN'T SEE WAS THE REASON WHY THE PLANNING COMMITTEE REJECTED THE PROPOSAL.
THAT WAS SOMETHING MISSING FROM MY [INAUDIBLE] , MS. ALLEN, WHO'S ALWAYS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO CALL AN ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, BUT IT DOES NEED TO SHOW BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY WHY IT WAS REJECTED.
I'D ALSO ASK THAT YOU CITE SOURCES IN YOUR PRESENTATION ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THIS STUDY SHOWS THIS AND THAT STUDY SHOWS THAT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT JUST LOOKS LIKE, I KNOW HOW TO MAKE THINGS UP TOO.
IT DOES NEED TO HAVE THAT BIGGER, BROADER BALANCE AND INFORMATION.
OUR SON JUST MOVED IN DECATUR TWO MONTHS AGO AND HE'S SEEING THESE SIGNS LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON.
DECATUR WAS AN ASPIRATIONAL COMMUNITY.
I THINK FOR A LOT OF US IT WAS AN ASPIRATIONAL COMMUNITY. BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN? HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT ALL THESE LITTLE SIGNS SHOWING UP, SO WE REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE BETTER OUTREACH ABOUT BLANKET REZONING VERSUS COVERAGE OF EXCEPTION-BASED OR LAND TRUST PURCHASED HOUSES THAT WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE WE'RE ALL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE'RE JUST NOT FOR BLANKET REZONING.
THANK YOU, GUYS AND SORRY, THIS IS SO LATE.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SHE'S HERE.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO TAKING COMMENTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE ONLINE.
I DO SEE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE SOME HANDS RAISED, SO WE'LL MOVE QUICKLY INTO THAT, AND THE FIRST PERSON I'LL CALL ON JUST IN THE ORDER I SEE THEM IS MELISSA HEFNER, UNMUTE, I'LL ASK YOU, MS. HEFNER, IF YOU [NOISE] WILL PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT? [NOISE]
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
I LIVE AT 216 NOONE STREET AND I DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO WRITE DOWN MY THOUGHTS THIS EVENING.
SINCE IT'S SO LATE, I'M JUST GOING TO READ IT TO YOU BECAUSE I'M FEELING A LITTLE SLEEPY, BUT I WANTED TO START FIRST BY THANKING YOU, KRISTIN ALLEN, FOR A THOUGHTFUL AND WELL ARTICULATED PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE HOW YOU POINT-BY-POINT ADDRESSED SOME OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS DECATUR RESIDENTS HAD AT LAST WEEK'S PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
I HOPE THAT THE FOLKS HEARD YOU.
AS YOU SHARE DATA AROUND EXPECTED RENTS, THE LOW NUMBER OF CHILDREN, WE CAN ANTICIPATE JOINING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUILDING REGULATIONS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED OF ALL UNITS AND SHARING WITH US THE UNLIKELIHOOD THAT DEVELOPERS WOULD RACE TO BUILD IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS GIVEN OUR HIGH PROPERTY VALUES.
I ALSO AM THE CHAIR OF THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, AND SO I AM NO STRANGER TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING HERE IN DECATUR.
I'LL SAY THAT WE HAVE DONE THE BEST JOB THAT WE CAN WITH THE LAND AND RESOURCES.
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
BUT THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE MAKING, THE ZONING POLICIES IN THE 1980S HAVE ALL ERADICATED HOUSING FOREIGN MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES.
WE HAVE MANY FAMILIES WHOSE THRIVE IN OUR LOW-INCOME HOUSING TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE VERY FEW, WHAT WE CALL SECOND-GENERATION FAMILIES, MEANING THAT CHILDREN ARE BEING RAISED IN OUR PUBLIC HOUSING AND THEN MOVING ON TO FAIR MARKET HOUSING, NOT LIVING IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
BUT THERE'S LITTLE TO NO HOUSING IN OUR CITY WHERE FAMILIES WHO
[04:15:01]
NO LONGER NEED THIS SUBSIDIZED HOUSING CAN MOVE AND REMAIN WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.LIKE THE GENTLEMAN FROM MAXIMAL STREET SAID MUCH EARLIER THIS EVENING, AND MY HUSBAND AND I BEGAN OUR LIVES IN DECATUR 22 YEARS AGO WITH A STARTER HOME, WE PAID AROUND $200,000 FOR.
IN 1998 WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, WE WERE WHAT TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED THE MISSING MIDDLE DUAL INCOME, NO KIDS.
WE JOKINGLY SAY NOW THAT WE COULDN'T AFFORD A HOME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE BACKED IN OUR 20S AND FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS AGAIN.
IS CHANGING THE ZONING POLICY GOING TO SOLVE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES WE HAVE IN DECATUR? NO, IT WON'T SOLVE IT.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT, BUT IT WILL BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF HOUSING WE HAVE FOR FAMILIES WHO DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO SPEND HALF MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE ON A HOUSE.
I'M STRESSED IN OUR CITY LEADERSHIP WILL WORK TO ADDRESS CITIZENS CONCERNS AROUND STREET PARKING, STORMWATER ISSUES, SHORT-TERM RENTALS, PERMEABILITY.
ALL THE CONCERNS THAT THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSED HAS SHARED WITH US BOTH AT THE PLANNING MEETING AND TONIGHT.
BUT I'D LIKE FOR US TO PRIORITIZE WITH SO MANY CLAIM TO LOVE ABOUT DECATUR AND WHAT HAN SAID SO BEAUTIFULLY, THE INCLUSION OF ALL PEOPLE.
IT'S TIME TO PRIORITIZE PEOPLE OVER INCONVENIENCES, AND I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE CHANGES TO OUR ZONING POLICY AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
>> I'M DIMITRI MILS [INAUDIBLE].
I'M AFRICAN AMERICAN AND I'M A HOMEOWNER AT 507 EVERETT STREET.
I'M JUST GOING TO GO REALLY FAST.
WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INCREASING RACIAL DIVERSITY IN DECATUR, I GOT REALLY EXCITED.
BUT I'M SCRATCHING MY HEAD RIGHT NOW, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL WILL DO ANYTHING TO HELP BLACK PEOPLE.
FOR ONE THING, IT WOULD MAKE ME AND MY FAMILY LOSE OUR HOME.
I CAN BARELY AFFORD MY PROPERTY TAXES NOW, AND THIS IS JUST THE HYPOTHETICAL THAT COMES TO MY HEAD, AND IF AN INVESTOR BUYS THE HOUSES ON EITHER SIDE OF IT AND REPLACES THEM WITH TWO SETS OF QUADRUPLETS APARTMENTS, MY PROPERTY VALUE AND THERE FOR MY TAXES ARE GOING TO GO UP AND THAT'S GOING TO FORCE ME AND MY FAMILY TO SELL OUR HOME.
LET'S SAY IN THOSE QUADRUPLETS ON BOTH SIDES, I GET FOUR FAMILIES OF FIVE MOVING IN.
THAT MEANS I GET 40 NEW NEIGHBORS.
LET'S JUST SAY IDEALLY ALL OF THEM ARE BLACK, WHAT ABOUT WE'LL INCREASE DECATUR'S BLACK POPULATION? DOES IT REALLY HELP BLACK PEOPLE? NON OF THEM WILL BE HOMEOWNERS.
HOME OWNERSHIP HELPS BLACK PEOPLE.
IT CREATES STABILITY FOR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN, AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE THE INCOME GAP, JUST GIVING US ANOTHER PLACE TO RENT DOES NOT HELP US.
IT DOESN'T. ONE THING THAT DOES HELP BLACK PEOPLE IS VOTING.
IN FACT, THAT HELPS THE WAY PEOPLE AGE.
IN SOME LATINOS IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT SOMETHING IS EXTREME AND RADICAL, CONTROVERSIAL, COMPLICATED AS THIS TOPIC WOULD BE, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A VOTE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING A SMALL PANEL OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING DEVELOPERS THAT DON'T LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY MAKING THIS DECISION FOR US.
FOR THE LADY WHO PUT TOGETHER THAT PRESENTATION TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY QUESTIONS, I'M SURE SHE WORKED REALLY HARD AND I'M SURE SHE'S A REALLY GOOD PERSON, BUT HONESTLY IT DOESN'T ADDRESS REALITY WHEN IT COMES TO BASIC THINGS LIKE THIS IDEALIZED, GENTLE DENSITY.
PRESENTING PRETTY UNITS THAT WILL GET FANCY MCMANSIONS AND QUADRUPLETS SOMEHOW YIELDING WHERE STUDENTS ARE THEN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I READ IT MOST OF MY LIFE, MY FIRST APARTMENT WAS A ONE BEDROOM DUPLEX.
IT WAS RENTED BY MY SISTER AND ME AND HER TWO KIDS.
WHEN WE MOVED, IT WAS TO BE A TWO-BEDROOM.
WE MOVED BECAUSE SHE HAD ANOTHER BABY AND HER BOYFRIEND WANTED TO MOVE IN TO HELP OUT.
OUR TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT AND SHARED BY THREE ADULT AND THREE KIDS, WE HAD THREE CARS.
I DON'T HAVE A GARAGE AND THERE ARE TWO CARS IN MY HOUSEHOLD.
WE CAN BARELY FIND PARKING ON THE STREET AS IT IS THE IDEA THAT THERE COULD BE 40 MORE PEOPLE IN TWO QUADRUPLETS ON EITHER SIDE OF ME AND THE CITY IS PROCEEDING WITH THIS WITH THE NAIVE ASSUMPTION THAT THERE NICE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL FROM THE QUADRUPLETS THAN THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT WE HAVE ON EITHER SIDE NOW.
GOOD, AND THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE LOSING STUDENTS WHEN WE STILL HAVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT HAS TRAILERS, THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ADEQUATE PARKING WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY ISN'T ADEQUATE PARKING.
[04:20:01]
MY WATER WAS BROWN YESTERDAY.MY WATER WAS BROWN TWO DAYS BEFORE.
I WENT FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE SATURATING THREE-AND-A-HALF MINUTES BEFORE IT TURNED CLEAR.
THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
WE ARE LIMITING EVERY ONE TO THREE MINUTES.
>> I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. THANK YOU.
