Opinions
 

Uptown Plan Should Focus on Goals

Date: 7/2005
Author: Thatcher Imboden

Uptown has made headlines in the last couple of months over proposed buildings in the area. The Ackerberg Group’s project at the Lagoon Theater was criticized by some neighborhood residents for its proposed 13-story tower. Critics said that Uptown needs a plan for its future before approving projects that are significantly different than what current zoning allows. The current process, while not perfect, does allow for intelligent discussion and review on a particular project. Uptown does need a plan, however, so that new development can work within a framework that focuses on goals and rewards sound design while protecting neighbors.

Emphasizing goals

Planning should focus on goals so innovative design is not stymied by a rigid system. For example, an Uptown Plan could act as an evaluation tool for the content and impact of development projects.

Critical aspects such as job creation and urban design would be considered as important as issues of height or traffic. If you visit Uptown during a weekday morning, you can see that the few businesses open at those earlier hours are struggling to fill empty seats and aisles. This is as real a threat to the character of our neighborhood as a few stories of height or the location of a door on a movie theatre.

If we, as community members, want a seat at the table, we need to make sure we are going to participate in such a way that demands attention and respect. Negative attitudes and adversarial behavior will limit our credibility in achieving neighborhood goals. We need to leave room for innovation, and reward designs for developments that consider our suggestions and concerns important.

Just as important, our Plan should not be viewed as the prescription. Great ideas can come from those who are not involved with our Plan—including developers, architects, city planners, other professionals, and informed citizens.

While Uptown needs a Plan, development proposals that challenge the zoning code can and should be considered for approval. The city’s current system allows for variances and conditional use permits so that good projects can proceed even when they don't comply fully with “one size fits all” zoning policies.
We choose to live in Uptown because of its vibrancy, its offerings, its location, and much more. A good Uptown Plan will be able to adapt to marketplace conditions so that progress can be made on our goals. What good is a plan if the goals cannot be obtained, or if the “rules” focus on single issues? We need to be progressive, not regressive, and our planning should serve the entire community--not just those who want to preserve the status quo.