Changes in B District
I am going to miss the public hearing on this at tonight's BOA meeting, so I sent this to my alderpersons....
Greetings esteemed alderpersons and Mr. Mayor,
I need to catch an early flight in the morning and as usual am running behind on everything, but I would like to share my opinion on the changes proposed by P&Z to allowed uses of B district areas.
Via my website, assorted blogs & forums -- as well as the face time spent with visitors who hire me to teach sandcastle lessons -- it seems clear to me that our town does not have enough places where both visitors and residents can dine or have a cocktail while enjoying a beach view. Discouraging the creation of such businesses seems to me to fly in the face of the Texas Open Beaches Act, and it seems that the proposed changes would do just that.
Sometimes it seems that the people who own property on the waterfront are doing everything they can to keep the rest of us from enjoying their views in a relaxing and convivial setting. One can't blame them for trying to keep the "riff-raff" (like me) out, but one also mustn't let these people turn us into a sleepy retirement community with a reputation for outlawing fun.
Furthermore, I would ask the board to consider the positive impact local restaurants and watering holes have on the neighborhoods in which they are located. If we are really and truly trying to create distinct neighborhoods that are pedestrian-friendly, these kinds of establishments are an important element. One of my favorite things about Wanna Wanna is the fact that it is just 3 blocks away from my house -- a very pleasant excuse for an evening beach walk.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Lucinda
Greetings esteemed alderpersons and Mr. Mayor,
I need to catch an early flight in the morning and as usual am running behind on everything, but I would like to share my opinion on the changes proposed by P&Z to allowed uses of B district areas.
Via my website, assorted blogs & forums -- as well as the face time spent with visitors who hire me to teach sandcastle lessons -- it seems clear to me that our town does not have enough places where both visitors and residents can dine or have a cocktail while enjoying a beach view. Discouraging the creation of such businesses seems to me to fly in the face of the Texas Open Beaches Act, and it seems that the proposed changes would do just that.
Sometimes it seems that the people who own property on the waterfront are doing everything they can to keep the rest of us from enjoying their views in a relaxing and convivial setting. One can't blame them for trying to keep the "riff-raff" (like me) out, but one also mustn't let these people turn us into a sleepy retirement community with a reputation for outlawing fun.
Furthermore, I would ask the board to consider the positive impact local restaurants and watering holes have on the neighborhoods in which they are located. If we are really and truly trying to create distinct neighborhoods that are pedestrian-friendly, these kinds of establishments are an important element. One of my favorite things about Wanna Wanna is the fact that it is just 3 blocks away from my house -- a very pleasant excuse for an evening beach walk.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Lucinda
posted by Lucinda at 1:22 PM
7 Comments:
I am sure there are some very strong feelings about Zone B, although from what I have heard most of it is either platitudes ("B is for babies") or technicalities ("really, we don't mind a bar, just the way it was proposed by Troy"). It is not comforting that to know that the Comprehensive Plan effort has become a complete joke and not even worth pursuing any further ... it would have been nice to start working on such things sooner instead of later.
Folks, it is time to wake up, grow up, and start tackling our own problems without hiring some yahoo from Seattle to do our thinking. I've always thought Zone B was be the flame-front because it was a horrible mix of residential and commercial intended uses, and I would have never started that way but we have to fix the damage from decades of doing nothing. Nada, then a few tweaks, and then more manana and more nada.
I do not mean to insult anyone's intelligence, just to alert folks that no Comp Plan is going to fix Zone B unless we grab the bull by the horns and do it right, by ourselves and for ourselves.
Yes, there could be some fights because some of the land might have historical value, be intended for multi-family, be constructed for condos, and so forth. Get it all out there and form a Plan. How freaking hard it that?
It is not all that hard, people, and does not have to end up in the courts. There are development rights, historical stuff, land swaps, tax abatements, promotion of tourism versus residential areas ... we can be creative and make everyone come out on top. Why this has to be some kind of magic than only some yahoo could solve for us is beyond any of my Texas "can do" sensibilities.
Sam,
This process is not beyond anyone, but there are those who pretend it is to prevent anything from being done (DUH!). Why some of our Town leaders even entertain that excuse is the question. Maybe understanding basic human nature is beyond them.
For full public disclosure, my wife Lori is on the CPAC and while she might be mad at me for suggesting open public revolt, she allows me enough dog leash to form my own opinions. Her main point was that since it got out of control, the CPAC was going to meet each week until the goodies were produced.
The folks that don't want anything meaningful done on this Island better get out of the way - and thanks, last Anon commenter, you have a good point there.
Glad to see they didn't ban the bar the motel wants to put on the beach. If somebody wants an exclusive retirement island, they can get the $ to buy an island for themselves, or get the $ to buy enough land around themselves so the bar noise won't be a problem. Otherwise- it's a resort town- what do you expect? If they want a water view but quieter- hey- move to Bayview or Laguna Vista. I'm sick of my investment $ being eroded by people who think because they own a piece of the island- that they own the WHOLE island! My tax $ are worth as much as a full time resident!
With all due respect, everyone who owns property on the Island has a right to enjoy their visit to the island without the, noise, trash and disrepect of others rights. Your $ are not the only ones being invested, invested or being spent.
With all due respect, I realize that other people's investments on the island are worth as much as mine- DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR. I guess what I am saying is, if you don't like what is happening, and you don't have the support for a legislative change for your agenda, then you need to buy enough property around you so that whatever bothers you won't bother you. By the way, anybody
can get noise, trash and disrespect anywhere on the island, or anywhere in the U.S.A. for that matter, and a bar doesn't have to be anywhere near for that to happen, so it's not a particularly valid basis for that arguement.
I don't think that beach bars are protected by the Open Beach Act, but, hey, maybe they should be, and an an amendment might be in order. Perhaps some language like this should be added: "No person or entity shall impede the right of the public to drink,establish palapa bars, rock out, congregate or get its groove on within _____ feet the of mean high tide line." Cheers, Tom
Post a Comment
<< Home