>> LET'S SEE. BILL IGOWA, YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> I'M BILL IGOWA, I LIVE AT 273RD AVENUE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR A CIVIL AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION TONIGHT.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I STRONGLY OPPOSE THESE AMENDMENTS.
THEY AREN'T A NEUTRAL STEP OR STEP FORWARD ON AFFORDABILITY.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY A STEP BACKWARDS.
HOUSING RIGHTS GROUPS AND GOT SOME COUNTRY ARE FIGHTING OF ZONING AMENDMENTS LIKE THESE BECAUSE THE DATA DEMONSTRATED EXACERBATE AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES.
THE LA TENANTS UNION WROTE THE OBSERVING ADVOCATES FOR DEREGULATORY, TRICKLED DOWN FRAMEWORK FOR HOUSING POLICY THAT DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD. I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THEM.
THESE AMENDMENTS WILL DENY MANY OF THE DREAM OF HOME OWNERSHIP, ONE OF THE GREATEST CREATORS OF FINANCIAL SECURITY AND SOCIAL STABILITY.
THE ABILITY DEVELOPERS TO PUT MULTIPLE UNITS ON A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME LOT WILL INCREASE LAND VALUES, BECAUSE THE LAND COST FOR HOUSING UNIT WILL BE LOWERED BY.
DISTRIBUTING THE COST OF THE LINE ACROSS MULTIPLE UNITS, DEVELOPERS COSTS WILL DROP RELATIVE TO THE CASHFLOW OF THE PROPERTIES WILL GENERATE.
THESE ADDITIONAL PROVINCE WILL ATTRACT MORE INVESTORS AND SPECULATORS.
DEMAND FOR REZONED LOTS WILL INCREASE AND LAND VALUES WILL GO UP.
AS LAND VALUE COST INCREASE, DEVELOPERS WILL EITHER CHOOSE TO BUILD LUXURY UNITS TO MEET THEIR INVESTMENT GOALS OR TO NOT BUILD IT ALL, ESSENTIALLY HAVING NO IMPACT ON OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY.
THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE LAND TO INVESTORS WILL BE HIGHER THAN THE PRICE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD.
FORCING WOULD BE HOMEOWNERS INTO RENTING AND TRANSFERRING OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND AND OUR COMMUNITY FROM CITIZENS TO OLIGOPOLISTIC INVESTED CORPORATIONS? ACCORDING TO BUILD VIM, A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE COMPANY, ABSORBING LEADS TO HOUSING CONSOLIDATION SOAKED BY LARGE HOUSING CORPORATIONS HOLDING ON MONOPOLY ON NEW UNITS, ITS OWNERSHIP ARE CRUISED WEALTHY INVESTORS AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS WILL FIND THAT THE RENTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE MORE HOUSING INSECURE IF THERE ARE MORE OF THEM, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILL FIND THEMSELVES IN TENUOUS TENDENCY SITUATIONS.
THESE AMENDMENTS WILL ALSO PRIMARILY AFFECT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE, AT LEAST ON A RELATIVE BASIS, MORE AFFORDABLE TODAY.
BECAUSE MANY OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS WILL TEAR DOWN EXISTING HOUSES, CORPORATE INVESTORS WILL FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS ON PROPERTIES WITH THE LOWEST VALUE ADDED IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS BURDEN WILL FALL LARGELY ON PEOPLE OF COLOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY CHURCHES UNITED FOR FAIR HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE UP ZONE SAW DRASTIC DECREASES IN THEIR BLACK AND LATINO POPULATIONS, THE DECADE THAT THE ZONING CHANGES WERE PASSED.
UP ZONING IS FREE MARKET REDLINING.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS STUDIES FROM TOP INSTITUTIONS DEMONSTRATING THAT UP ZONING IS DETRIMENTAL TO IMPROVING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
I'LL SHARE A COUPLE OF QUOTES.
ECONOMIST AT MIT FOUND THAT UP ZONING INCREASED PRICES OF EXISTING HOUSING UNITS.
A STUDY BY ECONOMISTS AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS FOUND THAT BLANKET CHANGES IN ZONING ARE UNLIKELY TO IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY FOR LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN PROSPEROUS AREAS, THEY WOULD HOWEVER INCREASE GENTRIFICATION.
THEN A STUDY BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE, THEY WROTE, EVEN IF THE CITY WERE ABLE TO EASE SOME SUPPLY CONSTRAINTS, THE CITY WILL NOT EXPERIENCE A MEANINGFUL REDUCTION IN RENTAL BURDENS.
THIS PROPOSING AMENDMENTS WILL PUSH WOULDN'T BE HOMEOWNERS TO READ INSTEAD OF BY CONSOLIDATE OUR HOUSING AMONG CORPORATIONS, INCREASE HOUSING INSECURITY AMONG A BROADER RESONANCE [OVERLAPPING].
>> EXCUSE ME. SORRY. YOUR THREE MINUTES IS UP.
IF EVERYONE WILL REMEMBER THAT YOU DO HAVE THREE MINUTES SO THAT WE CAN HEAR EVERYONE'S COMMENTS.
>> PADDY, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I LIVE AT 22 KINGS HIGHWAY WITH MY MOTHER.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 24 YEARS.
I'M ONE OF THE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO WAS BORN IN DAKOTA AND STILL LIVES IN DAKOTA.
BUT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS PLAN, THE DAKOTA CHANGING, WE HAVE TO DECIDE HOW IT WILL CHANGE.
1.5 OR 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE USE TO THE METRO AREA BY 2030.
WE CAN DECIDE TO EXCLUDE MORE PEOPLE OR BE THE WELCOMING COMMUNITY THAT I LOVED.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY VALID COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PLAN, BUT NONE ARE WITHOUT REMEDY.
FIRSTLY, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR AN INVESTOR WITH TWO MILLION DOLLARS OR $1.5
[04:25:05]
MILLION TO BUY DAKOTA WHEN THEY COULD MORE EASILY BY AN EDGE-WEIGHTED PEOPLES DOWN, SUMMERHILL HERE OR ONE OF MANY OTHER AREAS THAT ALLOW MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCY WHERE THEY CAN COLLECT THE SAME AMOUNT FOR RENT FOR LESS INITIAL COSTS.SECONDLY, THIS PROPOSAL WAS NOT INTENDED TO SOLVE THE INVESTOR PROBLEM.
JUST LIKE ATLANTA, WE NEED TO RESTRICT AND REGULATE LANDLORDS AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE ALSO NEED TO RESTRICT AND REGULATE ABSENTEE LANDLORDS.
THESE REGULATIONS NEED TO PASS TO COMPLEMENT THIS PROPOSAL, NOT AS A PART OF IT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AFTERWARDS.
NEXT, TO ADDRESS THE PARKING ISSUE.
ONSTREET PARKING ACTS AS A TRAFFIC CALMING INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT SLOWS DOWN SPEEDING DRIVERS.
I KNOW I LIVED RIGHT BEHIND RAINBOW IN DOWN KING'S HIGHWAY ALL THE TIME.
IT SLOWS DOWN SPEEDING DRIVERS, PUTS A BARRIER BETWEEN CARS AND WALKERS AND MAKES WALKING AND BIKING SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE.
I CAN SPEAK TO THIS PERSONALLY.
I ACTUALLY WALK AND BIKE THROUGH DAKOTA AND I ACTUALLY TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT MARTIN, EVERY DAY ON A DAILY BASIS.
NEXT, ON TAXES, I'VE HEARD THAT DAKOTA IS $20 MILLION IN DEBTS AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE INCREASED SPENDING IS BY INCREASING TAX OWED MONEY.
PASSING THIS MOTION WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO VOLUNTARILY INCREASE THEIR PROPERTY VALUES AND THEREFORE THE TAX REVENUE.
IT WOULD INCREASE THE COMMERCE WITHIN THE CITY, THEREFORE, INCREASING SALES TAX.
THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO NOT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT TO PROVIDE MISSING MIDDLE AND WORKED FOR HOUSING.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, PEOPLE LIKE MY GIRLFRIEND WHO WANT TO LIVE AND WORK IN DAKOTA, BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.
THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE SINGLE PEOPLE AND COUPLES WHO ARE YOUNG AND JUST STARTING OUT.
LIKE I SAID, LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.
THIS PLAN IS NOT A SOLUTION, IT IS PART OF A SOLUTION AND IT NEEDS TO BE PASSED WITH THE IDEA IN MIND THAT WE'RE GOING TO PASS A LOT OF OTHER MEASURES TO KEEP THINGS AFFORDABLE.
IF WE DON'T PASS THIS, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS THE URGENCY OF PASSING THIS.
THIS IS PART OF THE 10-YEAR PLAN.
I'M SORRY, PADDY. I GOT ONE LAST THING.
>> I'M SORRY. WE'RE BEING REALLY STRICT.
PLEASE EMAIL US ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
AARON WEINER, I BELIEVE IS NEXT AND THEN LOU GARDEN.
>> I'LL GO REALLY FAST. ERIN WINTER, 507 WEST HOUR.
I LIVE IN R60 RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LIVE TWO HOUSES DOWN FROM AN OLDER QUADRUPLEX THAT WAS PURCHASED BY A CHURCH THAT IS IN NORTHERN COBB COUNTY SO THEY'RE NOT IN DECATUR.
THE CHURCH TURNED THE QUADRUPLEX INTO A HALFWAY HOUSE FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS AND HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY.
NO TAXES ARE PAID FROM ANYONE IN THIS PREMISES OR THE HOMEOWNER.
NO BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE DONE ON ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND WE'RE THREE HOUSES FROM A PRESCHOOL AND TWO BLOCKS FROM DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL, AND LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE FROM THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS ALL DONE WITH ZERO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
NO ONE EVEN KNEW THIS HAPPENED UNTIL THEY PUT UP A PARTY ONE DAY TO ANNOUNCE IT WAS HAPPENING IN THE FRONT YARD.
AS IS THE ZONING ADJUSTMENT PROVIDES NO SAFEGUARDS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN AND WITHOUT REVIEWS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS WITH COMMUNITY INPUT, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VOTE NO TO ANY CHANGES TO THE CURRENT ORDINANCE WITHOUT FURTHER STUDY. THANK YOU.
