A community task force has made progress in one of the thorniest land use issues in our neighborhood. The Greenville-Henderson Task Force has been meeting since April with a mandate from the City Council to consider paving over of head-in parking along Lower Greenville and whether to apply Lower Greenville’s “modified delta” scheme on North Henderson.
“Modified delta” calls for Lower Greenville properties to lose their “delta” parking credits. This permits the property owner to operate without the Code-required number of parking spaces if the building space is vacant for more than 12 months and the owner can’t plead some sort of hardship reasons.
The group agreed that “modified delta” should be applied to the North Henderson area. There will still be discussion on how to improve the Modified Delta concept.
The Task Force also agreed that property owners who pave over head-in spaces should replace the spaces on a one-to-one basis. And if the added sidewalk area is used for outdoor seating, one additional parking space should be provided for every 300 square feet of outdoor seating.
A community meeting to reveal the task force’s findings will be Aug. 15. The proposals will then go to the City Plan Commission and the City Council.
A SURPRISE FROM EAST GARRETT: Contrary to last month’s prediction, and to the astonishment of many neighborhood residents, the Plan Commission turned down the application at 5509 Bryan Parkway, in the East Garrett Park neighborhood, from multi-family to parking zoning on a unanimous vote.
The Commission apparently was swayed by arguments that the area’s Spanish-speaking residents didn’t have the opportunity to discuss the request with the applicant or with the City staff.
Concerns were raised that a move to re-zone more land in the area was related in some way and could perhaps result in intrusion into the neighborhood, which has undergone something of a revitalization thanks to the construction of numerous Habitat for Humanity homes in close proximity. East Garrett Park is also the location of SMU’s highly-regarded “ICE,” or Inner-City Experience program, whose participants tutor neighborhood children and help with other community programs.
The applicant’s appeal to the City Council will be heard Aug. 10.
The zoning case rejuvenated the area’s neighborhood association. Residents hope to have a community meeting with elected and appointed City officials and neighboring commercial property owners on the area zoning situation.
POSSIBLE COMPROMISE IN MUNGER PLACE: The group trying to resolve the heated zoning difficulties in the Collett and Reiger area of the Munger Place neighborhood is closer to a possible resolution. The next, and probably last, joint meeting will occur July land will show whether consensus can be reached or the parties involved will return to the trenches to finish their zoning battles.
END IS IN SIGHT FOR JUNIUS HEIGHTS: While on the subject of running zoning battles, by the time you read this column, the almost year-old Junius Heights controversy/neighborhood range war will have been brought to a merciful conclusion by the City Council. The Council was to vote on the Plan Commission and staff-recommended planned development district on June 8, but the item was delayed until June 22.
The prediction here, with deadline being before the Council vote, is that a modified version of the planned development will pass. The compromise would grandfather the area’s duplexes and buildings with four to six dwelling units. The number of units is where the compromise will most likely be struck, with negotiations among Council members continuing to the last minute.
Of course, more studies may be done in the neighborhood in the next City fiscal year and beyond to assess the zoning’s full impact and “fine tune” it.
CREATING A VISION: Interested neighborhood groups in the Samuell-Grand area, including Buckner Terrace, Owenwood, Hollywood-Santa Monica, Mt. Auburn and Lakeland Hills, have met to formulate some direction for the area – a “vision,” if you will – which would address perceived problems centered on the strip of Samuell Boulevard along the south side of Tenison Park.
The main thrust of the effort will be economic redevelopment and area neighborhoods and businesses working together, while the Police Department and the City’s Code Enforcement inspectors work diligently in the area. The area is part of four different Council districts. The representatives will probably assist the effort over the expected long haul.
THE ASHES ARE STILL SMOULDERING: The owners of the property formerly occupied by the burned-down Greenville Avenue Christian Church appear to still be interested in possibly applying for a zoning change from single-family residential to parking. At least one neighborhood group is working with adjoining residents in case the proposal goes forward. It is possible that some other uses and/or zoning could be considered at some point, but for right now, the next move is up to the property owners.
