HB Neighbors

In the recent city council meeting, which re-opened consideration of the DTSP, one of the seven council members was absent and another recused himself (we believe to avoid the conflict as he is up for re-election). The discussion seemed pretty staged as the City Staff took the opportunity for a 2^nd bite at the apple, adding additional elements to the DTSP that were only favorable to developers.

While there were some great public comments against the DTSP, the council did not seem receptive. The one person who spoke in favor for the DTSP was the owner of twelve lots on 5th Street. He stated he could not do anything with the property and needed the increased density to make development work. He made no mention of how a 45-ft building (ten feet over the houses across the alley) and the new density would impact the residents. Nor did he mention that with any likely new development being composed of restaurants and bars, the kids who play in the alley would have to share it with employees taking smoke breaks! Residents on 6th will be subjected to daylight conditions at night (created by large numbers of high pressure sodium lights), glass clanking and breaking at 3 am as bars close up shop for the night by emptying their trashcans filled with bottles in the alley, worsened summer traffic that is already impossible and the new businesses’ employees competing for parking spots that don’t exist.

Council member Bohr, using hand gestures, thought that the height would work, taking into consideration the space of the alley between the house and potential 45 ft building. Definition of “work” is of course subjective.

Everyone, including the land owner on 5th, purchased their property with the current use and plan in place.

It doesn’t make sense to me that the reward for a few has such toxic implications for the mass.

The council member who re-opened the DTSP with the idea of lowering the density was surprised when another council member bypassed her motion with an alternate motion to approve the DTSP with the additional staff recommendations. His motion won 3 to 2 and that was that.

We have plenty of available space in the downtown area for more restaurants, retail, office, etc. Unfortunately we have a number of businesses that have gone under and more that won’t last another 12 months. It’s a sad state of affairs, but it’s a reality. Why do we need to create more space when we can’t support and make what we have work?