>> YES. GOOD EVENING. LOU GARDEN 1003 KATIE KERR DRIVE IN DECATUR.
THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I WAS LISTENING TO YOU TONIGHT.
I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT LONG.
BUT THE PARKING WE HAVE PARKING IS FOR 14 FOOT, SEVEN BUT A CAR IS 15 FOOT 8.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT CAN PARKING THAT FIVE INCH CLEARANCE AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT
[04:30:01]
HAPPENED WITH THE DECATUR AND WHY THE PRICES OF THE HOUSES ARE SO HIGH, I THINK WE NEED TO REMEMBER BACK IN ABOUT 2010, THERE WAS A SUBPRIME MORTGAGE CRISIS AND ALSO A ATLANTA TESTING SCHOOL SCANDAL.THOSE TWO THINGS COMBINED TO HAVE PEOPLE COME INTO CITY OF DECATUR TO GO TO THE SCHOOLS AND SO THAT MAINTAINED THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES HERE, WHEREAS THE PROPERTIES IN ATLANTA AND SURROUNDING AREAS CONTINUED TO DECLINE.
THE GENTLEMAN MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT 23 MILLION DOLLAR.
NOW THERE'S A 23 MILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL REPETITIVE ADDITION TO THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR THAT HAS BEEN PACED AND IN MY OPINION, IS IF THE CITY OF DECATUR IS TRYING TO VALUE AFFORDABILITY, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY STOP SPENDING MONEY AND ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY SUCH VERY HIGH PROPERTY TAXES.
WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON REDUCING THE COST AND NOT KEEP BUYING BECAUSE I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD IT ANYMORE.
WHEN IT COMES TO PARKING, RIGHT NOW, WE'VE LOST THREE SURFACE PARKING LOTS IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR TO APARTMENTS AND SO WE HAVE A PARABLE AND NOW WITH PARKING USED TO BE VERY EASY TO GO DOWNTOWN AND GO SHOPPING, BUT NOW IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM OF THE REPORT AS SHE WAS TALKING AND GIVING NUMBERS ON KIDS, BUT SHE WAS LOOKING AT KIDS FROM THE COVID YEARS AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD REFLECTION OF WHAT ACTUALLY IS HAPPENING HERE.
I ALSO REJECT THE IDEA THAT DECATUR IS RICH, SO WE CAN SPEND ALL THE MONEY WE WANT AND MANY FAMILIES HAVE DOUBLE INCOMES IN ORDER TO AFFORD THE TWO MORTGAGES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN ORDER TO STAY.
WHEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT AFFORDABILITY THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND WE NEED TO GET THE COSTS THAT WE SPENT EVERY YEAR DOWN AND STOP SPENDING MONEY LIKE CRAZY BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
WE HAVE LIMITED FREE LAND AND I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BLANKET CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY.
IT'S NOT OKAY AND THERE'S A LOT OF RED HERRING ARGUMENTS GOING ON ABOUT OLD TEACHER HOUSING [OVERLAPPING] THEY SAID THAT STILL WORTH 59 PERCENT OF THE TEACHERS LIVE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF HERE.
AND I KNOW THAT MY COMMUTE IS 25 MILES EACH WAY.
>> SORRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU WERE ON MUTE. I'M SORRY.
WE HAVE ASKED EVERYONE TO KEEP THEIR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND AN EMAIL.
I AM LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL HANDS RAISED TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT VIA ZOOM.
I DON'T SEE ANYMORE SO WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE HEARING.
I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS FOR THE CITY COMMISSION.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS ON OUR AGENDA.
IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO ASK FOR A WORK SESSION WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MEETINGS TO COME BACK TOGETHER.
HAVE MS. ALLEN COME BACK UP AND TALK TO US IF THERE QUESTIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CLARIFICATION ON AHEAD OF TIME.
WE CAN SEND THOSE TO THE CITY MANAGER RATHER THAN TRY TO ADDRESS THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS OR MAKE COHERENT, REMARKS.
[LAUGHTER] OR WE CAN USE SOME OF THE TIME AT THE END WHEN WE MAKE OUR REMARKS.
I'M HAPPY TO OPEN THIS UP TO WHATEVER IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION.
SINCE WE AREN'T TAKING A VOTE TONIGHT, WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE ABLE TO HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION WHERE IT COULD BE DISCUSSED AMONGST THE COMMISSIONERS.
>> LET'S WAITING FOR COMMISSIONER [OVERLAPPING].
>> POOR COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. [LAUGHTER].
>> I'M SORRY. WE ARE NO LONGER WORK SESSIONS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WE DO NOT TAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT AT WORK SESSIONS.
THAT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR WORK SESSIONS I MEAN,
[04:35:02]
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT WAS HERE AND AT OUR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, AND WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.BUT WE'VE ALL HEARD A LOT AND COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY, ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID WE COULD CONSIDER TONIGHT IS ASKING FOR A WORK SESSION IN ONE OF OUR UPCOMING MEETINGS WHERE WE COULD PROCESS SOME OF THIS, ASK SOME QUESTIONS.
IF THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT, WE COULD SEND THAT INFORMATION TO MISS ARNOLD TO SEE IF MS. ALLEN, MS. THREADGILL, OR OTHERS COULD BRING FORWARD THAT BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF INFORMATION THIS EVENING AND THAT WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROCESS SOME OF THIS IF THAT IS AMENABLE.
>> I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY THE MOST LOGICAL THING TO DO.
BUT FOR THOSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE HANGING IN AS LONG AS WE ARE, I THINK THEY'RE EXPECTING SOME COMMENT FROM US EVEN IF IT'S BRIEF AND OUT OF RESPECT FOR THEM FOR STAYING UP UNTIL TOMORROW WITH US.
I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM US SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE VALUE THEIR STICK WITH ITNESS.
>> IT IS NICE. [LAUGHTER] FOR THIS MORNING.
>> I GUESS I WAS THINKING MORE IN TERMS OF IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR IF WE HAVE THINGS [OVERLAPPING] THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE CLARIFIED WITH RESPECT TO PARKING.
>> ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE, MAYOR.
I THINK THAT ALL OF THE QUESTIONS AND ALL OF MS. ALLEN'S RESPONSES SHOULD BE DONE AT A TIME THAT IS NOT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT THE WORK SESSION IS NECESSARY.
>> I ALSO AGREE. WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF FIGURES TONIGHT AND THE ONE FIGURE, I WANT READ WITH MY COLLEAGUE HERE AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE STILL IN THE AUDIENCE.
REMEMBER LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM AND THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.
OUR MAKEUP IS 68 PERCENT TO 21 PERCENT.
IT'S 21 PERCENT OF YOUR NEIGHBORS THAT WEREN'T HERE AND THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS ANY LESS IMPORTANT TO THEM? THOSE FOLKS THAT AREN'T HERE, OR IS THERE A REASON WHY THEY'RE NOT HERE AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT WHENEVER I'M MAKING A DECISION.
ALL THE VOICES THAT CANNOT COME TO A SEVEN HOUR MEETING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CHILDCARE OR THIS THAT THE OTHER THING.
I'D LIKE TO GET A BROAD PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AND I LOVE THE IDEA THAT WE CAN HAVE A WORK SESSION AND PEOPLE CAN STILL HEAR.
BECAUSE IF YOU MAKE A COMMENT AND THEN YOU LEAVE AND MAYBE DON'T PICK IT UP ON ZOOM, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ROOM AFTER YOU LEFT.
IT'D BE GREAT TO COALESCE ALL THAT BACK INTO A TIME WHEN EVERYBODY IS COHERENT AND THE DISCUSSION CAN BE JUST AS LIVELY AND THE PEOPLE CAN LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY.
>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S A REALLY LOGICAL SEQUENCE AND ALLOWS US TO TAKE.
YOU'VE GOT SIX INCHES OF NOTES THAT INCLUDE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AND THAT WE CAN SORT OUT MORE IN A WORK SESSION AS WELL AND GIVE US ONE MORE CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND SOME THINGS BETTER AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
THEN WE GO BACK TO TWO MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
I THINK THE VALUE OF THE COMMENT WILL COME OUT IN THE WORK SESSION.
THAT'S WHERE WE GET TO REALLY PUT SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO USE THAT WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH E-MAILS, MULTIPLE IN-PERSON CONVERSATIONS, AND THEN BOTH THE PLANNING MEETING AND TONIGHT.
I THINK THERE'S VALUABLE INFORMATION THAT NEEDS SOME EXERCISE AND WE'LL DO THAT AT A WORK SESSION.
THEN WE HAVE TWO MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS. I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT.
>> I AGREE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY FOR OUR FUTURE CONVERSATIONS I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OF MUDDINESS BETWEEN WHAT IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE BY DEFINITION OF WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AND WHAT IS A POTENTIAL MISSING MIDDLE INITIATIVE.
THIS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING BY ITS DEFINITION IS NOT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE.
IT IS A HOUSING DIVERSITY ISSUE AND IT HAS ALWAYS CAUSED ME HEARTBURN BECAUSE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY CONTROL WHEN IT COMES TO MANDATORY INCLUSIONARY ZONING AND ENSURING AFFORDABILITY.
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO START FRAMING THE CONVERSATION AS WE GO FORWARD SO PEOPLE ARE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE FACT THAT
[04:40:03]
THEIR OBJECTIONS TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE ARE 100 PERCENT VALID BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT.WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CREATING QUADRUPLEXUS OR EVEN DUPLEXES FOR THAT MATTER THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GOVERN AND MAINTAIN AFFORDABILITY ON.
BUT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS AN OPTION FOR SOMEONE TO OWN ONE UNIT AND A FOUR UNIT BUILDING THAT'S THE SAME SIZE AS A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING BUILT WHEN SOMEONE BUYS A SMALLER HOME AND TEARS IT DOWN.
THE SMALLER HOUSES INDICATOR ARE GETTING PURCHASED AND TORN DOWN AND REBUILT.
THE QUESTION IS, IF WE'RE USING THE SAME AMOUNT OF SPACE, IS THAT A ONE FAMILY HOME OR COULD THAT BE A MULTI-FAMILY HOME THAT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PEOPLE GET TO PURCHASE IN.
