Aug. 10, 2007 - August 13 City Commission meeting
FYI: Stephen Foster neighbors:
The email I have forwarded to you is from Dr. Jimmy Harnsberger, a UF professor who is also the head of the University Park Neighborhood Association. Dr. Harnsberger has been advising us at our strategy meetings and has spoken on our behalf at DRB hearings and City Commission meetings.
He is starting a coalition of the City neighborhood associations in G'ville this fall ,and he urges neighborhoods to support each other when a neighborhood's issues appear before a city governmental body.
I am sending you this email to invite you to attend the City Commission meeting this coming Monday at 6pm at City Hall to show your support for the neighborhoods mentioned in his email, and hopefully, these neighborhoods will rally to support us as we pressure the City Commission to direct Planning Dept. staff to place the Vehicle Maintenance Facility at another location and clean up the current site.
Susan Fairforest LCSW
Forwarded Message
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2007 08:54:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: "James Harnsberger"
Subject: Critical announcement to all neighborhood leaders
To all neighborhood leaders, This Monday's City Commission meeting in the evening (starting at 6:30pm at City Hall) will be huge: Five issues that impact neighborhoods will be on the agenda, which I describe on my blog (http://gainesvilleneighbors.blogspot.com/) and in the attached posts below (Items 1 through 5).This is a meeting you should really attend if you are interested at all in keeping Gainesville 's neighborhoods livable.I can't emphasize enough how important this upcoming meeting is. This would be a great opportunity to take a little time out and make your voice heard. It's not often that at a single meeting, you can support so many neighborhoods at one time.
Jimmy Harnsberger
University Park Neighborhood Association
Item 1: A quiet betrayal of a neighborhood
I've posted in the past about the efforts of the University Park Neighborhood Association to get building heights in our neighborhood reduced from 8 stories (104 feet! Almost as tall as the Seagle Building ) to a more livable 5 stories (65 ft, not including any roof). We went to many city committee meetings and won votes at that level. We were supported 5 - 0 in the first vote before the Commission. Then along comes a representative of a single property owner (St. Augustine Catholic Church). He discussed this issue quietly with the mayor outside of any public meeting, who is now working to keep buildings at 8 stories.
We need help on the 13th to remind the other Commissioners of their own previous votes and their duty to protect the whole neighborhood, not just one private property owner.
Jimmy Harnsberger
University Park Neighborhood Association
Item 2: Sam's Club and Walmart outside your bedroom window
Imagine if you lived in a quiet, tree-lined old neighborhood, and then a Walmart and a Sam's Club moved next door! This has obviously already happened to the neighborhoods east of 13th St near these gigantic stores. They have disrupted the neighborhood with loud trucks at all hours and damaged the creek that runs through the area. They are now asking to expand the parking lot and add a gas station (a very high intensity use). The Commission will vote on Monday August 13th on whether or not to grant Sam's Club request and will also vote on rules that will help mitigate the stores' impact on the nearby residents.
I think neighbors who are fighting the biggest chain store in the country could use a little help, don't you?
Come on out to City Hall this Monday, August 13th,
6:30pm at City Hall.
Jimmy Harnsberger
University Park Neighborhood Association
Item 3: Will they be thrown out of their homes?
The longsuffering folks who live in Buck Bay Mobile Home Park on NW 34th St are asking the City Commission to revise their earlier, mistaken zoning change that provided the financial incentive for the owner to close the park. The Commissioners used to be 100% behind this idea, but a few are wavering now. If the Commission votes the right way on this one, they could literally be helping to keep people of modest means from being thrown out of their homes.
The stakes are awfully high on this one.
Jimmy Harnsberger
University Park Neighborhood Association
Item 4: Yard parking in Forest Ridge
Here is an abbreviated version of an announcement concerning the Forest Ridge Neighborhood on NW 16th Ave. They are having major problems with renters who destroy their own lawns by yard parking, which in turn degrades the neighborhood and discourages families from moving in. I’ll be speaking up in support of this new neighborhood organization that needs our help.
Jimmy Harnsberger
University Park Neighborhood Association
Dear Neighbors,
We learned yesterday afternoon that the first reading of our Residential Parking Overlay Petition will be at the August 13 City Commission meeting. The City commission meets in their chambers on the first floor of City Hall, NE 1st St and University Ave. It is critical that you be present to show support for our petition. We may have some formidable opposition and there may be a request for a formal quasi-judicial hearing rather than the typical informal hearing.
Please contact me (marshmj@earthlink.net; 375-7876) if you have questions.
Melody Marshall
Item 5: Putting some teeth into overoccupancy law.
The City Commission is finally taking up the issue of fining property owners if their houses violate occupancy limits. Currently, no civil fines are issued if a property owner (usually a landlord) packs a rental house in a single family neighborhood full of unrelated persons.
We need this new fine as part of our effort to strengthen Code Enforcement in our community.
Jimmy Harnsberger
University Park Neighborhood Association
Additionally, the N.Main St. business group will be announcing their now official group at 6:00 pm on 8-21-07 at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge located on the 3300 block of N Main Terr. As nearby neighbors, all are welcome and encouraged to attend.
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