Growing Pain
Local jurisdiction are trying to counter this trend with policies like inclusionary zoning, which requires developers to build a certain percentage of low and very-low income housing in all new developments. But providing homes for those who cannot currently afford them doesn’t necessarily require us to lower our community standards or simply step aside for developers. On the contrary, our wariness may be needed more now than ever.
“I’ve found that the process of going to various committees can in the end produce a better project,” Plath said. Community critiques, if well-informed, can provide a counterbalance to developer’s ambitions, creating our own system of checks and balances. “Overall, I’ve found that the process ends up with better planning than I would have ended up with myself,” Plath said. “I think it works most of time.”
Is it working for Creek Side Homes? Arcata Councilman Michael Winkler said he thinks a lot of Danco’s frustration is valid. On the advice of City Attorney Nancy Diamond, Winkler recused himself from the council’s deliberations in June. He had been part of the Planning Commission that recommended denying annexation last year, and he didn’t want to create the impression of prejudice.
Ironically, Winkler said that his experience on the Planning Commission would have made him, if anything, more amenable to Danco’s proposal. “I think that if I had been on the council [during the deliberations] I would have been more willing to consider this project,” he said. Winkler agrees with Armstrong that the decision should have been based on facts, not opinions. The general plan represents a community vision that was crafted carefully and openly over a long period of time, he said. “To be fair to developers we have to follow that plan. … If the developers are following the rules by dealing with and fully addressing the objections raised by the Planning Commission, then the City Council would have to approve it,” Winkler said.
Did the rest of the council analyze the proposal that way? “Not to the degree that I would have liked,” Winkler said. The council, he said, shouldn’t be swayed by short-term pressure. “You do need to be sensitive to people, but you also need to follow the rules.”
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent on the cover
May 17
Ring of Fire
Sun and moon will perform a rare pas de deux in Humboldt skies on Sunday
May 10
District Soup
Racing for the top county seat in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts
May 3
A Place in the Woods
As park closure deadline nears, a scramble to save what we can
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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TWO Comments
Comment / By Bill Herman / Oct. 1, 2009, 4:17 p.m.
Great Article!
Trying to develop in Arcata is a waste of time. Danco was lucky to get through the projects they did. “NIMBY”
Comment / By Stephen / Oct. 1, 2009, 9:38 p.m.
Congrats to Danco for taking the correct course of action with this development. Wish we could say the same thing with Security National and the Balloon Tract. They seem to trip after each and every step.