[Iowa-dx] Developer Zone Change Shenanegans - Again ! ! !

[Iowa GreenRon]

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[IowaGreenDiscussion] Developer Zone Change Shenanegans - Again ! ! !þ
From: iowagreendiscussion@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Ronald Kinum (greenpartyron@hotmail.com)
Sent: Sat 10/06/07 8:42 PM 
Reply-to: IowaGreenDiscussion@yahoogroups.com 
To: IowaGreenDiscussion@yahoogroups.com 














Developer Zone Change Shenanegans - Again ! ! !This is an electronic message posted on the Johnson CountyProgressives list serve,that addresses the inherent incestrelationship between government and big business. Thissituation is seriously a problem in our "new" United Statesof America's corporate communistic mentality, which iseffectively circumventing Democracy (note that I alwaysrespectfully capitalize Democracy, unlike newspapers! Alsonote that I refer to our USA as NOT being "America", sinceAmerica is a vertical hemisphere that is almost 300 yearsolder than our United States OF America!):From : Moral Fortunes <MoralFortunes@hotmail.com>Reply-To : jcprogressive-unmoderated@yahoogroups.comSent : Saturday, October 6, 2007 8:09 PMTo : jcprogressive-unmoderated@yahoogroups.comSubject : RE: [jcprogressive-unmoderated] About theMonster Building at the Planning and Zoning MeetingTonightThanks, Charlotte. Here is what I said at the Planning andZoning Commission meeting at City Hall. I would like tocaution that I was not feeling well, and so I was tryingnot to caugh my head off during this meeting, and so, dueto this and my diabetes, I did not read the text I hadprepared completely accurately, so this account may varyfrom the official account, but not by substantial amounts._____________________________I am Ronald Kinum, a resident of Capitol House Apartments,and a member of Iowa City Citizens Community Organization,a grass roots community advocacy organization, as well asa member of Johnson County Green Party.Tonight we have in this meeting at Iowa City Hall adecision to be made about the proposed construction of aten to twelve story commercial apartment for universitystudents, some of the apartments of which will be fivebedroom apartments! We can only guess what students willdo with five bedroom apartments, maybe they will beencouraged to go into the sub-leasing business?The building that is proposed will be built on the tinylot where the former 1880s Saint Patrick's Church oncestood, which was torn down because it was somewhat damagedin last year's tornado. The building could have beenrestored, but the cost and the unsuitability for the lackof parking space condemned the historic church.But now a monster building that is almost two times tallerthan the tallest of the surrounding buildings, which isCapitol House Apartments where I live, for lower-incomeand senior residents, where I am a resident, will cut offthe view, the sunlight, and will create a mini-Chicagoatmosphere if allowed to be built in our small city.The first big question in this issue is, why isn't thereenough time for citizens to be informed prior to adeveloper wanting to change our community through a zonechange or construction application?There should be a minimum interim period of two weeksnotice when a planning and zoning commission or committeeor the city government is to consider any proposal thatchanges our community's atmosphere, economics, lifestyles,and or the community infrastructure through changes of anykind, so that the public can become informed and can planon appearing in official session to either complain aboutor support the changes or proposed construction.The second big question is why is the developer and/or thedevelopment representatives going first to the citygovernment, and not to the public for their input? This isa highly anti-Democracy process that basically excludesthe public. There is no time for public interaction withinthe public's private associations with other citizens, toeven be able to discuss a change in our community.And the third big question is, with any major impact uponour community due to over-sized construction, where isthere any rationale that the construction meets anycriteria for bettering our community as opposed to simplyenhancing the bank account of the developer? Shouldn'tthere be a mandatory verification that the community willnot be adversely affected by increased property taxes,increased traffic congestion, increased numbers oftemporary residents who have no interest in our communitybut who impact our community's living standards,deterioration in the atmosphere that we all enjoy as asmall city community with our rural small townnon-commercial neighborhoods and local small businesseswho struggle to not be out-competed by global corporateanti-competitive products and services?We have an onslaught of developer projects in our citythat seeks to displace traditional residents by inflictinga change in the local atmosphere that current residentscannot tolerate, namely the pleasant tree-lined ruralsmall city we have had all these years, and by assaultingsmall businesses with high-intensity businesses thatoverpower their economic attractiveness and services, andwhich raises the property taxes on all residents and smallbusinesses because the large-scale businesses can supportthe increased valuations due to their non-communityregional or national economic base.The proposed construction of the high-rise building on thenorthwest corner of Linn Street and Court Street is NOTthe same assault on our community that the Vetro Hotel andwhat is now the Sheraton Hotel brought to us in the recentpast, and the horrible Heironymous building proposed forthe corner of Court and Clinton Streets that all that theysought to attain, which is egocentric non-compatiblenon-community architecture and commercialism.But none of them including this new proposed studentapartment project on the corner of Linn and Court Streetsfit in the neighborhoods because the size and scope of theedifices is excessive to the location, none of them complywith the traditional zoning standards since they are sohuge, and none of them enhance the present downtowncommercial district who rely on local residents and not onnon-community business, none of them appeal to thetraditional atmosphere of the community in any way.It is time for the developers to realize that no, they donot have any right to simply build anything they want tobuild in any community, and regardless of the community'ssocial and commercial realm. Rights are only granted tocitizens, not to developer companies, and that has alwaysbeen true, even if government and judicial officers haveturned their heads away from the citizens in the past withrespect to that fact.It is time to bring Democracy into this picture, and tellthe developers they cannot change our community to suittheir selfish egocentric wealth motives. This project mustnot be allowed to be built by a change of the zoning laws,although I do appreciate the architectural appearance ofthe building on the outside appearance. But it needs to beno more than six stories high.____________________________________________________________._,_.___ 
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Help yourself to FREE treats served up daily at the Messenger Café. Stop by today.
