Development and Public Improvement
Background Statements for Committee Mission
November 9, 1999
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- The committee could promote dialog about the major initiatives of the neighborhood plan, for example, the Assisted Living Center and major housing initiatives; the committee would be a way for the Council to tell staff about desired adjustments to the plan and for the staff to obtain Council support for project implementation.
- The committee would not be involved in individual projects of owners, but should formulate development guidelines to be applied in the event of conflicting proposals.
- The committee would serve as a "sounding board" for Alderman Roddy.
- The committee should be sure information was available and work together on initiatives.
- The committee should list tasks to be done, list important items, recommend where attention should be directed, help set priorities that might change (for example, owner-repairs might rise for special attention).
- "Public improvements" should include demolition of derelict buildings.
- Individual differences need to be considered in setting priorities. Projects might take any form, for instance, rehabilitation or demolition, or be residential or commercial.
- Land-use policy is important; LRA owns many properties and other agencies "act like LRA."
- The committee should be a conduit between the Council and the smaller organizations and individuals interested in the neighborhood.
- The committee is an opportunity for people to come and get staff expertise regarding development ideas; it needs to develop additional resources, especially financial resources.
- The committee should be a "watchdog" for the Council.
- Reports of the committee should be informative and made after details have been discussed and resolved by the committee.
- The committee, and other Council committees, need to know what they can really do and what their limitations are.
go back to November 23, 1999 Report.