Charter change & HP zoning

[pmcalk]

As most people are aware, the City Council is in the process of considering charter changes, and has decided to bring the topic up again on Thursday.  One proposal (which was not mine--but a good one) would require a 3/4 majority of the City Council to rezone in any way property with HP zoning.  I am hoping that this provision makes it, as I believe it is imparative to ensure historic preservation.

Some might say that it is anti-development.  That is not the intention.  The underlying uses within a neighborhood, whether commercial or residential, are part of what makes up that neighborhood.  Swan Lake for example has many mixed uses, large houses, apartments, high & low densities.  If one were to change those uses and densities, it would change part of Swan Lake's history.

The charter change suggestion does not prohibit zoning changes.  In cases where maintaining the current use is no longer economically viable, I would hope that 3/4 of the council would vote to rezone.  Not that the city council always does what we would hope, but that is another issue.  My thought is that rezoning of HP property should require a higher threshold.

Some might feel that this provides HP zoned houses preferential treatment.  Again, it is not just for houses--it is important to perserve all uses in a historic neighborhood.  And HP zoned neighborhoods do need special treatment, if we want to keep them.

I am interested in other people's thoughts on this charter suggestions.