Some progress was made on Kent’s downtown strategic plan Monday night at a city Land Use and Planning Board meeting, with key voices in favor of and against rezoning specific areas downtown.
Tina Budell, president of the North Park Neighborhood Council, reiterated the dangers of changing the zoning from townhouses to general multi-use commercial. Budell noted that changing the zoning could incentivize property owners to sell property for development – houses and apartments that are occupied by low-income families.
Alan Grey, North Park Neighborhood board chairman, agreed with Budell, saying that he felt that zoning plans have been “whittling away” at the neighborhood, and fears that eventually rezoning and development will damage the community.
“It seems to me that we have a viable neighborhood, and we’re chipping away at it,” Grey said. “Where do we stop?”
A large part of the contention was over the small square of neighborhood between Cloudy, Fourth and Fifth streets. The parcel was determined by the Downtown Steering Committee as an economic development site due to its proximity to the ShoWare Center.
“Were there any representatives from the North Park area?” Grey asked. The answer was no.
Several citizens claim the city has taken a top-down approach to economic development. Ralph LoPriore, who has lived in Kent for 30 years and owns Mariscos restaurant on Meeker Street, worries that the zoning regulations will change how he can use his property. By incorporating multi-use zoning and general commercial zoning, LoPriore fears that the city will require the owners to make their businesses residence friendly.
“It’s always been every time they want to do something, it’s never in favor of you, it’s always in favor of what they want,” he said.
LoPriore said that he would like to feel more included in planning for the city, sentiment that the North Park group shares.
Bruce Malcolm, who also sits on the North Park Neighborhood Council, said that “in the past, things have been done kind of in the dark of night.” From now on, he said, the neighborhoods will keep a closer eye on city developments.
Board member Steve Dowell brought the discussion back to the immediate few years, saying that the changes that many of the North Park residents fear may be a long time in the making.
“It’s going to take awhile to come about, properties have to change hands,” he said. In the end, Dowell reiterated that the planning board doesn’t have the final say. They’re “welcome to argue their point here,” he said, but the City Council will make the final decisions.
The planning board voted to table the discussion until its next meeting on Aug. 12 at City Hall.
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