tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post7505468867027386183..comments2023-10-21T03:07:18.017-05:00Comments on Enclave: Planning Commission Defers Tygard's LED Billboard Ordinance after an Avalanche of OppositionS-townMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05948307051485318061noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post-58578061602699993482009-06-18T16:34:26.190-05:002009-06-18T16:34:26.190-05:00Hi, I'm the Stewart Clifton guy who you've...Hi, I'm the Stewart Clifton guy who you've been talking about as having said public opinion should not count in Planning Commission decisions. What I thought I said was nothing like that. I do in fact believe that numbers of supporters should have no place in influencing how Commissioners vote. But I also believe (and stated) that the quality and strength of arguments is always relevant and important. I am undecided on the bill, which is one reason why I moved to defer til August. Part of the reason I and others are undecided were the arguments made, some of which I had not thought about before.Stewart Cliftonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post-63774625404540425702009-06-12T13:09:43.539-05:002009-06-12T13:09:43.539-05:00Would we allow real estate executives, sign indust...Would we allow real estate executives, sign industry lobbyists, Planning Commissioners who are registered lobbyists, lobbyists from the hotel industry, Chamber of Commerce reps, two Metro Codes employees, a young Planning Staff member, and three citizens who have not been actively engaged recently in protecting their community to be the only decision makers in our SubArea Planning Process for our community? Absolutely not.<br /><br />So why then would the recommendation from this mix of people now called a Task Force(when we don't even know where they live) have any real meaning to the Planning Commissioners and their decision?<br /><br />I dare say if the Task Force was made up of real, actively engaged, outspoken neighborhood leaders this recommendation would be very different.<br /><br />What if a different task force came back with a recommendation and a plan that eliminated all lit signs in neighborhoods and a time period for all signs to become smaller and monument in style, even eliminating LED technology throughout the city? What would the commissioners have said then? There are cities that are doing that very thing.<br /><br />One commissioner got it right when they asked, what is driving this need to change the sign law? When Tygard answered "uniformity", people chuckled. We already have uniformity, it is just uniformity that sign companies don't like because they cannot sell LED signs to everybody in the city. What kind of logic is that?<br /><br />I think that several commissioners had great questions. Victor Tyler asked why were so many neighborhood groups in attendance if the neighborhood advocates on the Task Force approved the plan. With the exception of Burkley Allen, no "neighborhood advocate" made any attempt to communicate with the citizens of this city. There were no televised meetings, minutes from meetings available, or communication from Mr. Tygard. So how can Mr. Tygard say that the voice of the people had any input into the recommendation? Quite simply, they didn't. Except Ms. Allen, they were just handpicked individuals that represented themselves, not all of us. <br /><br />As for emotion, the only one who showed emotion last night was Mr. Tygard. His voice was trembling, and he mixed up his syllables when mentioning the name of the vice-mayor. His logic as to why the churches or schools didn't show up made no sense. They could pay their reps to show up. Perhaps the churches and the schools don't really want them? Perhaps they are content to co-exist in neighborhoods where their members live. Neighbors didn't exactly enjoy sitting in a meeting for hours or speaking publicly in front of a televised audience. All of them shared facts and time consuming research. I'd say many of them have contributed as many (or more) hours as Task Force members. I thought their case was well represented. <br /><br />There were no Task Frce members who came to speak in favor except Tygard and Commissioner Clifton. Why was that? If this recommendation was so great for the city and you had worked so hard to create it, wouldn't you be so proud to attend a meeting to present and defend it? There was only one Task Force member present and he wanted to take his vote back. He did not support the recommendation.<br /><br />Maybe it is just the places where people attend from outside the area who want a sign? Should we change the entire city's sign laws for the few? Should we jeopardize the look of our city for people who do not live in our neighborhoods and may not even live in our city?<br /><br />Don't write off the Commissioners so soon. There are a few that are most definitely part of the political machine. There are also many who realize the impact that this bill will have to the overall look and character of our city.<br /><br />Our job as citizens is to continue to communicate with them, sharing the facts. I am not giving up faith, nor the battle to protect my neighborhood and my city.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com