[Mpls] Hiawatha Flats

[TONY SCALLON]

Let's try to deal with the real issues.  I am concerned with the development of the
light rail corridor.  I will respond to your charges later.  

The city needs more development in the corridor.  The Klodt development gives an
opportunity to have this needed development.  I hear all about the needs to have
transit.  We must then allow the development of density along the corridor.  The 
Klodt development is one of several that will be responding.  This development along
with the others can be oriented to transit and eventually to a bicycle trail replacing
the Railroad tracks!  Concentrating on the election donations takes away from the
most important issue: the development of the corridor.

I believe the density of the Klodt development is good.  I am not commenting on the
design.  I would like to note that several commentators have suggested opposition
to the R-5 zoning, which I believe is consistent with the planning study of the
area.  I would appreciate hearing from Mr. Brauer his views on development in the
Hiawatha corridor.  
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Brauer<mailto:mplslist at tcq.net> 
  To: Mpls at mnforum.org<mailto:Mpls at mnforum.org> 
  Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2005 3:45 PM
  Subject: RE: [Mpls] Hiawatha Flats


  Tony Scallon writes:

  > We also should drop the innuendo about campaign donations.  This only
  divides the
  > community. 

  I'm sympathetic to the concerns about reckless innuendo, but I don't think
  that's the case in this particular example. A developer gave 10 grand to an
  effort that was largely concentrated on a couple of key races, and when that
  developer's project came up for a vote on the Planning Commission, one key
  beneficiary of the donation was the only one to vote for it. That's more
  than just an inconvenient array of facts.

  As a community, we need to be sensitive to reckless division, but at the
  same time we should not sweep suspicious incidents such as this one under
  the rug. I think Carol should have recused herself (and please don't use the
  "independent" PAC expenditure as a rationale - it may not have been legally
  coordinated, but it was clearly intended to influence her race, and the
  contribution was public before the vote, I believe).

  This isn't about reform-versus-incumbents. I did not personally approve of
  the park reform effort taking 10 grand from Billy Weisman, but Weisman's
  project happened in the past - there was no "live" project up for a vote. If
  and when Weisman was to introduce a similar project, and a key beneficiary
  of his largesse was to vote for it, I'd have exactly the same objection.

  Let's elevate our standards enough to acknowledge the problem with this, and
  seek ways to solve it. Voluntary recusal would be a great start.

  David Brauer
  Kingfield

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