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<DIV class=dReadMsgHeaderSubject style="FONT-SIZE: medium">[IowaGreenDiscussion] Developer Zone Change Shenanegans - Again ! ! !þ</DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=dReadMsgHeaderItem><SPAN class=dReadMsgHeaderSenderLabel>From:</SPAN> <SPAN class=dReadMsgHeaderSender><B>iowagreendiscussion@yahoogroups.com</B> on behalf of <B>Ronald Kinum</B> (<A href="mailto:greenpartyron@hotmail.com">greenpartyron@hotmail.com</A>)</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=dReadMsgHeaderItem><SPAN class=dReadMsgHeaderToLabel>Sent:</SPAN> <SPAN class=dReadMsgHeaderTo>Sat 10/06/07 8:42 PM</SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=dReadMsgHeaderItem><SPAN class=dReadMsgHeaderReplyToLabel>Reply-to:</SPAN> <SPAN class=dReadMsgHeaderReplyTo>IowaGreenDiscussion@yahoogroups.com</SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=dReadMsgHeaderItem><SPAN class=dReadMsgHeaderToLabel>To: </SPAN><SPAN class=dReadMsgHeaderTo>IowaGreenDiscussion@yahoogroups.com</SPAN> </DIV></DIV>
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<DIV id=EC_ygrp-text>Developer Zone Change Shenanegans - Again ! ! !<BR><BR>This is an electronic message posted on the Johnson County<BR>Progressives list serve,that addresses the inherent incest<BR>relationship between government and big business. This<BR>situation is seriously a problem in our "new" United States<BR>of America's corporate communistic mentality, which is<BR>effectively circumventing Democracy (note that I always<BR>respectfully capitalize Democracy, unlike newspapers! Also<BR>note that I refer to our USA as NOT being "America", since<BR>America is a vertical hemisphere that is almost 300 years<BR>older than our United States OF America!):<BR><BR>From : Moral Fortunes &lt;<A onclick=onClickUnsafeLink(event); href="mailto:MoralFortunes@hotmail.com">MoralFortunes@<WBR>hotmail.com</A>&gt;<BR>Reply-To : <A onclick=onClickUnsafeLink(event); href="mailto:jcprogressive-unmoderated@yahoogroups.com">jcprogressive-<WBR>unmoderated@<WBR>yahoogroups.<WBR>com</A><BR>Sent : Saturday, October 6, 2007 8:09 PM<BR>To : <A onclick=onClickUnsafeLink(event); href="mailto:jcprogressive-unmoderated@yahoogroups.com">jcprogressive-<WBR>unmoderated@<WBR>yahoogroups.<WBR>com</A><BR>Subject : RE: [jcprogressive-<WBR>unmoderated] About the<BR>Monster Building at the Planning and Zoning Meeting<BR>Tonight<BR><BR>Thanks, Charlotte. Here is what I said at the Planning and<BR>Zoning Commission meeting at City Hall. I would like to<BR>caution that I was not feeling well, and so I was trying<BR>not to caugh my head off during this meeting, and so, due<BR>to this and my diabetes, I did not read the text I had<BR>prepared completely accurately, so this account may vary<BR>from the official account, but not by substantial amounts.<BR>____________<WBR>_________<WBR>________<BR><BR>I am Ronald Kinum, a resident of Capitol House Apartments,<BR>and a member of Iowa City Citizens Community Organization,<BR>a grass roots community advocacy organization, as well as<BR>a member of Johnson County Green Party.<BR><BR>Tonight we have in this meeting at Iowa City Hall a<BR>decision to be made about the proposed construction of a<BR>ten to twelve story commercial apartment for university<BR>students, some of the apartments of which will be five<BR>bedroom apartments! We can only guess what students will<BR>do with five bedroom apartments, maybe they will be<BR>encouraged to go into the sub-leasing business?<BR><BR>The building that is proposed will be built on the tiny<BR>lot where the former 1880s Saint Patrick's Church once<BR>stood, which was torn down because it was somewhat damaged<BR>in last year's tornado. The building could have been<BR>restored, but the cost and the unsuitability for the lack<BR>of parking space condemned the historic church.<BR><BR>But now a monster building that is almost two times taller<BR>than the tallest of the surrounding buildings, which is<BR>Capitol House Apartments where I live, for lower-income<BR>and senior residents, where I am a resident, will cut off<BR>the view, the sunlight, and will create a mini-Chicago<BR>atmosphere if allowed to be built in our small city.<BR><BR>The first big question in this issue is, why isn't there<BR>enough time for citizens to be informed prior to a<BR>developer wanting to change our community through a zone<BR>change or construction application?