05/18/98 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 1724, Hinutes 14 Nay 18, 1998 University City a more attractive place to live." "Background - Despite University City's urban scale orientation, it has maintained a comfortable relationship with nature due to a large measure to its permanent open spaces and dense tree cover. At the bottom it goes on to say, "Because of the age of development in University City, mature trees are plentiful on residential lots throughout the City, and the City's parks contain many large trees as well. When viewed from the air, University City looks like a city of trees." Then it goes on to talk about Problems/Needs/Opportunities, "Good Tree cover and open green spaces are well recognized as community assets. The dense tree cover is a unifying element in the streetscape, a source of cooling and shade. It gives a sense of enclosure and shelter, and is a major contributor to making University City such a livable place. University City's trees and its forestry program have always been a source of pride to the community. Each year since 1982, University City has received the Tree City, U.S.A. award for its forestry program." Under Recommendations," Policies - 1. Maintain the dense tree cover throughout the community." Under Special Community Qualities - Neighborhood Character, Chapter 14, "The individualistic nature of University City's subdivisions has created strong neighborhood identity and neighborhood pride. Neighborhood organizations frequently fight the City administration if they feel the individual character of their neighborhood is threatened by a proposed change..." Under Problem/Needs/Opportunities, "The individual and varied character gives charm to the neighborhoods, preserves the sense of place, lends human scale to urban spaces..." Then going backward on page 23, "Citizen workshops held June 29 and September 25, 1982 also elicited strong positive feelings toward neighborhoods accompanied by suggestions for the maintenance and improvement of neighborhoods, included," in item tt4, "Maintenance of the dense tree cover, replacing trees as needed;". The reason she is bringing this to Council's and the City Manager's attention, is because the old, many varieties of trees, located on the properties acquired by the Gatesworth, will be lost because of the change in open space requirements. She encouraged the Council and the City Manager to come back out and take a look at the neighborhood again and see how losing the dense canopy of tree cover, which is protected by the Master Plan, will affect their neighborhood. She said that the new zoning code was adopted in November of 1997, and already in February, changes were being discussed. An attachment of the Plan Commission hearing minutes noted that the Plan Commission found that the current ordinance standard is not appropriate for housing development in an elevator building and would recommend a proposed amendment to the common open space requirement, subject to the condition that it comply with the common open space requirements of the ordinance as such provision is amended. She wanted to know the Council's interpretation of open space and how it would affect their neighborhood. She asked that the vote on this bill be tabled so that Council can visit the neighborhood. Bill Number 8385 was given its second reading. Bill Number 8385 was given its third reading.