Moody Center
Council Shouldn't Be So Wrapped Up in Parking
RECEIVED Tue., Nov. 4, 2008
Dear Editor,
Re: Emerald City Press parking [“Emerald City Blues,” News, Oct. 10]: Thinking about parking before you open your business is elementary. What kind of business person wouldn't? (Supply your own answer.)
Endless requests by businesses, especially builders, for variances and zoning changes to accommodate poor planning or increased entitlements gum up the gears of the city's permit-issuing machinery and cost all of us money. The City Council, Planning Commission, and Board of Adjustment end up taking their public meetings into the wee hours to process these one-off and “spot zoning” requests.
The city should just say no to these types of requests and save its energy and our money for bigger issues. Council meetings would be far more meaningful and interesting, attract a wider audience, and perhaps lead to greater voter turnout than the 9% we had for the last council election.
Re: Emerald City Press parking [“Emerald City Blues,” News, Oct. 10]: Thinking about parking before you open your business is elementary. What kind of business person wouldn't? (Supply your own answer.)
Endless requests by businesses, especially builders, for variances and zoning changes to accommodate poor planning or increased entitlements gum up the gears of the city's permit-issuing machinery and cost all of us money. The City Council, Planning Commission, and Board of Adjustment end up taking their public meetings into the wee hours to process these one-off and “spot zoning” requests.
The city should just say no to these types of requests and save its energy and our money for bigger issues. Council meetings would be far more meaningful and interesting, attract a wider audience, and perhaps lead to greater voter turnout than the 9% we had for the last council election.
David Piper
