Judy Whalen, facilitator of the Union Smart Growth Plan, speaks at June Board Meeting and asks board to disregard planning commission if they think members might not have followed plan but rather their personal preferences
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But is it not true that the ' smart plan' is merely suggestive and not a Bible ? I think when anytown is considering annexation or building permits, residential or commercial first and foremost must come the concerns of the residents who have to live in that area. They have the right to get what they paid for. By adding that much growth or adding commercial business's in residential areas is wrong. Good for Union they have people who listen to their residents, Evansville could stand to take a few lessons.
ReplyDeleteChasin the news:
ReplyDeleteYou are quick to bash Evansville government, but I ask where were you when the Council unanimously voted against moving a proposed development from the future land use map to the interim land use map largely in part because it was clear that the residents were against such a move?
As a member of the city council I am very proud that my voting record, in the cases that tend to be a tad more controversial, can be attributed to the following: (1) the voices of my constituents, (2) the Evansville Smart Growth Plan & (3) the best interests of the City of Evansville. All of us on the City Council obviously live in this community as well and therefore truly want the best for this community. We may not always agree on what is in the best interests of the community and frankly if we did it would be scary and undemocratic in my opinion.
I appreciate the many people that use these blogs to voice their opinions on various subjects in and around this community. I sometimes get dismayed when the people who decided to serve their city and make that sacrifice are arbitrarily discounted with nothing more than a vague assertion. I do, on the other hand, understand that this is the kind of reaction that ones in the public eye must deal with.
This year there has yet to be a meeting in the City of Evansville that has been attended by more than 20 citizens (that I have been at). Last year there were more than a few meetings that brought out the public. My point is that it goes both ways. There is obviously a responsibility on the part of council members to vote in a responsible and representative manner, but there is also a responsibility on residents to inform there council members of their feelings and also to be informed about the current state of the city.
Despite the small amount of negative feedback the council receives I have thoroughly enjoyed my time representing the city and I do hope to eventually have people with lasting negative feelings towards city government to change their tune.
Regards:
Mason Braunschweig
Alderperson District 1
City Council President
Yes. Well said.
ReplyDeleteThe Evansville Planning Commission over the past 12 months has consistently listened to the public and done their best to follow the plan. The Union decision the other night at Union Board was the first. It was difficult. They too did a good job in my view in reviewing all of the elements of the plan and deciding. It is not a perfect process.
The future is ahead and that is when we do need the public to partipate with their alderman as Mr.Braunschweig suggests.
I will tell you where I was when the council and pc voted to move citgo into a residential area and rezoned to do so. AT EACH AND EVERY MEETING. P.C. and Council. I was there when both promised they would hold citgo to certain conditions, I was there when they realized citgo was not sitting where it was agreed it would sit according to the plans and had to rezone the parcel next to it to part of that being commericial. I am the one dealing with them plowing snow at 2am in the morning, I am the one who watches the trash blow across the street from their lot because they don't keep their trash empty, I am the one who has complained about their violation of sign ordinance and it was ignored. I was the one that questioned extra traffic from this expenditure, and it was ignored. I could go on and on. But instead of fix what the city agreed to let them do, and has not made them hold true to what they agreed to you want to put another mess in our back yard instead of our front. Nice, very nice.
ReplyDeleteI do think M.Braunschweig made some points, they do better than they used to. But I encourage him to look at the voting history regarding East Main, Exchange, Union, Franklin that entire area. I have been at numerous meetings where the pc, city council, smart growth committee, has called these areas, these houses ' blighted'. First of all, these people work just as hard as the people in the historic district, and the west side of town at preserving their homes and neighborhood. But yet when it comes to wanting commericial growth, at times the city has looked at making that area commercial, disregarding the work that has gone into the area. Everytime you put something such as moving that citgo into the residential area, and that purposed bar, it effects their propery value, and that comes straight from the lady who used to do the city assessments on property. I am not sure if she still does or not, but that is what they were told. Move commercial growth into their neighborhood, property values go down. There has been numerous problems and issues with the citgo they have had to fight every step of the way. The city has given them NO reason to think having a bar in their back yard would be any different. The other issue is how close it is to that park. I am also curious in the Janesville Gazette it says only part of that building will be used, its not that big to begin with, what is the capacity going to be? What about parking, there is none, deliveries? Music late at night?
ReplyDeleteGarbage? Many questions, would be nice to see the city take some time and really look at this, and not rush to vote. Take a good hard look at the voting record for that area. The city almost always socks it to them. I also suggest they get serious about replacing their alderpeople. I talked to one of them and could not believe the attitude I think he forgot who he works for.