Friday, June 19, 2009

Odds and Ends 122

During this past week I have encountered more local residents who have opinions concerning the dwelling density that may be at Ponte Vista.

What shouldn't but continues to surprise me is the number of folks who still want R1 density or less!

"R1" density would be equivalent to having one dwelling unit per a minimum of 5,000 square foot lots on the site.

I know and fully understand that there are many members of OUR community who want higher dwelling density there, but it still remains an issue that there are quite a few members of OUR community who continue to insist on keeping the site with its current zoning and not allowing any zoning changes to occur.
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I still don't know the date of the first Open House the Ponte Vista Outreach Team is planning for July. When I learn it I will update this blog.

In the mean time, you are encouraged to submit your ideas, comments, reasoning, and density ideas to Mr. Jim Oswald, the facilitator who is accumulating information for the developer of Ponte Vista and the Outreach Team. Mr. Oswald's Email address for this is:
jimoswaldcomments@gmail.com.
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I continue to stick with my current belief that Ponte Vista at San Pedro could be built with no more than 831 dwelling units.

This would keep it equivalent in dwelling density with The Gardens which has been around for decades and has better access routes than Ponte Vista.

The Planning Departments suggestion that Ponte Vista should contain between 775-886 units allows my concept to fall within those numbers.

The Gardens has easy access to both Gaffey and Western while Ponte Vista residents and others at the site will have only Western.
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During more than one conversation I had during the week, several people asked me about gestures the development team could do to really demonstrate their intentions to build at Ponte Vista and improve OUR community.

One individual asked why Ponte Vista would not go ahead and provide at least one pocket turning lane somewhere.

I thought it might be a good idea to see the left turn lane into S. John Montgomery from southbound Western elongated ASAP to allow more turns towards Mary Star.

What about placing tarps around the perimeter of the property to help shield views of blighted dwellings and yards?

Of course these measures would cost money, but it could demonstrate to members of OUR community that Mr. Fentin and his team are really here for the long haul and not just to acquire entitlements to the site, then sell those entitlements off and leave the area.

So far, and including the upcoming Open House, there is still the strong air that everything the developers and Outreach Team is doing is just marketing the site. 

It would probably take a dramatic, positive, and deliberate step to convince doubters that they are all here to develop Ponte Vista at San Pedro according to approved ordinances and not just getting the place ready to get sold off.
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"Jim" offered the first comment to this post and it was so good, I am putting it here with my response:

I don't understand why you are surprised that people still want R-1 density. Most people in town still insist on R-1 because it's what is best for the community. We're full, there's no more room here, trafic is already a nightmare. Enough is enough. There is no reason for the density to increase, or the zoning to change.

Why should our entire community and our quility of life suffer simply so a few people can make a huge profit. If they can't make a profit with the current zoning, than tuff luck, that's their problem, not ours. They should have been more carefull and done more research before handing over money for such a project. Their attemps to wear the community down are not working. I don't trust them any farther than I can throw them. They don't care about you or me, or anyone else who live around here. They only want to get the maximum number of units approved so they can sell off the property to someone who will no doubt use the density bonus and then try build something nobody wants


Thanks Jim, for your comment.

What the is surprise to me is that there are still so very many members of OUR community who continue to insist on R1 and that is perfectly fine and even wonderful to me.

On the supporting side, those folks support whatever a developer proposes, no matter how many units are in the offering.

But staunch R1 supporters took their stand and never budged, no matter what the developer is attempting to market.

I have written many times about what Janice and Bob said at the very first CAC meeting and how it didn't look likely at all that R1 would eventually remain on the property.

But by golly, the great number of folks who have stuck by their guns and continue to call for keeping the current zoning is still impressive to me.

If R1 remains on the site, that will be proven to be the best solution for OUR community.

I feel very strongly that 1,395-units, the current number proposed by the developer, is still far too many and definitely NOT the best solution for OUR community.

If R.P.V. is about to allow voters to levy higher taxes on hotel/motel businesses, perhaps the five closest zip codes to Ponte Vista should be used to offer a referendum to folks living in those areas on what should be built at Ponte Vista.
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2 comments:

Jim said...

I don't understand why you are surprised that people still want
R-1 density. Most people in town still insist on R-1 because it's what is best for the community. We're full, there's no more room here, trafic is already a nightmare. Enough is enough. There is no reason for the density to increase, or the zoning to change.
Why should our entire community and our quility of life suffer simply so a few people can make a huge profit. If they can't make a profit with the current zoning, than tuff luck, that's their problem, not ours. They should have been more carefull and done more research before handing over money for such a project. Their attemps to wear the community down are not working. I don't trust them any farther than I can throw them. They don't care about you or me, or anyone else who live around here. They only want to get the maximum number of units approved so they can sell off the property to someone who will no doubt use the density bonus and then try build something nobody wants

M Richards said...

Thanks Jim, for your comment.

What is the surprise to me is that there are still so very many members of OUR community who continue to insist on R1 and that is perfectly fine and even wonderful to me.

On the supporting side, those folks support whatever a developer proposes no matter how many units are in the offering.

But staunch R1 supporters took their stand and never budged, no matter what the developer is attempting to market.

I have written many times about what Janice and Bob said at the very first CAC meeting and how it didn't look likely at all that R1 would eventually remain on the property.

But by golly, the great number of folks who have stuck by their guns and continue to call for keeping the current zoning is still impressive to me.

If R1 remains on the site, that will be proven to be the best solution for OUR community.

I feel very strongly that 1,395-units, the current number proposed by the developer is still far too many and definitely NOT the best solution for OUR community.

If R.P.V. is about to allow voters to levy higher taxes on hotel/motel businesses, perhaps the five closest zip codes to Ponte Vista should be used to offer a referendum to folks living in those areas on what should be built at Ponte Vista.