THEN I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO ALSO ADDRESS THE CAR CONVERSATION BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS LOOKING AT IT AS AN EQUITY CONVERSATION AND THAT UPSETS ME.
THE REALITY IS I DON'T HEAR ANYBODY TELLING MY NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE IN MILLION-DOLLAR HOMES THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE FOUR CARS.
I DON'T HEAR ANYBODY SAYING TO MY NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE MILLION-DOLLAR HOMES THAT THEIR TEENAGERS CAN'T PARK ON THE STREET.
THE REALITY IS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A REALLY CANDID CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY SAYING WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES RELATED TO PARKING.
I HAVE A LOT TO SAY WHEN WE HAVE THIS WORK SESSION AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO ASK, BUT I DIDN'T WANT THE NIGHT TO END WITHOUT EXPRESSING THOSE CONCERNS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL AMBUSHED AND I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO COME BACK WITH COMMENTS THAT ARE CONSTRUCTIVE AND MORE FEEDBACK THAT'S DRIVEN IN THE REALITY OF WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO AND NOT BE DISTRACTED BY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE WHICH IS A WHOLE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT REQUIRES A WHOLE LOT MORE WORK FROM US.
>> IT WAS THE COKE. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WILL JUST TAG TEAM ONTO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID TO THE PEOPLE.
>> COCA-COLA. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU, CITY CLERK.
>> WHEN PEOPLE ASK FOR DESIGN STANDARDS.
WE DON'T HAVE DESIGN STANDARDS EXCEPT IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF WHAT CAN BE BUILT NEXT TO ANYONE'S SINGLE-FAMILY HOME NOW.
I BELIEVE THE PARKING REQUIREMENT IS THE SAME AS FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
IT'S ONE PARKING SPACE PER UNIT, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
PEOPLE PARK NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE MULTIPLE CARS THEY PARK BECAUSE IT'S MORE CONVENIENT.
I LIVE ON A TINY LITTLE STREET THERE WERE FIVE CARS PARKED IN MY STREET TODAY.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT IS THAT PERCEPTION THAT IF YOU'RE A RENTER MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T GET THAT PARKING SPACE BUT IF YOU'RE A HOMEOWNER AND HAVE MULTIPLE CARS SO I THINK.
I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING FORWARD THIS IS REALLY BEING LOOKED AT HOUSING OPTIONS.
THE CONVERSATION THAT CONTINUE TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD IS WHAT ABOUT IMPERVIOUS SURFACE? WHAT ABOUT OUR TREE ORDINANCE? I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MESSAGES ARE CLEAR, THAT THESE FALL UNDER THE VERY SAME GUIDELINES FOR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD BE BUILT THERE.
BUT I THINK WE ALL WILL HAVE SOME FOLLOW-UP IDEAS AND QUESTIONS, SO I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN IF COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY OR COMMISSIONER WALSH HAS JUST A FEW COMMENTS.
WE AREN'T DRINKING COKE, SO MAYBE WE [LAUGHTER]
I DID SENSE THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF FEAR THAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND GOING INTO THIS CONVERSATION AND I GUESS I UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
>> I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT COMMISSIONER MAYER SAID IN TERMS OF THIS ISN'T A CONVERSATION ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT'S ABOUT DIVERSITY OF HOUSING AND OPTIONS FOR ALL PEOPLE.
ONE THING THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND I WANT TO CONTINUE THEM TO GO BAD.
HAVING TO GO BAD. NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO BAD, I WANT THEM TO GO WELL.
I'M STRUGGLING WITH AND IT TEND TO STILLS THIS QUESTION IS WEMBLEY PLACE BAD? WE'RE HEARING THESE CONVERSATIONS BY PEOPLE IN AUDIENCE AND WHO'S THE GUY WHO GENERALLY, THEY'RE VERY MUCH GENTLY BROUGHT WEMBLEY PLACE.
NOW MIKE I'VE WALKED BY WEMBLEY PLACE BUT [NOISE] IS IT BAD? WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THIS INFILL HOUSES, I DON'T GET IT.
I MEAN, IT'S INTERESTING, ECLECTIC LITTLE THING.
[04:45:02]
MAYBE THERE'S TOO MUCH STORM WATER RUNOFF, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE.WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FEAR, I WALK AROUND MY COMMUNITY, I SEE SO MANY OF THESE PLACES, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT FEAR.
I'M TRYING TO LOOK AND SAY, REALLY IS THAT BAD? EVEN THE DEVELOPMENT OFF OF AUCKLAND, WHICH I FORGET THE NAME BUT ALSO MR. LEE BROUGHT IT UP TOO.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN AND I'M ACTUALLY MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DISPLACEMENT THAT I AM IN TERMS OF WHAT I'M SEEING IN THE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE HAVE HERE.
I'D LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT.
AGAIN, LONG-WINDED, ACTUALLY STUCK WITH IS WEMBLEY PLACE BAD BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT? I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER.
THAT'S MY COMMENT. I THINK WORK SESSION IS GREAT IDEA.
>> I DIDN'T MAKE ANY SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS OTHER THAN MORE ABOUT THE LOGISTICS.
JUST AT A HIGH LEVEL FROM A VALUE STANDPOINT, I'D SAY I STAND BY MY COMMENT THAT WAS QUOTED EARLIER AS FAR AS THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THIS IS THAT CONVERSATION.
HOW DO WE FIND THE END? IS THIS THE END AND HOW DO WE ADD IT POTENTIALLY INTO THE BUCKET OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING TO ADDRESS DIVERSITY OF HOUSING AND A HOUSING CRISIS WRIT LARGE? I STAND BY THAT AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THAT CONVERSATION.
I DON'T THINK DENSITY IS A DIRTY WORD.
I THINK DENSITY SITS ON A SPECTRUM AS DOES AFFORDABILITY.
THAT'S WHY IT FEELS LIKE IT'S MOVING AROUND.
SOME PEOPLE WANT GUARANTEES AND THEY WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY FINITE DEFINITIONS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.
I THINK WE CAN GET MORE SPECIFIC WITH THE WORK WE'RE GOING TO DO LEADING INTO THE WORK SESSION AND WE CAN REFINE SOME OUTCOMES.
BUT I DO THINK THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT POLICY AND POLICY DOESN'T ALWAYS LEND ITSELF TO DRILLING YOU EXACTLY DOWN TO SPECIFIC OUTCOMES.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD REALLY GOOD POLICY AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR TIME AND WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE MEETINGS TO WORK ON IT.
LASTLY, I JUST PUT A COMMENT EARLIER.
I ABSOLUTELY FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO MY CONSTITUENTS, TO MY NEIGHBORS, TO MY COLLEAGUES, FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE TODAY.
BUT I DID NOT LIVE HERE AT ONE POINT AND NOW I DO.
I WOULD ALWAYS WANT TO PLAN FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T HERE YET BECAUSE I MAY BE GONE, I MAY STILL BE HERE, BUT I LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER WHO CAN COME IN FUTURE AND BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I WILL BE PLANNING AND MAKING DECISIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T HERE NOW.
YOU CAN CALL THEM HYPOTHETICAL, BUT I CALL IT HOPEFUL.
THAT'S JUST THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT. THANKS.
>> I WANTED TO CLARIFY COMMENT EARLIER FROM MR. VALENTINE WHEN HE ASKED IF ANY ONE OF US WOULD CONSIDER OR HAD BEEN CONSIDERING.
I ACTUALLY TAKE THAT VERY PERSONAL BECAUSE I HAVE AN AGING PARENT WHO STILL LIVES IN THE CITY AND IS HER WISH TO AGE IN PLACE IN THE CITY AND IF BUILDING A DUPLEX OR CONVERTING A HOUSE TO A DUPLEX TO ALLOW HER TO DO THAT, ABSOLUTELY SIGN ME UP BECAUSE SHE'S THE REASON I'M HERE.
SHE CAME HERE WHEN A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO BE HERE AND SHE HAD A CHOICE OF ANYWHERE TO GO AND SHE CHOSE TO CATER.
SHE CHOSE THE PLACE THAT I WOULD CALL HOME FOR BASICALLY EVER.
AND SO YEAH, IT IS VERY PERSONAL AND THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL OF OUR ACTIONS.
I THINK THAT AS WE TALK ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS I WROTE DOWN AND I HOPE MS. ALLEN WILL GET INTO SOME OF THE SPECIFICS, BUT TRY TO BUILD A HOUSE IN THIS CITY AND YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH STORM WATER, TREE ORDINANCE, HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING STANDARDS, THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
I MEAN, IT IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS IN WHICH TO BUILD A HOUSE.
SO YES, WE DO STRUGGLE WITH WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MISSING MIDDLE.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE THE OTHER DAY AND I WILL LEAVE HIS NAME OUT OF IT.
BUT WE ALSO GET INTO SOME MORAL ISSUES.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T STAND UP AND SAY, WELL, I'LL WRITE YOU AN E-MAIL, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO COME OUT AND GO TOE TO TOE WITH A NEIGHBOR WHO MAY THINK DIFFERENTLY.
AS I LOOK AT, AND I GO BACK TO THAT GRAPH THAT SHOWED MEDIAN INCOME, THAT'S TROUBLING FOR ME.
THAT IS REALLY, REALLY TROUBLING.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT'S A FIRST GRADE TEACHER AND A COACH.
IF SHE HAS TO GO MOVE EIGHT MILES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, THAT MEANS SHE COULD POTENTIALLY GET HOME NOW AFTER A GAME OUTSIDE THE CITY.
IF YOU THINK THAT'S OKAY, THEN I'M LIKE HAROLD AT THIS POINT. JUST SAY THAT.
[04:50:01]
BUT I THINK ABOUT HER AND ALL THE OTHER COACHES WHO HAVE TO DO THAT SAME THING.THEY TEACH HIM, THEN THEY COACH HIM AND THEN WHAT? THEY GET HOME AT MIDNIGHT ONLY THEY GET BACK IN A CAR TO GET BACK INTO A BUILDING AT 07:00 A.M. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT REALLY HAPPEN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SO YEAH, WE'D LOOK AT THAT AND IT'S JUST NOT WAXING POETIC, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED TO HAVE AS A CONVERSATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO IT AND I'M SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY WILL GIVE THEIR INPUT.
