1990-01-24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes - Plan Commission 4It Page 5 January 24, 1990 . Mr. Byron Price, Councilmember representing the 3rd Ward, stated that he and Ms. Betty Thompson, the other 3rd Ward Councilmember, both support the language for amendment of the 1986 Comprehensive Plan as currently proposed by the City Manager. Mr. Price stated his belief that this language balances the two factors important to consideration of any redevelopment proposal: economic gain versus neighborhood stability. Mr. Price believed that the language would prevent wholesale destruction of solid, long-standing neighborhoods such as the Musick subdivision and Roth Grove. Mr. Rory Ellinger, 7340 Melrose Avenue, introduced himself as President of the Musick Subdivision Neighborhood Association and asked the Commission to note the number of Musick neighborhood leaders present to support the currently proposed language. The Musick neighborhood leaders had asked Mr. Alfred Kahn, Professor Emeritus of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville to comment on their behalf regarding the proposed amendment. Professor Kahn, a resident of University City, expressed his support for the proposed amendment stating that the chances for real economic development pressure along the Olive commercial corridor are extremely slight. He continued by saying that the Olive Boulevard Commercial District Plan by Harland Bartholomew & Associates identifies more redevelopment sites along Olive than the City could ever hope to obtain projects for. The revival of the City's residential neighborhoods has been extremely successful and, in his opinion, has contributed more to the City's tax base than recent commercial redevelopment. Professor Kahn believes that any anxiety on the part of residents regarding commercial intrusion into their neighborhoods can quickly create a downturn in neighborhood stability and maintenance. Mr. Don Wylan, 7354 Melrose, expressed his appreciation to the Commission for their patience in considering the amendments and listening to residents' concerns. After further discussion, Chairman McCauley reminded those present that passage of the proposed amendments would require a majority vote of the entire Commission membership according to state law. Mr. Kendall believed that the issues regarding the proposed amendments had been thoroughly explored at the last Commission meeting and again at this public hearing; he therefore moved that the Plan Commission approve the amendments to the language of the 1986 Comprehensive Plan for the City of University City as proposed by the City Manager as of October 18, 1989. Mr. Marsh seconded the motion. Chairman McCauley called for any further discussion of the motion. Al Goldman, Director of Planning, expressed his disagreement with some of the particular wording of the proposed amendments. Specifically, he believed the use of the term "existing" with regard to those commercial districts which would be considered for expansion excluded any potential commercial expansion of the former Mercy High School site, one currently ripe for redevelopment. Other terms such as "more than one acre" and "multiple lot development" would, in his opinion, only create potential footholds for challengers to specific development proposals. At the last meeting, several Commission members expressed their belief that the Comprehensive Plan language should be intended to give residents and the Council a sense of direction for development rather than be used as ammunition against rezoning proposals. Mr. Goldman believes that there is no basis for establishing the existing multi-family zoning boundaries as limits on rezoning proposals except to protect the 7300 and 7400 blocks of Melrose Avenue. Mr. Goldman explained that the middle section of Olive Boulevard is still underutilized with the main stumbling block to redevelopment being the inadequate lot depth. Mr. Goldman agreed with Professor Kahn that the probability for widespread redevelopment of Olive is low; however an improved image for Olive and an increase in residential values is directly tied to improvement of its commercial areas. Mr. Ollendorff replied to Mr. Goldman's statements by stating that the proposed language as applied provides unique protection to the 7300 and 7400 blocks of Melrose Avenue because the neighbors and City administration felt this neighborhood should not be threatened.