Comments on: Calculation Complaints

By: makeithappen2day4u@gmail.com

makeithappen2day4u@gmail.com — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:52:21 +0000

What Crescent is NOT saying is that this rezoning request is a 57% increase in homes from the original zoning. Back in the early 2000’s when they met with the neighbors about the Sanctuary development, we agreed and the city approved the original plan for 343 homes. Now they want to build an additional 217 homes on land in the critical and protected watershed area of Lake Wylie in Withers Cove.
Additionally, this rezoning also adds an additional $2.7 million to the $4.3 million estimate for the existing zoning for a total of $7 million for the additional 312 students. Winget Park Elementary, Southwest Middle, and Olympic High School are already well over capacity. Where is Charlotte going to get this incremental money since it is not in the current budget??
Finally, I am a 21-year resident of Steele Creek and do NOT live in the Sanctuary. We chose this area because of its rural features and to be close to Lake Wylie. Steele Creek is different than the rest of Charlotte and everyone I talk to moved here for that reason and does not want it to change. We are for smart development that takes into account the area’s ability to have a safe place to drive, have schools that are not extremely overcrowded, and have a lake that is still clean enough to swim and fish in.

By: scott.baughman

scott.baughman — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:14:34 +0000

Hi, Ms. Black.
Thanks for the feedback and thank you for your help with this article. It will be interesting to see what happens when the rezoning hearing occurs.

By: md764@bellsouth.net

md764@bellsouth.net — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:19:26 +0000

Oh, one more thing to mention…. I do not live in the Sanctuary,I am not among the privileged, my home is a double wide mobile home and I am thankful for it everyday.
Best regards,
Marian Black

By: md764@bellsouth.net

md764@bellsouth.net — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:02:14 +0000

Thank you Scott for your article today. I appreciate your efforts to get both sides of the story.
I find it ironic, that in your conversation with Planning Director Ms. Campbell, that she did not refer to Zoning Codes or Ordinances as a basis for the Planning Department’s decision on this rezoning. No mention of the MX-1 Conditional District Regulatory Zoning Ordinances that cover the land to be rezoned and nothing is mentioned about the Development Standards of the original rezoning, 2003-24, where all 3 parcels are clearly defined. Instead she states its not based on land ownership, but the original plan and this is how we have always done things with density calculations. By this statement alone, haven’t all landowners had their rights stolen? I have asked several times for an example of a rezoning with similar dynamics as ours to review; to date, I have had no response. I can only assume there is none.
Councilwoman Fallon’s statements are priceless! To state that “she doesn’t know how the density was calculated…but I would imagine there are valid rules or they would be challenged on them all the time and lose.” She was on the Planning Commission for 2 years, what did she do on the commission? There are valid rules, they are called Charlotte City Zoning Ordinances, and in this rezoning they are not being applied. We are challenging the Planning Department’s practices. We just hope that Mayor Foxx and City Council members, even Councilwoman Fallon, will realize the legal repercussions an approval for this rezoning will have on future rezonings. I hope the other citizens of Charlotte will take notice, and realize what could be taken away from them, if this rezoniing is approved.
Thank you for your time.
Marian Black