BUT AT SOME POINT, WE ARE AT AN INFLECTION POINT AND WE CANNOT KEEP KICKING THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WITH THAT, MAYER, UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, I MOVE THAT WE ADD THIS AS A WORK SESSION SO THAT WE CAN REALLY GET INTO THIS TOPIC AND WE CAN REALLY SPEND SOME TIME TO FLUSH OUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
BECAUSE JUST LIKE THE TREE ORDINANCE, IT WAS NOT PERFECT WHEN WE STARTED.
IT TOOK US SOME TIME TO GET THERE AND WE GOT THERE THROUGH COMMUNITY INPUT.
>> IT STILL MAY NOT BE PERFECT.
>> [LAUGHTER] I LIKE THIS AND A COUPLE OF THINGS, IF I MAY, ABOUT THE WORK SESSION.
ONE STEPPING BACK FROM THIS, THE CITY COMMISSION, YOU'VE IDENTIFIED THE POLICY AS IT RELATES TO THE MISSING MIDDLE.
AND THEN STAFF, WE'RE CRAFTING THAT POLICY [NOISE] BASED OFF OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMISSIONERS, WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE FEEDBACK FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING, IF NOT PERFECT, AT LEAST WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE, MOST EFFECTIVE POLICY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF THIS BODY AT THE JANUARY 17TH MEETING, AND THEN ALSO CONSIDERATION AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 6.
IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THAT, [NOISE] I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS WORK SESSION, SO MY REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSION IS TO PROVIDE [NOISE] FEEDBACK, GUIDANCE, CONCERNS, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IN ADVANCE OF THE WORK SESSION SIMILAR TO EVEN THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION GOES TO THE PERSON'S QUESTION EARLIER GRANTED.
WHAT'S ON PAPER, IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION DENIED THE RECOMMENDATION, BUT WHAT WE HEARD IN THE CONVERSATION WAS A BODY IN SUPPORT OF THE POLICY, THEY HAD SOME LEGITIMATE CONCERNS WHICH THEY COMMUNICATED DURING THAT MEETING.
AND SO WE DO INTEND MUCH OF THAT WAS ADDRESSED IN MISS ALLEN'S PRESENTATION TONIGHT, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCORPORATING YOUR CONCERNS, YOUR ISSUES, INTO IF WE MAKE ANY REVISIONS TO THE ORDINANCE, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING THAT TO YOU, AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT PREFERABLY IN ADVANCE OR AS PART OF THE WORK SESSION.
AGAIN, JUST TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF EVERYBODY'S TIME WHICH ULTIMATELY WILL HAVE A MORE FINE TUNE ORDINANCE AND POLICY FOR JANUARY.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN IN-DEPTH, PERHAPS LONGER REPORT SESSION THAT WE NORMALLY HAVE ON THIS TO FLESH IT OUT, SO IT MAY BE AN HOUR AND A HALF.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GO LONGER THAN THAT, BUT I THINK IT'D BE GOOD.
WE MAY NOT GET THOSE COMMENTS TO YOU BY TOMORROW AT NOON [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU MEAN TODAY AT NOON? [LAUGHTER] IT'S OFFICIAL TOMORROW.
>> BUT I THINK WE HAVE A PLAN.
AT LEAST WE KNOW THAT WE WILL BE WORKING TOWARDS A BOOKED SESSION.
>> I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT.
[IV.C. The City Manager’s Office has requested text amendments to Article 7, Article11, and Article 12 of the Unified Development Ordinance for the purpose of substituting gender-neutral pronouns. The Planning Commission recommends approval. ]
I THINK WE CAN MOVE TO OUR NEXT HEARING AGENDA FOR [OVERLAPPING] WHERE WE SEE ITEM C [LAUGHTER].>> I GET THE HONOR TO SAY GOOD MORNING.
>> WE ARE OFFICIALLY PAST MIDNIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE ARE ON THE LAST PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
THERE WAS THREE LAST TUESDAY NIGHT, SO THIS IS THE LAST ONE.
THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS REQUESTED TEXT AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 7, ARTICLE 11, AND ARTICLE 12 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTING GENDER-NEUTRAL PRONOUNS,
[04:55:01]
AND LAST TUESDAY NIGHT, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL AS IT WAS PRESENTED, AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK MS. MEREDITH ROARK, OUR CITY CLERK, TO COME UP AND PRESENT THOSE TEXT AMENDMENTS AND STRETCH YOUR LEGS.>> GOOD MORNING, I'LL JUST SAY THAT TWO MORE TIMES TO YOU USE I'M PRACTICING NOW.
ANGELA SAID I'M HERE TONIGHT TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 0-22-Z-CC, THAT'S GOING TO BE A FUN, [LAUGHTER] FUN LITTLE BIT HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH MY NEXT ITEM, IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER.
YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY WHAT'S THIS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION INSTEAD OF THE OTHER ONE.
IT'S BECAUSE THIS HAD SOME IMPLICATIONS AND THINGS THAT REALLY TOUCHED THE ZONING PART OF THE UDO, SO WE DECIDED TO PUT IT THROUGH THE ZONING PROCEDURES LAW AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
IF YOU WILL RECALL, IN MARCH OF 2021, WE CONTRACTED WITH MUNICODE TO PERFORM A REVIEW OF OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES THAT INCLUDED THE UDO FOR INSTANCES OF GENDERED LANGUAGE AND TO PROVIDE A LIST OF RECOMMENDED MODIFICATIONS AS PART OF OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNITY.
GENDERED LANGUAGE WAS FOUND IN ARTICLE 7, 11, AND 12 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
THE ORDINANCE IN YOUR PACKETS SEEKS TO MODIFY ANY AND ALL MASCULINE AND, OR FEMININE LANGUAGE TO GENDER-NEUTRAL LANGUAGE.
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE THE CITY MANAGER, INSTEAD OF THE CITY MANAGER, AND HIS OR HER DESIGNEE WILL CHANGE IT TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY MANAGER'S DESIGNEE.
A READER'S GUIDE LISTING ALL LOCATIONS FOR CHANGE, ENTITLED GENDER NEUTRALIZATION REPORT FOR ZONING PROVISIONS OF THE UDO IS PART OF THE ATTACHED ORDINANCE.
THE INTENT OF OUR SUBSTITUTIONS SHALL NOT SUBSTANTIALLY ALTER OR MODIFY THE MEANING OR EFFECT OF ANY PROVISIONS IN THE UDO.
THE STATE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS REVIEWED THESE SUGGESTED CHANGES AND RECOMMEND THE ATTACHED SUBSTITUTIONS.
WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO GO THROUGH THE FINAL PROCESS OF THESE ZONING PROCEDURES LAW, RECOMMENDING ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 0-22-Z-CC, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, WE WILL OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION, NOW IS THE TIME TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US BY ZOOM.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS ITEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE WILL LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ANY DISCUSSION WE MAY HAVE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL TAKE A VOTE ON.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MS. ROARK? ALL RIGHT, DO I HEAR A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT ORDINANCE 0-22-Z-CC, THAT APPROVES THE REQUESTED TEXT AMENDMENTS AS DESCRIBED?
COMMISSIONER MAYA, HOW DO YOU VOTE?
>> CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED.
[BACKGROUND] WE WILL NOW OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ACTION ITEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED THIS EVENING OR THIS MORNING.
GENDER NEUTRALIZATION OF PRONOUNS IN THE CITY CHARTER, GENDER NEUTRALIZATION OF PRONOUNS IN THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES, A WARMING CENTER, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, A CHANGE ORDER FOR LEGACY PART DAIRY BARN, AND THE WEBSTER STORM WATER VAULT MAINTENANCE.
WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OF THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, AND IF THERE'S ANYONE IN OUR MEETING THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK TO ANY OF THOSE, PLEASE DO SO NOW.
COMING FORWARD AND STATING YOUR NAME, AND ADDRESS, AND MAKING YOUR COMMENTS.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THOSE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING ONLINE.
[05:00:01]
IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.WE'LL HAVE TIME AT THE END OF THE MEETING FOR REQUEST AND PETITIONS FOR OTHER ITEMS THAT ANYONE MIGHT WANT TO BRING FORWARD.
NEXT, THE GENDER NEUTRALIZATION OF [NOISE] PRONOUNS IN THE CITY CHARTER.
[VI.A. Gender Neutralization of Pronouns in the City Charter . ]
MS. ROARK.>> GOOD MORNING AGAIN. I'M HERE NOW TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 0-22-10 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTING GENDER-NEUTRAL PRONOUNS AND TERMS, IF YOU WILL INDULGE ME, AND ACTUALLY IF YOU WILL SING ALONG WITH ME, I THINK [LAUGHTER] YOU ALL KNOW THIS TUNE TO BABY SHARK AND IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE SECTION 3.10, [MUSIC] 11 [MUSIC] 315 [MUSIC]. THAT'S ENOUGH. [LAUGHTER]
>> ALL THROUGH, HOWEVER, ALONG WITH THE TODDLER. [LAUGHTER].
>> YEAH. 3.6, 3.17, 3.21, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 5.10, 5.11, 6.11, 6.12, 7.11, 8.11, AND 8.12 IN OUR CHARTER.
SAME HOLDS TRUE THAT IN MARCH 2021, WE CONTRACTED WITH MUNICODE TO REVIEW OUR CODE AND YOU ALREADY ADOPTED THIS ORDINANCE ONCE AT THE FIRST MEETING IN OCTOBER AND BECAUSE WE ARE ADOPTING THIS BY HOME RULE OR YOU ARE ADOPTING IT BY HOME RULE, AND IT'S PART OF THE CHARTER, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ADOPT IT AT TWO REGULAR CONSECUTIVE MEETINGS.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE, AND IF YOU ADOPT IT TONIGHT, IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
WE DID POST THIS NOTICE IN THE CHAMPION ON SEPTEMBER 22ND AND 29TH AS WELL AS OCTOBER 6TH AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE.
I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING TONIGHT.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
INTERESTING MATT AGAIN, FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER].
>> THERE ARE QUESTIONS FOR MS. ROARK.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 0-22-10 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTING GENDER-NEUTRAL PRONOUNS AND TERMS IN THE CITY'S CHARTER?
