03 C14-2024-0121 - Red River; District 9 - Public Comment — original pdf

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03 C14-2024-0121 - Red River; District 91 of 4“…does not promote compatibility with adjacent and nearby uses. This area of Red River is low-slung, primarily single family or townhome-type density with some limited sites zoned for and being used as neighborhood commercial uses. It is not a transition area of sites developed for dense and intense multifamily uses also situated in tall (greater than 40 feet) buildings.” The same remains true today with the amended application and proposed CO allowing a building as tall as 50 feet. Such a tall building is incompatible with our neighborhood. (3) Although the requested zoning classification allows for a commercial-mixed use building, the applicant has stated on several occasions that their intention is to limit the project to all-residential units. This limitation, combined with the proposed CO that would limit construction to 16 units, means that the property would be exempt from otherwise applicable side compatibility buffers and setback requirements. This last aspect of the application is what makes it so destructive to the neighborhood. As noted above, a 50-foot building would be problematic in any event due to its disproportionate size in relation to the surrounding mostly single-story bungalows. This problem would be greatly compounded by the absence of any side compatibility buffers or setbacks, which would create an overwhelming building façade right on the property line of the adjacent SF-3 lots that have only a 5-foot setback. This tall structure, even if limited to 40 feet, would loom over the neighbor's homes with an oppressive and devastating effect. The redevelopment of this site should not be allowed to have such a destructive impact on other people's lives. Such a tall building should be subject to side compatibility buffers and setback requirements regardless of whether it is all residential or mixed use. (4) Finally, GR-MU zoning would allow for many uses of the property that would be inappropriate for our neighborhood. Yet the applicant has included in the proposed CO only a small number that would be prohibited. Many of the otherwise allowable uses should be prohibited because they would bring an influx of vehicular traffic (as opposed to neighborhood pedestrian traffic), and a consequent demand for parking. Red River is narrow on this block, with just one lane in each direction and no on-street parking. East 44th Street is even narrower and with limited on-street parking that is often used by the residents. Many commercial activities that would be allowed under GR-MU also would bring unwanted noise, odors and trash (such as food waste) to our neighborhood. The small size and location of these two lots also makes many of the allowable uses simply impractical for the site. Below is a list of the uses that the applicant proposes to prohibit in the CO, followed by a list of additional uses that also should be prohibited. In sum, I am hopeful that a postponement of the Planning Commission’s 03 C14-2024-0121 - Red River; District 92 of 4consideration of this matter would allow the neighbors an opportunity to speak with the applicant and resolve these objections on a mutually satisfactory and beneficial basis. If no postponement is granted, the application should be denied for the above reasons. Thank you very much for your consideration. Sincerely, Andrew Schulz USES PROPOSED TO BE PROHIBITED IN THE AMENDED APPLICATION: Alternative Financial Services Automotive Rental Automotive Repair Services Automotive Sales Automotive Washing of any type Consumer Convenience Services Consumer Repair Services Custom Manufacturing Exterminating Services Funeral Services Medical Offices ≥5,000 sq. ft. Off-Site Accessory Parking Pawn Shop Services Service Station ADDITIONAL PROPOSED PROHIBITIONS: Bail Bond Services Business or Trade School Business Support Services College and University Facilities Commercial Off-Street Parking Communication Service Facilities Community Events Community Recreation (Public) Community Recreation (Private) Congregate Living Counseling Services Day Care Services (Commercial) Day Care Services (General) Day Care Services (Limited) Drop-Off Recycling Family Home Financial Services Food Preparation Food Sales General Retail Sales (General) Group Home, Class I (General) 03 C14-2024-0121 - Red River; District 93 of 403 C14-2024-0121 - Red River; District 94 of 4