A crowd filled Joyce Beers Community Center last night at the Uptown Community Planners meeting to hear an update on the proposed 65-foot interim height ordinance (IHO) for much of the Hillcrest core. Bill Anderson, the acting Director of City Planning and Community Development, and City Planner Marlon Pangilinan (shown) presented what the Mayor’s Office has suggested. Several members of the community voiced a concern over the 30-month sunset provision. There were also concerns over the IHO needing “teeth” with specific limitations and requirements, rather than the vague guidelines that could be interpreted at the Planning Department’s discretion. In its current draft, the IHO would be an amendment to the community plan and insure that every project over the height limit gets discretionary review.
According to John Taylor, community activist and IHO task force team member, “this IHO proposal would not have stopped a project like 301 University, but it will assure the community knows about every project over the height limit. We are moving in the right direction, yet still have a long way to go.” One of the best comments of the evening was by Bill Anderson, who pointed out the roadway system would not be able to support a Hillcrest built out with structures that are currently allowed.
The IHO will be on the Tuesday, October 3 Uptown Planners agenda as an action item.