>> [MUSIC] [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE BABY SHARK SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER MAYER, HOW DO YOU VOTE?
>> CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED.
ONCE AGAIN. [MUSIC] [LAUGHTER]
>> NOT THAT WE GET PUNCHY AFTER MIDNIGHT.
>> WE WERE FINE YESTERDAY [LAUGHTER].
>> FIFTEEN MINUTES AGO WE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS.
[VI.B. Gender Neutralization of Pronouns in the City Code of Ordinances . ]
>> NOW, BEFORE YOU GET TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE-22-XX FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTING GENDER-NEUTRAL PRONOUNS AND TERMS WITHIN CHAPTERS 1, 2, 6, 10, 14, 22, 26, 30, 54, 62, 70, 82, 86, 94, 98, AND 102 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, AS WELL AS CHAPTERS 5, 9, 10, AND 12 OF PART 4 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
AGAIN, THE ATTACHED ORDINANCE SEEKS TO MODIFY ANY AND ALL MASCULINE AND FEMININE LANGUAGE TO GENDER-NEUTRAL LANGUAGE.
A READER'S GUIDE LISTING ALL LOCATIONS FOR THE CHANGE ARE INCLUDED AS EXHIBITS A AND B IN THE ATTACHED ORDINANCE.
THE INTENT OF THE GENDER-NEUTRAL SUBSTITUTIONS IN TERM SHALL NOT SUBSTANTIVELY ALTER OR MODIFY THE MEANING OR EFFECT OF ANY PROVISIONS IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OR THE UDO.
THIS IS THE FINAL PORTION OF THIS REQUEST TONIGHT, SO ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE-22-XX.
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR MS. ROARK? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 0-22-XX FOR
[05:05:01]
THE PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTING GENDER-NEUTRAL PRONOUNS AND TERMS IN THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCE. IS THERE A SECOND?>> GOT A SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER MAYER, HOW DO YOU VOTE?
>> CHAIR VOTES AYE THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED.
[VI.C. Warming Center Memorandum of Understanding . ]
NEXT, WE'LL LOOK AT THE WARMING CENTER MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.YOU'VE BEEN HERE AWHILE TOO [LAUGHTER].
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING NOW. [LAUGHTER].
>> I AM HERE TONIGHT TO MAKE MY RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH FRONTLINE RESPONSE INTERNATIONAL INC. TO PROVIDE A COLD WEATHER WARMING CENTER TO SHELTER THE CITIES UNHEALTHY POPULATION AND TO APPROVE PROJECT BUDGET OF $145,015.
THE CITY CURRENTLY PARTNERS WITH FRONTLINE TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND PLACEMENT SERVICES TO THE UNHEALTHY POPULATION WITHIN THE CITY.
AS WINTER APPROACHES, THE CITY DISASTER PARTNER WITH FRONTLINE TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO THE UNHEALTHY POPULATION FROM EXTREME COLD WEATHER.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE MOU, FRONTLINE WILL OFFER TRANSPORTATION TO THE WARMING CENTER, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS ON GRESHAM ROAD.
AT THE WARMING CENTER, INDIVIDUALS WILL BE PROVIDED A MEAL AND A BED FOR THE EVENING.
FRONTLINE STAFF AND SECURITY WILL BE ONSITE 24 HOURS WHILE THE UNHEALTHY INDIVIDUALS ARE ON THE PREMISES IN THE MORNING.
THE UNHEALTHY INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE CASEWORKER FOR PLACEMENT INTO LONG-TERM HOUSING OR TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE BUDGET FOR THE PROPOSED SERVICES INCLUDING STAFFING, SECURITY, TRANSPORTATION, HYGIENE KITS, BEDDING, AND FOOD IS $145,015, AND FRONTLINE WILL MAINTAIN ALL REQUIRED INSURANCE COVERAGES INCLUDING WORKERS' COMPENSATION IN GENERAL, LIABILITY INSURANCE.
APPROVAL IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE MOU FOR THE INITIAL TERM OF NOVEMBER 1ST, 2022 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, 2023.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR CHEAP PROGRAM OFFICER JEFF SHAW HAS STUCK IT OUT [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE].
HE'S HUNG IN HERE THE WHOLE TIME.
>> WE'VE HEARD SOME COMMENTARY FROM OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
I'M SURE SOMEONE WILL SAY IT'S A BUDGET LINE ITEM THAT WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED, BUT SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, AND THERE'S SO MANY FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE A WARM PLACE TO STAY AND I JUST APPLAUD YOU FOR BRINGING US SOMETHING, SO AT LEAST WE CAN PROVIDE.
MY ONLY QUESTION IS, ARE WE SERVING WITH OTHER CITIES.
THEY'LL JUST ALL BE LUMPED IN TOGETHER.
>> THIS IS FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE'S NOT IN ANY OTHER CITIES NOR THE COUNTY THAT HAS TAKEN THIS ON SO COMMISSIONER, DO SOME BERRY.
I'LL JUST ADD, I THINK THIS IS VERY COST-EFFECTIVE.
I THINK THEY SAID IT WAS 20 PEOPLE FOR 50 NIGHT WHICH WAS 1000 PEOPLE.
IT'S LIKE $145 FOR TRANSPORTATION, FOR FOOD, FOR SHELTER PER NIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IT'S OKAY I THINK WE SHOULD DO AND IT IS COST-EFFECTIVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE METRICS AND TRACKING, BUT NOT TONIGHT, BUT [LAUGHTER] NOT IN THIS MORNING. WE'LL GET THROUGH IT.
DEFINITELY IN THE FUTURE FOR SURE.
I DID WANT TO LET THE SPEEDY THAT THE SAME MANAGER, SPEEDY MANAGER, [LAUGHTER] SPEAK TO HOW THIS IS BEING FUNDED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN THE BUDGET.
THIS IS A NON-BUDGETED ITEM IS AT THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE USE GENERAL FUND BALANCE AND WE DO HAVE ADEQUATE FUND BALANCED, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS FOR, AND THIS IS A ONE-YEAR AGREEMENT.
BASED OF THE EXPERIENCE, WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS THE PROGRAM AND MAKE YOUR RECOMMENDATION NEXT YEAR AS TO MOVING FORWARD.
BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY BY THE END OF THE WINTER, WE SHOULD HAVE A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO CONTINUE.
THEN IF SO, WE WOULD INCORPORATE IT INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR.
BUT CURRENTLY, WE ARE ASKING THAT THIS BE FUNDED OUT OF OUR FUND BALANCE.
I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION JUST ABOUT TIMING AND THE SCHEDULE WITH RESPECT TO CASE MANAGERS WORKING WITH FOLKS THAT HAVE SPENT THE NIGHT AND IT SEEMS THEY WAKE THE INDIVIDUALS AND BEGAN DEPARTURE PROCESSING AT 06:45.
[05:10:09]
THEN THERE'S THAT TWO-HOUR WINDOW BEFORE THEY TRANSFERRED.I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LOGISTICALLY, DOES THAT GIVE TIME FOR CASE MANAGERS TO WORK WITH OR TALK TO THE CLIENTS, OR WOULD THAT HAPPEN WHEN THEY GOT THERE? I'M JUST THINKING, IS THERE ADEQUATE STAFF AND PERSONNEL TO TALK TO THE CLIENTS? IN THAT MOU, IT DOES STATE THAT THEY WILL START CASE MANAGING THAT EVENING.
THEY WILL COMPLETE IT THE NEXT MORNING, SO I WILL LET YOU SPEAK TO THAT.
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY NUMBERS, I KNOW THE CLIMATE HAS CHANGED IN WARNED WOULD AVERAGE NUMBER OF 38 DEGREES OR BELOW NIGHTS HAS BEEN BUT A BALLPARK.
JUST HOW COLD HAVE YOU SEEN IT BEAD AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF NIGHTS THAT WE MIGHT SEE IN THIS TIMEFRAME THAT WOULD BE 30 DEGREES OR BELOW.
KNOW WHEN THEY DID THE RESEARCH THEY SAID THEY STUDIED AND LOOKED AT WHAT THE NUMBER SHOULD BE AND IT RANGES ANYWHERE FROM 32 TO.
COME ON. [LAUGHTER] JUST WONDERING HOW MANY NIGHTS MIGHT WE EXPECT? LAST YEAR IN THE CALENDAR YEAR, THERE WERE 52 NIGHTS THAT REACHED THAT TEMPERATURE LOWER.
WE'RE ESTIMATING 50 IF IT GOES OVER WOULD BEAR THAT.
THIS IS A SET NUMBER, WE WON'T COME BACK ASKING FOR MORE SO THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH.
TWO MORE NIGHTS THAN I THOUGHT IT'S A LONG TIME.
FOR THIS WEEK STATING TOMORROW.
THANK YOU. OTHER JUST LIKE TO SAY I'M HAPPY TO SEE IT.
THANK YOU. VERY THOROUGH. AGREED.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH FRONTLINE RESPONSE INTERNATIONAL AND APPROVAL OF A BUDGET OF $145,015 FOR COLD WEATHER WARMING CENTER? SO MOVED.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
AYE. [OVERLAPPING] OPPOSED. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MOTION PASSES SO WE'RE
[VI.D. Change Order for Legacy Park Dairy Barn . ]
LOOKING AT A CHANGE ORDER NOW FOR LEGACY PARK DAIRY BARN.FELIX FLOYD SEE ABDICATED PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF A CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 2 AND FINAL CHANGE ORDER TO THE CONTRACT OF CDS WATERPROOFING FOR PAINTING AND STANDING ON THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE DAIRY BARN.
THE APPROVED BUDGET IS $175,000 AND THE IMPROVED CONTRACT AMOUNT IS $157,332.50.
WE'RE ACTUALLY AT THE FINAL STAGE OF THE DAIRY BARN, WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WE'VE DONE, THERE'S A LOT OF NEW WORLD AND OLD WORLD THERE.
WE WANT TO ACTUALLY PRESERVE THAT LUMBER AND MAKE EVERYTHING MATCH UP, JUST MAKE IT LOOK REALLY NICE.
IT'LL HAVE A WEATHER LOOKS SO IT'LL BE UNIFORM ONCE WE GO IN.
