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Session 1718, Minutes <br />March 30, 1998 <br /> <br />6 <br /> <br />well being of the City's senior and their need of quality housing. She stated that a <br />protest petition against the rezoning was filed with the City this afternoon. Their <br />neighborhood is the prime example of what University City is about and is supposed to <br />represent. It is a model of interracial and intercultural harmony. It is a diverse, inviting <br />and stable neighborhood. They strongly believe that the proposed expansion will <br />encroach on the character of their neighborhood and their lives. A vote for this <br />rezoning will be a vote to erode neighborhoods. <br /> <br />Ms. Nancy Holekamp, 19 Willow Hill, Ladue, wished to voice her opposition to the <br />Gatesworth expansion. She and her husband presented a slide presentation depicting <br />pictures of their home as affected by the expansion. Trees and foliage will do little to <br />minimize the devastating effect of this massive building. The lights from the Gatesworth <br />are obtrusive to the surrounding homes. The new expansion will eliminate their views <br />of blue sky. She and her husband sent a letter with an appraisal on their home showing <br />that they would lose $35,000 on the appraised value of their property if this expansion <br />goes through. The University City Council has the obligation to act in such a way to <br />avoid significant detriment to adjacent property. She recommends modifying the plan <br />by increasing the setback to fifty feet, so that it meets code without a doubt. Her <br />second recommendation is that if the building is not moved back further, that the end of <br />the building that faces the south property line be reduced to a three story building, so <br />that it meets code. <br /> <br />Ms. Ann Byrnes, 18 Willow Hill, wished to voice her opposition to the Gatesworth <br />expansion. The people in DeI-Price and Willow Hill are not against the Gatesworth <br />itself. They realize its benefit to the community. People, however, should not have to <br />give up the quality of their homes and lives, so that the Gatesworth can improve their <br />financial station. She had sent Council a letter regarding her concerns about parking. <br />She feels the rezoning bill should not be introduced tonight. There are problems with <br />this and the Council does not have all the facts. She does not believe that the <br />development has to be eliminated, but does need to be better integrated into the <br />neighborhood. <br /> <br />Ms. Wendy Katz, 8708 West Kingsbury, wished to voice her opposition to the <br />Gatesworth expansion. They want to have some explanation as to what is driving the <br />master plan and how it was developed. They can not understand how this expansion <br />could be so necessary as to require removing years of neighborhood through buyouts <br />and inducing neighborhood stress and pain. She said that Sandy Vinyard, who earlier <br />testified in support of the Gatesworth expansion, had submitted a letter to the Traffic <br />Commission in 1996 detailing an incident where 911 had to be called in for her <br />husband. The ambulance was unable to get to them in a timely fashion because of all <br />of the parked cars from the Gatesworth. She said that many of the original <br />homeowners in their neighborhood had never heard of the Master Plan or participated <br /> <br /> <br />