Did statements from Mayor Brereton and Alderman Chamberlain sway the St. James Vote?

Below is Mayor Fred Brereton’s statement to the aldermen as printed by the Belvidere Daily Republican.[http://www.belvideredailyrepublican.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6930:building-a-better-belvidere-with-smart-growth&catid=104:letters-to-the-editor&Itemid=497]

 

Belvidere is strategically located and continues to have the capacity to accommodate future growth and development likely to occur in Boone County within a more sensible urban development pattern, when the economy improves. Our historic community can gain new prominence as a “regional city” where motorists spend less time in traffic, residents live near jobs, schools, churches, recreation and shopping; neighborhoods are pedestrian, bicycle and transit friendly; open space and environmental areas are protected and integrated into the fabric of the community; and economic opportunities will abound.

As elected City leaders, our challenge is to make decisions based upon relevant information and proven principles of Smart Growth.

· Strengthen and Direct Development Towards Existing Communities

· Preserve Open Space, Farmland, Natural Beauty and Critical Environmental Areas

· Mixed Land Uses

· Make Development Decisions Predictable, Fair and Cost Effective

· Foster Distinctive, Attractive Communities with a Strong Sense of Place

· Create Walkable Neighborhoods

· Take Advantage of Compact Building Design

· Provide a Variety of Transportation Choices

· Create a Range of Housing Opportunities and Choices

Strengthen and Direct Development Towards Existing Communities: The decision by St. James Church to direct its redevelopment efforts toward Belvidere and an existing neighborhood should be embraced by members of the City Council. The Church’s decision seeks to take advantage of the existing infrastructure, and conserves open space and irreplaceable natural resources on the urban fringe. Taking this approach will be more cost-effective, and improves the quality of life for our residents.

The closer proximity of the Church to the central City will benefit Belvidere residents with a range of jobs and services offered by the Church and increase the efficiency of already developed land and infrastructure, while at the same time reduce development pressure in edge areas of Belvidere, thereby preserving more open space. The leadership of St. James Church may now realize zoning requirements in the fringe area would have been easier to comply with, and the relative absence of residents who may object to the inconvenience or disruption caused by new construction would have been minimized. Nevertheless, St. James Church has recognized the opportunity presented by infill development, as suggested not only by demographic shifts reflected in the 2010 U.S. Census, but also in response to a growing awareness of the fiscal, environmental, and social costs of development focused disproportionately on the urban fringe.

Preserve Open Space, Farmland, Natural Beauty and Critical Environmental Areas: Smart Growth uses the term “open space” broadly to mean natural areas both in and surrounding localities that provide important community space, habitat for plants and animals, recreational opportunities, farm and ranch (working lands), places of natural beauty and critical environmental areas (e.g. wetlands). Open space preservation supports smart growth goals by bolstering local economies, preserving critical environmental areas, improving Belvidere’s quality of life, and guiding new growth into our central city.

The decision by St. James to not construct on existing farmland preserves open space and the dual use offered by utilizing the expanded parking structures on the proposed site as playground space, will also provide additional “recreational opportunities” consistent with the principles of Smart Growth. The political will to save “open spaces” continues to grow, and should be embraced by members of the Belvidere City Council.

Mix Land Uses: Smart growth supports the integration of mixed land uses into communities as a critical component of achieving better places to live. By putting uses in close proximity to one another (i.e. Institutional next to residential), alternatives to driving, such as walking or biking, once again become viable. It can enhance the vitality and perceived security of an area by increasing the number and attitude of people on the street. This type of development will help public spaces and pedestrian-oriented retail again become places where people meet; attracting pedestrians back into the downtown area and help revitalize community life.

Make Development Decisions Predictable, Fair and Cost Effective: For Belvidere to continue to be successful in implementing smart growth, we must be embraced by the private sector. Only private capital markets can supply the large amounts of money needed (in this case more than five million dollars) to meet the growing demand for smart growth developments. Unfortunately for this project, the City’s regulatory decision process has been anything but predictable.