THERE ALSO CRACKS IN THE MASONRY AND THEY'LL REPAIR THAT SO THAT'S PART OF THAT.
THAT'LL ELIMINATE ANY LEAKS IN THE MASONRY.
THE CONTRACT HAS PROPOSED A CHANGE ORDER OF $23,000 FOR THE ADDITIONAL PAINT STAINING IN THE MORTAR WORK.
WE RECOMMEND THE FINAL INCREASE TO THE PROJECT BUDGET TO $200,000 AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $180,332.50.
THESE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY'S FINE AND I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IS THIS THE 2-180, WITHIN THE 200,000 OR CAP? IS THAT THE FULL EXTENT OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING THE DAIRY BARN? YES, SIR. THIS BALL TO THE BARN ITSELF, THERE'LL BE SOME LANDSCAPING WORK AFTERWARDS.
ON THE DIFFERENT PROJECT BUT YES.
DOES THE BUDGET INCLUDE THE LANDSCAPING WORK OR THAT WILL THAT BE? THAT'S AN A SEPARATE BUDGET.
OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 2, TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT 150733050-18330250, AND INCREASE THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE DAIRY BARN, 175000-200000 FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DAIRY BARN AT LEGACY PART RIGHT HERE, EMOTIONS.
THERE'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
[05:15:02]
AYE. [OVERLAPPING] OPPOSED. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MOTION PASSES.THE EPSTOR STORMWATER VAULT MAINTENANCE.
[VI.E. Ebster Stormwater Vault Maintenance . ]
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A PROJECT BUDGET OF $305,000 IN A WARD OF A CONTRACT, A TMJ INDUSTRIES OF LIFE PHONE IN THE AMOUNT OF $277,905 FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE HIPSTER STORMWATER MANAGEMENT VAULT.
THE EPSTOR WALL HAS BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE 2014 AND IT'S NEVER BEEN CLEANED.
WE'RE PLANNING TO CONVERT EPSTOR FIELD WHICH IS DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE VAULT FROM A NATURAL GRASS FIELD TO A SYNTHETIC TURF SURFACE WITH LIGHTING.
IT'S TIMELY TO PERFORM THE FIRST MAINTENANCE PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIELD IMPROVEMENTS.
THE WORK INCLUDES REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF SEDIMENT, GRAVEL, AND OTHER DEBRIS THAT HAS ACCUMULATED IN THE VAULTS WET WELL AND MAIN RUNOFF CORRIDOR IN PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION OF MATERIALS REMOVED.
SUCH MATERIALS WILL BE REMOVED AS IS REASONABLY FEASIBLE.
THE PROJECT WAS PUBLICLY ADVERTISED WITH BIDS DUE ON MAY 5TH, 2022, BUT NO BIDS WERE RECEIVED.
SUBSEQUENTLY, WE SOLICITED AND RECEIVED PROPOSALS FROM THREE CONTRACTORS AND RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE LOWEST QUALIFIED RESPONSIBLE BIDDER.
WE WERE NOT CONFIDENT THE LOWEST BIDDER COULD PERFORM THE WORK.
THE WORK WILL TAKE PLACE DURING STANDARD WORK HOURS WITH A PARTIAL CLOSURE OF PARKING ALONG ELECTRIC AVENUE AND FENCING ESTABLISHED AROUND A SMALL WORK AREA FOR SAFETY.
THE WORK IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 3-4 WEEKS.
EPSTOR FIELD WILL REMAIN OPEN DURING THE WORK.
ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE QUESTIONS?
>> I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A CLEANING.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WHEN COULD THE WORK ON THIS BE COMPLETE AND THEN OPEN UP THE WAY FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROJECT?
>> IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS AS SOON AS THE CONTRACTOR MOBILIZES.
>> THAT'S AN UNDETERMINED TIMEFRAME.
>> YES. BUT WE'VE SPOKEN WITH THEM AND DON'T EXPECT AN EXCEEDINGLY AMOUNT OF DELAY.
>> JUST TURN IT BACK INTO THE EQUATION OF WHEN THE TURF COULD BE IN AND HOW THAT SYNCS UP WITH SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES.
>> PLANNING TO ENGAGE A DESIGN-BUILD DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR THE BALL FIELD AND PROBABLY GET THAT UNDERWAY.
TO AT LEAST DEVELOP A PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND HIRE A DESIGN-BUILD TEAM TO DO THE WORK.
I NEED TO TALK WITH THE ACTIVE LIVING FOLKS TO TRY AND SCHEDULE THE WORK SO IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THEIR PROGRAMMING.
I'M ANTICIPATING IT WOULD BE DONE SOMETIME, PROBABLY IN THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR.
>> I'LL SAVE THEM FOR ANOTHER NIGHT MORNING, DAY, WEEK. [LAUGHTER].
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $305,000 AND AWARD A CONTRACT WITH T&J INDUSTRIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $277,905 FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE EPSTOR STORM WATER VAULT.
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
WE'LL MOVE TO REQUEST AND PETITIONS IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD ANYTHING ELSE TO THE CITY COMMISSION NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO, PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE DO SO. WE'LL OPEN IT UP.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL OPEN UP REQUEST AND PETITIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL WITH US ON ZOOM.
IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD ANY ITEM TO
[05:20:02]
THIS BODY TODAY NOW'S YOUR LAST CHANCE TO DO THAT.PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND AND WE'LL CALL ON YOU.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE REQUEST AND PETITIONS AND MOVE
[VIII. Reports and Other Business ]
TO APPOINTMENTS TO THE DOWNTOWN MASTERPLAN AND PLANNING STEERING COMMITTEE.>> YOU HAVE SEEN ME A LOT TONIGHT.
THE LAST ITEM IS THE REQUEST FOR THE CITY COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A STEERING COMMITTEE AS PART OF THE DOWNTOWN MASTERPLAN AND TO A POINT, ITS MEMBERSHIP.
JUST BEFORE THE MEETING TONIGHT, I DID HAND OUT A MEMORANDUM AND IT PROVIDES THE LIST OF NAMES.
I HAVE SOME EXTRAS IF IT GOT MISPLACED.
GREAT, THE STEERING COMMITTEE WILL SERVE AS AN ADVISORY GROUP TO THE MKSK CONSULTANT TEAM AS WELL AS CITY STAFF THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS ANTICIPATED TO CONCLUDE IN MAY OF 2023.
THE STEERING COMMITTEE IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND UP TO FOUR MEETINGS OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME TO REVIEW PUBLIC MEETING MATERIALS IN ADVANCE OF THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS, PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS, AND PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS.
THEY WILL WORK WITH MKSK, AND CITY STAFF TO ASSEMBLE THE FINDINGS FROM THE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO REFLECT THE VISION AND THE PRINCIPLES THAT THE COMMUNITY HAVE BROUGHT FORTH TO US.
THEN TO ALSO HELP BUILD SUPPORT FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE DOWNTOWN MASTERPLAN COME LATE SPRING.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 16 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING COMMISSIONER WALSH.
WE HAVE OUR FIRST ONE WHICH IS ZACK ABDULLAHI, I'M SORRY IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING THAT, BUT HE IS WITH THE DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL.
ARISH ASTINA HUSTLE, WHICH IS A RESIDENT AT LARGE, I BELIEVE HE LIVES IN THE GLENN WOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
SHAQUILA AITEN IS A MEMBER OF THE THETA TOURISM BOARD.
MARYANNE BANKS, IS THE EQUITY DIRECTOR AT THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR.
TRISHA BENSON IS FROM THE EMORY NURSING LEARNING CENTER.
LISA BOB IS A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNER.
DARREN KUMAR IS A DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBER, DIANE CAPRIOLA IS A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNER.
DOUG FANS IS A VICE PRESIDENT AT AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE.
CATHY CANNON IS A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT, AS WELL AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION.
JOE GRECO IS A PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD MEMBER.
RICHARD MILEBA, IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD MEMBER, AS WELL AS THE DOWNTOWN OFFICE TENANT.
LAILA MILLER IS THE DOWNTOWN RESIDENT.
ALYSSA PACULIK IS A DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNER.
TODD SPEED IS A PASTOR AT DECATUR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND WORKS VERY MUCH SO WITH THE IN-HOUSE POPULATION.
THEN, OF COURSE AS I MENTIONED COMMISSIONER KELLY WALSH AS A LIAISON TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
THOSE ARE THE MEMBERS THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD.
WITH THAT, I REQUEST THAT YOU ESTABLISH THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND APPOINT THESE MEMBERS WHO ARE EMPHATICALLY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
I SPOKE WITH MANY OF THEM OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS AND THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING. THANK YOU.
>> GOT QUICK QUESTION. WAS THERE ANY THOUGHT TO PUTTING SOMEONE FROM ACTIVE LIVING ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE.
>> SUCH AS A PEDESTRIAN COMMITTEE MEMBER OR WHICH DIRECTION ARE YOU THINKING?
>> I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE LIST OF PEOPLE THINKING, AS WE DO OUR DOWNTOWN PLAN AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR PARKS MASTER PLAN, JUST SOME SYNERGY FROM JUST CONVERSATION FROM THE GROUP. JUST A THOUGHT.
>> I DON'T [LAUGHTER] NECESSARILY HAVE A MEMBER TO BRING FORTH TO YOU.
I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY MANAGER FOR ADVICE HERE OR MAYBE BE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T HAVE A NAME. I WAS JUST LOOKING AT ALL THE GROUPS REPRESENTED AND THINKING, GREAT TO HAVE SOMEONE.
>> JACK KETTLE IS PRESENTLY SERVING ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN.
>> WOULD IT BE MAYBE TO TAKE IT BACK TO ACTIVE LIVING AND SEE IF THEY WOULD BRING A NAME FORWARD TO US?
>> THEN WE CAN HAVE THAT AT YOUR NEXT MEETING FOR AN APPOINTMENT.
>> GREAT IDEA. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPOINT THE NAMED FOLKS TO THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN?
[05:25:04]
>> FOR THE DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND WE WELCOME THESE FOLKS AND WE'LL WELCOME AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER AT OUR NEXT MEETING FROM ACTIVE LIVING.
WITH THAT, I WILL SEE IF ANYONE FROM THE STAFF HAS ANY ADDITIONAL.
