Greetings neighbors,
You may be aware that CR-Endeavors has submitted a proposal for an apartment development on the Kerbela Temple site. Because this proposal does not meet the requirements of the South Waterfront Form-Based Code, it must be approved by the Planning Commission under something called Alternative Compliance Review. Commission will hear this application on Thursday, May 14, at 1:30 p.m. in the Main Assembly Room in the City County Building.
The South Waterfront Advisory and Advocacy Group (SWAAG) has been monitoring this proposal through several drafts. After the open houses at Kerbela Temple we met with the developer, our City Council representative Karyn Adams, and representatives from the City to address concerns raised at those open houses. Following that meeting, the developer submitted a revised plan that addressed some of those issues, but left significant concerns unresolved.
SWAAG has submitted comments to the Planning Commission (attached to this email).
It is vital for the Planning Commission to hear from the community. You can make your comments at 4-A-26-OB | Planning Commission. The applicant is listed as Ryan Robertson. Comments can be submitted up to noon on Thursday, May 14, but if you are planning to comment, please send ASAP because Commissioners will be reviewing those in preparation for the meeting. You can also view the revised plan and City and Planning Commission staff reports at that site.
It is also important for the community to be well-represented at this meeting. Please try to attend if possible. This item is close to the beginning of the agenda, so you will not have to stay for too long.
A SWAAG representative will be speaking to this issue at the meeting. If you wish to speak at the meeting, please contact either Rachel or Janice (contact info below) so we can coordinate speaking points since each side has only 5 minutes to address Planning Commissioners.
If you have questions, please contact Janice Tocher at jan...@averra.com (865-661-1685) or Rachel Craig at rlc...@usit.net (865-919-3476).
Thanks!
South Waterfront Advisory and Advocacy Group