Posted by Phil Lee (208.19.133.132) on May 03, 2001 at 15:20 from an unsigned letter at
http://www.citizens-prevail.org/offtherecord/
(see also the similar message in the
letter
posted on the Cumberland Times-News and
here):
What happens next with the low income housing project?
May 5, 2001
The Cumberland Mayor and City Council did adopt a resolution giving the city’s stamp of approval to the low income housing project being planned for 4th Street in South Cumberland, but we think action can be taken to stop the development from becoming a reality.
First and foremost, city residents must voice their opposition to this plan. It’s our city, these are our neighborhoods, and it’s our tax money.
Why is it that Cas Taylor and Lee Fiedler decided that this project was a good idea WITH NO INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC?
Denying voters the right to participate in community decisions is no way to run a city. Obviously, we have a problem here.
So let our elected officials know how you feel. Show up at City Council meetings (the next meeting is Tuesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m.), or give our elected representatives a call:
Del. Casper Taylor - 301-724-9234
Mayor Lee Fiedler - 301-759-6414
Councilman Ed Hedrick - 301-759-6421
Councilman Harvey May - 301-759-6420
Councilman Terry Rephann - 301-759-6417
Councilman Butch Hendershot - 301-759-6416
If enough voices are heard, at least one of our elected city officials may decide to do the right thing. An elected city official can make a motion requesting that the issue of approving the low income housing project be reconsidered, based on the fact that the officials were provided insufficient information prior to the first vote. That motion will need to be seconded, and then a new vote can be taken.
However, if the citizenry can’t convince the Mayor and City Council to do the right thing, another option is lobbying the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals to deny the applicant’s zoning request.
According to the city’s Zoning Code, the housing complex will be located in a Residential Urban (RU) zone. An RU designation allows low-rise apartment buildings no more than three stories in height. Three stories wouldn’t accommodate 60 units, let alone 90. To construct the project, it is likely that the developer will have to request a variance.
The Zoning Board of Appeals could deny that request. The developer could appeal that decision to the circuit court, so it could prove a lengthy battle, but what choice would we have at that point?
While the opportunity to stop the project at that level exists, it hardly seems fair to expect an appointed board to correct bad decisions made by our elected officials. The pressure that would come to bear on this volunteer board would likely be enormous, given the political heavy weights who want the project built.
It doesn’t have to come to that. We hope the majority of City Council members will step forward and reject this project, for one simple reason: it’s a really bad idea.