Recap of March 19, 2009 Homeowners Meeting

Issue # 5, Downtown Redevelopment Plans including proposed senior housing on the upcoming 5 May vote was the theme of the meeting held on Thursday, 19 March at the Civic Center attended by approximately 50 people. Issue # 5 is a proposed zoning amendment and reads as follows: "Shall the Downtown Overlay District designated for the area south of Daisy Avenue and north of Selig Road, and generally contiguous to Brecksville Road, providing for mixed retail and office uses and a limited amount of detached, congregate or cluster housing for individuals 55 years of age and older and attached housing be enacted?" The Issue is focused on the future vision by the community for both a Senior Housing and Downtown Re-development solution.

The meeting was very well attended by a wide cross section of the community including a majority of the elected officials, members of the School Board, members of the Senior coalition and the Pastor of the Lutheran Church near downtown.

Mayor Kurtz began the meeting by sharing his fond memories of growing up in Independence via a series of historical photos projected on a large screen for all to enjoy. He then shared the background of the Senior Housing and Downtown redevelopment initiatives that have been envisioned over many years with input from many groups.

Via a series of surveys, forms of market research and data collection, his conclusion is that the City of Independence will become an even stronger and more enriched community via a well formulated Senior Housing and Downtown Re-development solution.

He further shared that Council concluded the needs of the people were best served by passing two ordinances creating a “zoning framework” to ensure the success of this total solution.

With respect to the Senior Housing portion of Issue # 5, the vision is to create 160 living units for people at least 55 years old, on the property currently owned by the Lutheran Church near downtown.

With respect to the Downtown redevelopment portion of Issue # 5, the vision is to create 30 condo style living units that are blended in a balanced retail/housing environment. A large conceptual artist rendering showed an attractive place to live and recreate.

The overall focus of the vision is to create a downtown that is attractive as a final destination, which will spur further economic gain to the City.

A series of comprehensive and wide ranging questions were posed to the elected officials. The questions were very targeted and ranged from how the number of units were calculated to Government involvement in the process following Issue # 5 acceptance. A common theme was the economic support and investment needed to implement the vision. There was a high degree of audience interaction with the Mayor and Council.

All of the officials stressed that Issue # 5 is a zoning framework only and that Government (Voter) tax money would NOT subsidize any of the development efforts either directly or indirectly. As with any new housing development, potential Developers would need to propose their specific plans and, via a series of established zoning rules within the created framework, assume all risk associated with the implementation of the plan. Furthermore, the Developers would need to perform all Market driven surveys and actions the same as any other new housing development.

The meeting concluded with a shared appreciation for all that attended the meeting and an encouragement to the audience by the elected officials to support any questions that may be generated in the future.

Respectfully submitted,
Mike Zubic,
Secretary, Independence Homeowners Association