>> [LAUGHTER] I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO.
>> WE WILL WRAP UP OUR COMMENTS AND BE DONE FOR THE EVENING, SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MAYER.
>> I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS BRINGING FORTH SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED FEEDBACK WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ORDINANCES.
SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE ORDINANCES IN THE PAST, IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, HAVE OFTEN BEEN USED AS A WEAPON AGAINST THE BLACK CITIZENS OF DECATUR.
BEFORE I CONTINUE, I WANT TO SAY, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY PERSON WHO GAVE A COMMENT, CAME TO CITY HALL TODAY, SENT AN EMAIL, GAVE FEEDBACK, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT FEEDBACK WAS, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND OUR NEIGHBORS THAT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THEY ARE SO IMPASSIONED, THEY'RE GIVING A STATEMENT OR A COMMENT THAT THEY MAY NOT REALIZE IS VERY TRIGGERING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THAT FROM OUR BEAUTIFUL DECATUR HISTORIC ARCHIVES.
I'M GOING TO READ YOU A LETTER FROM A CITY MANAGER AND THE HISTORY OF DECATUR, NOT THIS CITY MANAGER, NOR WAS IT A CITY MANAGER WHO IS HER PREDECESSOR, JUST TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
I AM GOING TO OMIT NAMES JUST BECAUSE FAMILIES MAY STILL BE IN THE AREA, BUT THIS IS A LETTER FROM A CITY MANAGER TO A CITIZEN.
IT SAYS, "MAYER HAMILTON HAS ASKED ME TO INFORM YOU THAT HE IS DOING EVERYTHING WITHIN HIS POWER TO KEEP THE CITY OF DECATUR IN THE SAME MANNER THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE LIVED HERE SO LONG HAVE LEARNED TO LOVE.
WE ONLY HOPE THAT YOU CITIZENS WILL STAND FIRM, AND RETAIN YOUR HOMES IN SPITE OF ANY THREAT OF AN ELEMENT THAT MAY MOVE INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO COULD NOT MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY TO THE SAME DEGREE OF EXCELLENCE THAT YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE NOW DOING.
YOU MAY BE ASSURED THAT IF THERE IS ANY HELP THAT THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION CAN GIVE YOU, THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO DO SO AT ANY TIME." NOW I'D LIKE TO READ YOU THE LETTER.
DEAR MAYOR, MAY I TAKE JUST A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME AND ASK YOU A QUESTION WHICH I FEEL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
I'M A PROPERTY OWNER ON A STREET IN OAK COAST.
THE GROWING NEGRO COMMUNITY DOWN COLLEGE AVENUE HAS ME WORRIED.
ARE THEY COMING ON OVER INDICATOR, OR IS DECATUR KEEPING THEM CENTRALIZED? I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU ADVISING ME JUST WHAT THE SCORE IS CURSIVE ALONG THESE LINES.
PLEASE DO ALL IN YOUR POWER TO KEEP THEM AWAY.
MANY OF MY KIRKWOOD FRIENDS ARE PASSING AWAY AND THE REST GRIEVING THEMSELVES TO A SLOW DEATH BECAUSE THEIR HOMES ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.
I DO NOT AGREE WITH ANY PART OF THE SITUATION, I RESPECTFULLY COMMEND DECATUR FOR TRYING TO GIVE THEM EQUAL ADVANTAGES, BUT NOT MIXING US ALTOGETHER.
GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS, SINCERELY NEIGHBOR. THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
I JUST CLOSE TONIGHT BY SAYING, AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD MAKING DECATUR THE BEST DECATUR IT COULD BE WE FACTOR IN THAT WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY, AND THAT WE SHOULD GIVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS WITH THE SENSITIVITY THAT OUR CITY'S HISTORY DESERVES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, THAT'S ALL FOR ME TONIGHT.
>> WELL, I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING AND SO IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY HAVE A PLAN FOR VOTING, PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE.
I ENJOYED SEEING A DECATUR ONE-ON-ONE CLASS ACTUALLY BEFORE MY FIRST GRADUATION CEREMONY.
I'VE TALKED TO MAYOR PRO TEAM, GETS SOME POINTERS FROM HIS DAY SESSION.
I, LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS IN DECATUR, ARE A LITTLE DISHEARTENED TO HEAR THE NEWS ABOUT KROGER, BUT HOPEFUL, THAT WE WILL FIND ANOTHER GROCERY STORE TO COME IN AND TAKE ITS PLACE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR DOWNTOWN DECATUR.
A LOT OF FOLKS, PARTICULARLY [NOISE] SENIORS, WALK THERE, AND SO AS YOU'RE DOING YOUR DOWNTOWN MASTERPLAN OR OUR DOWNTOWN MASTERPLAN, BUT JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.
[05:30:01]
THEN I DID ENJOY HEARING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ZONING CHANGE HERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES IN THE QUADPLEXES.I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER MAYER RAISED SOME VERY GOOD POINT.
SHE HAD SHARED THOSE WORDS WITH ME EARLIER, AND I THANK HER FOR THAT BECAUSE IT DOES HELP PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE AND INFORM US AS WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WALSH.
>> THANKS. IT'S HARD TO SEE ANYTHING SUPER PROFOUND AT THIS HOUR, AND NOT MAKE AN UNFORCED ERROR.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I HOSTED, AND HELPED TO CONVENE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY CAN'T BE THERE, AND HE IS MY CLOSE NEIGHBOR NEARBY, JUST AN AWESOME BLOCK PARTY LAST EVENING.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S WHAT DECATUR DOES, WE ALL GET TOGETHER IF WE CAN IN A SHARED SPACE, HAVE FOOD, MUSIC, TALK, AND WE LIVE, I THINK IN A PRETTY DIVERSE HOUSING ENVIRONMENT.
ON MY STREET, I HAD SOME NEIGHBORS COME TONIGHT, I COULD HEAR THEIR COMMENTS AND I VALUE THOSE.
I THINK LIVING LIKE WE DO IN A CITY THAT CAN OFFER DIVERSE HOUSING NOW, THAT'S LEFTOVER AND THEN ADD TO IT, COULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
JUST THINK ABOUT THE BLOCK PARTY AND EVERYBODY WHO GOT TO COME AND THE TYPES OF HOUSING ON OUR STREET AND NEARBY THAT MAKE IT INTERESTING AND COOL AND FUN, AND EVERYBODY REALLY ENJOYED EACH OTHER AND JUST KEPT, I FEEL LIKE LEANING INTO THE MOMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD IN A WHILE DURING THE PANDEMIC, SO I WAS VERY MUCH FILLED WITH COMMUNITY AND FRIENDSHIP AND HOPE THAT WE WILL WORK OUT EVERYTHING WE NEED TO WORK OUT.
I VALUE A REALLY GOOD MEETING TONIGHT, ALL THE COMMUNITY INPUT, AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR STREET.
GO TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, SPEND SOME TIME, AND RECONNECT WITH WHAT DECATUR IS AND HAS BEEN FOR YOU, AND I WOULD HOPE FOR NEWER PEOPLE HERE AND THE FOLKS THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR, THEY'LL GET TO EXPERIENCE AN AWESOME BLOCK PARTY LIKE I DID.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
THOSE THAT ARE STILL PARTICIPATING ON ZOOM OR WATCHING REMOTELY, THESE ARE JUST TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS TO HAVE AND TO QUOTE EDD LEE, WORDS MATTER.
WHILE WORDS DO MATTER AND THEY DO RING TRUE STILL TO THIS DAY, ACTIONS MATTER.
I KNOW FOR 14 OR SO YEARS, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED FOR ACTIONS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ARE LISTENING AND WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN.
WHILE THERE IS NO HOMERUN SOLUTION, ALL OF THESE TWO PERCENT SOLUTIONS WILL GIVE US MORE TOOLS IN THE TOOLKIT IN ORDER TO GRAPPLE WITH A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.
NOT JUST HERE IN THE STATE, HERE IN THE CITY, NATIONWIDE, WORLDWIDE.
THERE'S AFFORDABILITY ISSUES AND MISSING METALS NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS HERE AND TRY TO COME UP WITH WHAT WORKS FOR OUR CITY, AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
I THINK THAT WE WOULD DO PEOPLE A DISSERVICE BY NOT HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, BUT ALSO KNOWING THAT IT COULD IMPACT OUR NEXT LEADERS.
WE COULD BE BRINGING OUR NEXT LEADER IN OR WE WERE GROOMING THE NEXT CITY MANAGER OR SOMETHING, SOMEONE THAT'S EXPOSED TO OUR CITY, AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.
I WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT REFLECTS THOSE VALUES WE VOTED ON PRONOUNS TODAY, AND I REMEMBERED READING SOMETHING THAT, WHY DON'T WE TALK ABOUT CRIME? WELL, WE DO, BUT WE ALSO TALK ABOUT INCLUSION, AND SO THIS IS WHAT THAT WORK IS.
THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
CHRISTIAN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED, AND BELIEVE ME, WE WILL GIVE YOU AS MUCH FEEDBACK AS YOU CAN HAVE.
[LAUGHTER] AGAIN, THANKS EVERYONE FOR A FANTASTICALLY LONG MEETING, I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THE CITY'S WORK THIS MORNING.
>> I WILL SAY THANK YOU TO OUR DECATUR ONE-ON-ONE PARTICIPANTS, AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO, AND IT [LAUGHTER] ACTUALLY WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
I GUESS I WANT TO END THE MEETING SIMILAR TO THE WAY I STARTED IT.
I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE US AND APPRECIATE THE CIVILITY WITH WHICH EVERYONE
[05:35:05]
CAME AND MADE THEIR COMMENTS AND KNOW THAT WE CAN DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.THAT APPRECIATE THE PATIENCE OF EVERYONE UP HERE, EVERYONE OUT THERE, AND EVERYONE WHO CAME TO SPEAK.
THAT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, BUT WE ARE UP HERE DOING OUR BEST TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND FIND A WAY TO OPEN DOORS FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THANKS AGAIN, EVERYONE, AND TO MR. LEAK'S DELIGHT, I'M SURE [LAUGHTER] WE SHALL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 12:45.
[BACKGROUND]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.