Antone's Nightclub
Developers Must Respect Community Values
RECEIVED Mon., Oct. 24, 2011
Dear Editor,
Re: “Point Austin: The Tree in the Way” [News, Oct. 21]: Apparently, despite having just gone through the development review that required him to save a tree while building on his Downtown property, Jamil Alam still failed to understand the process. "Regarding the ordinance, it's hard to believe that the intent was to save every existing heritage tree at the expense of any and every other community goal," he is quoted as saying. He goes on to say, based on another project that got permission to remove some trees, that "even city officials believe it's reasonable to weigh competing community benefits."
Umm, Mr. Alam, that is the point. Your project (and the city trail project) went through a lengthy process to review the merits of the tree compared to other community benefits. The Planning Commission weighed your tree's benefits as more important (while the other project was weighed differently). You got your hearing. You lost. Austin has rules and ample justification for making them. If you don't like them, develop somewhere else. Desirable companies will understand the importance of our community values and will build here without violating them.
Re: “Point Austin: The Tree in the Way” [News, Oct. 21]: Apparently, despite having just gone through the development review that required him to save a tree while building on his Downtown property, Jamil Alam still failed to understand the process. "Regarding the ordinance, it's hard to believe that the intent was to save every existing heritage tree at the expense of any and every other community goal," he is quoted as saying. He goes on to say, based on another project that got permission to remove some trees, that "even city officials believe it's reasonable to weigh competing community benefits."
Umm, Mr. Alam, that is the point. Your project (and the city trail project) went through a lengthy process to review the merits of the tree compared to other community benefits. The Planning Commission weighed your tree's benefits as more important (while the other project was weighed differently). You got your hearing. You lost. Austin has rules and ample justification for making them. If you don't like them, develop somewhere else. Desirable companies will understand the importance of our community values and will build here without violating them.
Sincerely,
Keith Babberney
Keith Babberney