17 Public Correspondence — original pdf

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Steering Committee Members: Christopher Hurst AIA, Chair Paula Hern, Meghan Yancy, Claudette Kazzoun, Rob Kish, Steve Amos, Germaine Curry, Margaret Sullivan, William Osborn, David Schofman, Shawn Shillington, Adam Sumrall, Erika Tatum January 22, 2024 RE: C14-2023-0138 - Enfield; District 9 – 1106 Enfield Road Dear Chair Hempel and Planning Commissioners, The Old West Austin Neighborhood Association, OWANA, Zoning Committee has voted to oppose the purposed re-zoning of 1106 Enfield from SF-3 to MF-3. The Zoning Committee appreciates Ricca Keepers, the applicant, and Caryn Carlson, the owner, for coming to our January meeting to discuss the rezoning of 1106 Enfield Road. No plans or drawings were presented to the committee. The sole reason for the re-zoning request is to hopefully increase the marketability for the sale of the property. The property was listed for sale last January 2023 and delisted for lack of offers July 2023. The house has been vacant for a year. OWANA does not support rezonings based solely on financial hardship. Recently approved code changes by the city now allow 3 units on SF zoned properties. Future code changes will allow even more units on SF zoned properties making this re-zoning request obsolete. The Zoning Committee believes that re-zoning this property will not guarantee the sale of the property. The current real estate market has slowed due to rising interest rates. There are other MF properties for sale in our neighborhood that have been on the market for a while and are not selling due to the current market conditions and desired sale prices. Additionally, the sale of this property is complicated by its location on Enfield Road. Access to the property is on a sloped, curved, one-way section of Enfield Road that neighbors find dangerous. Because of this, nearby neighbors oppose the re-zoning without seeing plans or drawings. When the property is sold and if the new owner wants to rezone the property, the OWANA Zoning Committee looks forward to reviewing their plans and drawings at that time. Please oppose the re-zoning of 1106 Enfield Road. OWANA does not want to set a precedent of up-zoning based on perceived economic hardship. We do not believe rezoning from SF-3 to MF-3 will solve the marketability of this property the owner intends to sell. Sincerely, Christopher Hurst, AIA OWANA Steering Committee Chair