----- Original Message -----
From: Rich <richminder@sunflower.com>
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
<Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Cc:
Sent: Mon Feb 25 13:59:05 2008
Subject: Zoning Text Change
This message regards an agenda item before you tomorrow
evening 2-26-08 regarding a request by the LCS for a text change to allow
Homeless Shelters in industrial locations.
I believe that the LCS is seeking this text change in order to avoid
rezoning process for a property located directly east of where I live.
Needless to say, a homeless shelter is an incompatable
land use with the homes in the area.
This request by LCS is an attempt to circumvent the historical purpose
of zoning regulations - to prevent the development of incompatible land uses,
to protect property values, to provide predictability in the real estate
development market and, importantly to provide citizens a means by which to
participate in the planning process.
I am truly sorry that homeless shelters for severely and
persistently mentally ill and chronically indigent persons is not generally
considered a land use that is compatible with residential land use
patterns. I also regret that our society
has failed to muster the political will to address the underlying problems that
lead to the need for homeless shelters of the type operated by LCS.
While I applaud the "vision" work done recently
by the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness or whatever its called, a
"vision" is not a plan. In the
absence of a real plan to address the underlying causes that lead to the need
for the LCS, I do not think it is responsible for the City Commission to allow
the LCS to avoid the hard but necessary work of properly addressing the
legitimate concerns of citizens and neighborhoods - especially the most
vulnerable neighborhoods - regarding the dumping of a concentration of
extremely high need persons into their midst.
I anticipate the the LCS would argue that "we have
to go somewhere". I would respond
by saying that there are lots of land uses that "need to go
somewhere". This is not an excuse
to take advantage of a vulnerable residential neighborhood by circumventing the
right of citizens to address development concerns.
Rich Minder