Despite the regulatory and financial barriers, St. James Church has gone above and beyond what many developers would do to address the concerns raised during this zoning and special use permit process. Successful Smart Growth development projects usually require modifications to a municipal code through the legally recognized special use/PUD process. To continue to attract Smart Growth investment, the City Council should approve this project with the compromised amendments, to avoid any inflationary costs which may be caused by further delay.

Foster Distinctive, Attractive Communities with a Strong Sense of Place: Smart growth encourages communities to craft a vision and set of standards for development and construction which respond to community values of architectural beauty and distinctiveness, as well as expanded choices in housing and transportation. The City of Belvidere accomplished this task with the adoption of its current zoning code.

Smart Growth seeks to create interesting, unique communities which reflect the values and cultures of the people who reside there, and foster the types of physical environments which support a more cohesive community fabric. Smart growth promotes development that uses natural and man-made boundaries and landmarks to create a sense of defined neighborhoods, towns, and regions.

St. James Church is requesting permission to construct a man-made landmark which could easily serve as the eastern gateway to Belvidere’s downtown district. By approving this high-quality facility, there is a greater likelihood that buildings (and therefore the entire neighborhood) will retain its economic vitality and value over time. In so doing, the infrastructure and natural resources used to create this area will provide residents with a distinctive and beautiful place that they can call “home” for generations to come.

Belvidere’s strong sense of place is reflected in part within the official City Seal. A close look reveals the value of education with the Ida Public Library, the value of its labor force and industry with the automobile assembly plant, the value of public institutions and historic structures with the former post office, and its value in the faith based community with three prominent church steeples.

Create Walkable Neighborhoods: Walkable communities are desirable places to live, work, learn, worship and play, and therefore a key component of smart growth. First, Walkable communities locate within an easy and safe walk goods (such as housing, offices, and retail) and services (such as transportation, schools, libraries) that a community resident or employee needs on a regular basis. Second, by definition walkable communities make pedestrian activity possible, thus expanding transportation and creating a streetscape that better serves a range of users – pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and automobiles.

Personal and societal benefit of pedestrian friendly communities are realized – benefits which include lower transportation costs, greater social interaction, improved personal and environmental health, and expanded consumer choice. By building this church with multiple destinations within close proximity, where the streets and sidewalks balance all forms of transportation, Belvidere will support the basic framework for encouraging walkability

Take Advantage of Compact Building Design: St. James Church has demonstrated a strong desire to work with the City and neighborhood to incorporate an even more compact building design than originally presented. Not only is this approach more efficient by requiring less on-street parking and increased lot line setbacks, it has reduced the shadow effect and safety line of sight at Logan Avenue and South Main Street. The current approach also provides for adequate stormwater drainage needs.

Provide a Variety of Transportation Choices: The City of Belvidere will soon be implementing an additional option of transportation. Working jointly with the Boone County Council on Aging and the Rockford Mass Transit District, fixed route service will be initiated this year. While the proposed St. James Church development will have little if any effect of that service, it does underscore the value and importance of optional modes of transportation. As public transit continues to grow in acceptance, the need for surface parking will be reduced. In the meantime, the City will need to begin to look for new approaches to transportation planning to better coordinate land use and transportation. Once again, by locating the new church in the central part of the City, as opposed to rural Boone County, the likelihood of it benefiting from public transit increases.

Create a Range of Housing Opportunities and Choices: The current economy has turned the housing market upside down. However, once the market recovers the single family housing within the immediate vicinity of a newly constructed five million dollar church should be an attractive investment. This would be an activity consistent with the City’s on-going desire and efforts to pursue investments within the older residential neighborhoods. Existing property owners throughout Belvidere have demonstrated a desire and willingness to make physical improvements and private investments in their properties upon the conclusion of a street reconstruction project. A similar impact could be expected in this neighborhood upon the completion of a new church.

The City is faced with two alternatives. The City has the ability to make this project happen, with a “yes” vote for the St. James request for zoning and special use, or vote “no” and stop the church investment. We need this investment for all the identified “Smart Growth” reasons. Please vote “yes” to help build a better Belvidere.

Mr. Chamberlain, Alderman, Ward 3