Last night, the City Council adopted a poorly planned high density redevelopment plan for the Southwest, and sent it to the Planning Board for review. This step was taken despite the fact that, in response to questioning from the public, it was acknowledged that:
* The decision to permit the extraordinary density levels contained in the plan, which will add 1100 – 1500 new condo units in numerous 12 story buildings, was based on “a cursory review of the market data.”
2. No impact studies have been done or are planned with respect to the effect of this plan as a whole on the traffic and flooding problems that already plague the southwest. Without those studies, the city has no way of evaluating what developers need to be required to do to make sure that those problems are made better, not worse.
3. The park space provided could be “as much” as 4 acres (2 ½ acres less than called for by the city’s Master Plan and promised by Mayor Roberts), largely consisting of landscaped hills leading to astroturf on rooftops.
4. In order to achieve those 4 acres, Patterson Plank Road would have to be re-routed, a good idea which is only achievable in the very long term if at all. The redevelopment plan permits drive ways to be built on Patterson Plank, a step which would make re-routing the road impossible.
5. No solid acreage numbers have been made available based on the more realistic scenario in which Patterson Plank Road is not re-routed. The portion of flat land at grade (actually usable for active recreation) appears to be about 1.5 acres – not much considering that 2000-3000 new residents will be sharing this space with the 6000 people who already live in the southwest.
The Plan is not final until it is referred back by the Planning Board and passed by the City Council on a second reading, a process which could take as little as 3 weeks.
The plan can still be tabled or changed, but we need to act NOW!!
SPC is preparing a strategy to make our voices heard. Stay tuned to hear how you can help.