<BR><BR>There should be a minimum interim period of two weeks<BR>notice when a planning and zoning commission or committee<BR>or the city government is to consider any proposal that<BR>changes our community's atmosphere, economics, lifestyles,<BR>and or the community infrastructure through changes of any<BR>kind, so that the public can become informed and can plan<BR>on appearing in official session to either complain about<BR>or support the changes or proposed construction.<BR><BR>The second big question is why is the developer and/or the<BR>development representatives going first to the city<BR>government, and not to the public for their input? This is<BR>a highly anti-Democracy process that basically excludes<BR>the public. There is no time for public interaction within<BR>the public's private associations with other citizens, to<BR>even be able to discuss a change in our community.<BR><BR>And the third big question is, with any major impact upon<BR>our community due to over-sized construction, where is<BR>there any rationale that the construction meets any<BR>criteria for bettering our community as opposed to simply<BR>enhancing the bank account of the developer? Shouldn't<BR>there be a mandatory verification that the community will<BR>not be adversely affected by increased property taxes,<BR>increased traffic congestion, increased numbers of<BR>temporary residents who have no interest in our community<BR>but who impact our community's living standards,<BR>deterioration in the atmosphere that we all enjoy as a<BR>small city community with our rural small town<BR>non-commercial neighborhoods and local small businesses<BR>who struggle to not be out-competed by global corporate<BR>anti-competitive products and services?<BR><BR>We have an onslaught of developer projects in our city<BR>that seeks to displace traditional residents by inflicting<BR>a change in the local atmosphere that current residents<BR>cannot tolerate, namely the pleasant tree-lined rural<BR>small city we have had all these years, and by assaulting<BR>small businesses with high-intensity businesses that<BR>overpower their economic attractiveness and services, and<BR>which raises the property taxes on all residents and small<BR>businesses because the large-scale businesses can support<BR>the increased valuations due to their non-community<BR>regional or national economic base.<BR><BR>The proposed construction of the high-rise building on the<BR>northwest corner of Linn Street and Court Street is NOT<BR>the same assault on our community that the Vetro Hotel and<BR>what is now the Sheraton Hotel brought to us in the recent<BR>past, and the horrible Heironymous building proposed for<BR>the corner of Court and Clinton Streets that all that they<BR>sought to attain, which is egocentric non-compatible<BR>non-community architecture and commercialism.<BR><BR>But none of them including this new proposed student<BR>apartment project on the corner of Linn and Court Streets<BR>fit in the neighborhoods because the size and scope of the<BR>edifices is excessive to the location, none of them comply<BR>with the traditional zoning standards since they are so<BR>huge, and none of them enhance the present downtown<BR>commercial district who rely on local residents and not on<BR>non-community business, none of them appeal to the<BR>traditional atmosphere of the community in any way.<BR><BR>It is time for the developers to realize that no, they do<BR>not have any right to simply build anything they want to<BR>build in any community, and regardless of the community's<BR>social and commercial realm. Rights are only granted to<BR>citizens, not to developer companies, and that has always<BR>been true, even if government and judicial officers have<BR>turned their heads away from the citizens in the past with<BR>respect to that fact.<BR><BR>It is time to bring Democracy into this picture, and tell<BR>the developers they cannot change our community to suit<BR>their selfish egocentric wealth motives. This project must<BR>not be allowed to be built by a change of the zoning laws,<BR>although I do appreciate the architectural appearance of<BR>the building on the outside appearance. But it needs to be<BR>no more than six stories high.<BR>____________<WBR>_________<WBR>_________<WBR>_________<WBR>_________<WBR>_________<WBR>_<BR><BR><BR></DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: white">__._,_.___</SPAN> </DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV><br /><hr />Help yourself to FREE treats served up daily at the Messenger Café. <a href='http://www.cafemessenger.com/info/info_sweetstuff2.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_OctWLtagline' target='_new'>Stop by today!</a></body>
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