Eastside Pioneers Rezoning Project
by Michael LaPlante, President ESPNA

On April 26, 1999 our neighborhood association submitted a letter to Mayor Canfield requesting the rezoning of all properties located south of the DM&E railroad tracks, north of 4th St. SE, east of the Zumbro river and west of 11th Ave. SE downward to low density residential.

Our decision to pursue this rezoning came after months of research into the ramifications of this project. Our goal was to cap the overuse of this area as it was leading to plummeting property values and rising crime. It was decided, since the Kutzky Park Neighborhood Association had rezoned for many of the same reasons and was now experiencing a reversal in the negative trend, that we do the same.

The process has taken several meetings and a few public hearings but now it seems we are within reach of our goal. We are now nearing the end of the process. Our neighborhood association has received a document entitled "Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order" from the city of Rochester. This is basically a statement of all that has been proposed thus far on the issue, with a conclusion from the city on a direction to proceed. The Council has granted our appeal for a rezoning in this area. Walter Stobaugh, the representative on the city council whose jurisdiction includes the affected area, states that "the findings of fact were passed by the city council and that they were given their first reading and had passed that as well." He says that "there will probably be one more reading of the ordinance on September 8 at 7 pm as the last item on the agenda." He does not anticipate any problems with this. He states that "he is glad this is working out" and that he will let us know about what is being proposed with the 15% improvement limit (an arbitrary ceiling placed on non-conformities for improvements) now in place on rental units within the rezoned area.

Our neighborhood association is deeply indebted to all those who signed the petitions, the volunteers who helped on the project, and to the many who testified at the public hearings on our behalf. A special thank you to our council representative, Walter Stobaugh, who advised us and guided our proposal through the rezoning process.