Left In Lowell

As the Planning Board World Turns

18 Responses to “As the Planning Board World Turns”

1. Josh Says:
   February 6th, 2007 at 12:59 am

   I think that the developers know the needs of the community better than a bunch of governemnt hacks. If people really didn’t want condos, why would the developers make condos? If you don’t like condos then don’t buy one.

2. Renee Says:
   February 6th, 2007 at 8:11 am

   I might disagree with Mimi, but I would have to disagree with Josh a lot more just because of the tone. I live in a home over 100 years old, it’s a lot of work. More then simple remodeling. There are a lot of suprises when you want to replace the plumbing or simply want to put up new dry wall. Horsehair plaster anyone? Everything will be replaced with plastic from the fake “cedar” shingles and the fake “slate” roofing tiles. The is reality we’re building a new home, just inside out rather then demolishing it.

   Condos have a lot less maintance, which means less expected costs and surprises. The problem with condos is that many aren’t firendly to an explanding family. It’s either a condo or a large home out of state or out of the region. Even the largest of families don’t need 2500 sq ft, but people need reasonable places to live. Eventually your son and daughter want their own bedroom.

   People love character, but there are costs. Any costs to housing affect living costs and the local economy. While in school during a discussion regarding zoning, the professor spoke a home in the suburbs that was in the town center’s historic district. The district didn’t allow certian older homes to have paved driveways. You can imagine the pain it would be in the winter shoveling and digging out your car on gravel. So the homeowner paved, then spead a light layer of gravel.

3. Tim Says:
   February 6th, 2007 at 8:41 am

   What the developers know is how to make the most money. With the current market, they can make more with fewer, bigger units. That’s got nothing to do with what the community needs.

4. Mr. Lynne Says:
   February 6th, 2007 at 9:03 am

   Needs and profit are two different things. I can make a lot of money selling crack, but I can’t think of a single community that can be said to need more crack.

5. Mimi Says:
   February 6th, 2007 at 10:11 am

   I am not against condominiums; I live in one which I like very much. The development fits quite well with the neighborhood and the surrounding land; and more importantly it was affordable. I would like my neighbors to have the same opportunity I had but I do not want my City destroyed in the process either. That is why it is called “Planning.”

   My concerns are two-fold.

   I did not like what I perceived to be a fait-accompli in this public hearing that I watched last night. It was through the hard work and dedication of one individual that the issue of Section 8.1 of the Zoning laws came into play last night. I also have to give credit to Board member Steve Gendron who seems to have a mind of his own.

   The Planning Board, a pretty influential regulatory body in our City, has since July 2007 allowed three developers to change their original plans which were initially approved based on Section 8.1. (preservation of existing buildings). This is the issue at hand. If the City does not want 8.1 and we are not going to live by 8.1, let’s not fool ourselves and think we are into preserving our heritage and our identity.

   My frustration is compounded because LTC is having serious issues (no not with what happened over the weekend, ) with their streaming videos. Therefore, none of you who might be interested will have access to the tape of last night Planning Board meeting. As I have mentioned previously, there has not been an update on their web site since December 18th. Furthermore, I understand that if a Board meeting runs longer than its allotted time, the replay is either not shown or cut off.

6. Tim Little Says:
   February 6th, 2007 at 10:37 am

   Has anyone contacted LTC to see what the problem is?

7. Mimi Says:
   February 6th, 2007 at 10:45 am

   Tim:

   I have and they told me that they were having technical difficulties and there was a staff transition. But that was about 3 weeks ago. I think I will contact the City Council Sub-Committee on Cable, they are meeting tonight. Maybe they can ask the question.

8. Mr. Lynne Says:
   February 6th, 2007 at 10:54 am

   Please do.. I’m a little pissed that my local government has lost a little bit of its transparency.

9. Renee Says:
   February 6th, 2007 at 11:37 am

   As an alternative to the modern day condos if a building can not be rehab’d, they could make homes much like the size and design of the older rowhouses in the city and put the garage/carport in the back of the property separate from the units rather then on the ground floor of the home. Many of these homes would not conform to current zoning, but I think the exception should be made because the appearance would be more fitting around the older homes.

10. Josh Says:
    February 6th, 2007 at 11:43 am

    Developers make there profits by matching the supply with the demand. If people want “family” housing and they build condos then they will lose money. Plain and simple. But I don’t think that the developers are trying to lose money, therefore I trust that they will meet the demands of the consumers in the city.

    And please explain this to me: How do a few political hacks know what the city’s “needs” are more than the developers who make their living doing this?

    Also, you refer to Lowell as “my city” like you own it. I assume you own your condo, but the rest of the city you claim as yours is actually owned by other people. It’s their property and they can do with it what they please (”My property. My choice.”)

11. Mimi Says:
    February 6th, 2007 at 11:50 am

    Josh:

    Relax, When I said “my,” I was just using poetic license, rather poorly I may add. Of course it is OUR CITY. I will make sure not to make that mistake again. I do not own Lowell, no one does. That is my point, we all have a stake in this.

    And I am not sure who the political hacks are that you are referring to but that is such an overused label that it has truly lost its meaning.

12. Renee Says:
    February 6th, 2007 at 12:15 pm

    Josh, I disagree when people want family housing people move. They could easily design three bedroom homes with four bedrooms, but they are too cheap to put up a few extra walls. Have you ever noticed of these large new homes, there are no windows on the sides. Builders market homes on the concept of more space, not on accommodations. People are mortgaging upwards of half million dollars for empty boxes of “space” rather then architectural design and function.

    In the older home I live in, the upstairs hallway zig-zags and each individual bedroom door doesn’t face another, so even though the bedrooms are much smaller there is more privacy. The children can be a separate room playing without having their toys in a more formal living area and yet not be ¼ mile away from me. In newer homes with open space, there is no privacy especially down stairs. If anyone has been in a home like this, with the staircase in the middle and witness young children going on without ending running around and around the house. The downstairs becomes one large room of everything and anything.

13. Mr. Lynne Says:
    February 6th, 2007 at 1:26 pm

    You could easily destroy a neighborhood with a blind accedance to their consumer demands. That is why zoning and planning boards exist. You could always lobby the goverment to appoint a competent planner to the planning board Josh.

14. Josh Says:
    February 6th, 2007 at 6:18 pm

    Mimi: Sorry, didn’t mean to sound snappy.

    Mr. Lynne: Even if I had the abilty to hand-select a planner, I would not do so because I do not believe that a single human being is capable of holding the disperse knowledge necessary to efficiently “plan” a city. (Economists Thomas Sowell, F.A. Hayek, and Israel Kirzner have written extensively on the subject.)

15. Lynne Says:
    February 7th, 2007 at 2:28 pm

    But, apparently Developers Know Best. *rolls eyes*

16. CollegeSmarty Says:
    February 19th, 2007 at 3:42 am

    who think that profiletrickz.com is amazing? i do
    they have all the best codes tricks and tips, and even a private profile viewer!
    omg you should totally check it out

17. dogolover Says:
    February 24th, 2007 at 3:54 am

    Hello, maybe some people know where i can buy dogo argentino puppy?
    I live in Russia, Moscow.

18. black touch Says:
    August 25th, 2007 at 1:57 pm

Leave a Reply