PUBLIC MEETINGS ANNOUNCEMENT Re: Interim Measures for Community Character Protection
November 14, 2008 – 8:13 pmATTENTION ROSEWOOD HOMEOWNERS, Your Input is Needed!
Learn about “Interim Measures for Community Character Protection” and vote.
Dear Rosewood Homeowner:
The Rosewood Community is considering whether to opt-in to the two-year protections afforded by the City of Columbia’s Interim Measures ordinance. Rosewood Community Council invites you to attend any of three public meetings to learn about what the Interim Measures will mean for Rosewood. We would like to know the sentiment of property owners toward thesemeasures. Cast your vote, either in person at one of the meetings, or online by (after Saturday’s first meeting) November 20. We are offering THREE opportunities to hear the presentation by city staff because our neighborhood is so large!
- Saturday: November 15, 11:00 a.m., at Rosewood Baptist Church
- Tuesday: November 18, 6:30 p.m., at Rosewood Elementary
- Thursday: November 20, 6:30 p.m. at Owens Field Airport Terminal
Please note, ONE vote is allowed per property owner of record. ALL required information on the voting forms must be completed for validation.
To vote online, you must use the validation code on the postcard mailed to your residence.
“Interim Measures for Community Character Protection is intended to minimize the possibility that demolition and construction activity within a residential community would drastically or negatively affect the existing character of a community while in the process of pursuing a design preservation overlay.”
To date, these neighborhoods have adopted Interim Measures: Cottontown, Forest Hills, Hollywood/Rose Hill, Shandon,Sherwood Forest, and Whaley Street.
View RCC Constitution
13 Responses to “PUBLIC MEETINGS ANNOUNCEMENT Re: Interim Measures for Community Character Protection”
I cannot attend any of the meetings regarding the “Interim Measures for Community Character Protection”, but would like to submit a yes vote. Where do I go to find the form online in order to vote?
By Rose S. Thomas on Nov 18, 2008
I would like to become more involved and especially concerning so many “rentals” on my street as in the area!!! Is there anything we can do to limit this???
By Lin McKenney on Nov 19, 2008
Hi,
I believe in the right of property owners to do whith their property as they see fit as already provided for in the zoning laws. There is no inherint value to the houses in Rosewood as they are and we should incourage anyone interested in building newer modern houses to do so. It will only help to increase the property value of the lots with the older outdated house on them. Until the univerity leaves town there will always be yuong people living in Columbia.
By Jim on Nov 19, 2008
Hi Rose. Did you receive our postcard mailing?
You’ll need the 9-digit number that appears under your mailing address on the card to vote online. Here’s where you go to vote online:
https://www.rosewoodcommunity.com/im_vote/
If you have any trouble or concerns, email me directly at rbmunnerlyn@etiwan.com.
By Rebecca Munnerlyn on Nov 19, 2008
Hi Jim,
thanks for your comment. I think many residents DO find an inherent value in their 1920s or 1940’s bungalow homes (for instance) in Rosewood. There are certainly sections of the neighborhood with consistant style characteristics that bring charm and value to the Rosewood community. But, that’s not to say other areas in Rosewood wouldn’t benefit from appropriate infill housing. The question is, should we take a little time to determine what we, as residents and property owners, LIKE about Rosewood…and should any of those characteristics be protected in some way? I think we can all agree that we want Rosewood to be a vibrant community for young folks, families, and seniors.
By Rebecca Munnerlyn on Nov 19, 2008
Hi Lin,
I invite you to get involved with Rosewood Community Council! We meet every third Thurday of the month at the Owens Field Terminal,6:30 p.m. There’s really no way to limit the number of rentals in Rosewood, but we can work together to help folks understand the importance of being “good neighbors” and, importantly, responsible landlords. The City is stepping up enforcement of residential ordinances with the help of concerned neighbors who are alerting them to problems. Never hesitate to call the City inspections division or zoning if you have concerns related to rental property in your area!
By Rebecca Munnerlyn on Nov 19, 2008
I have read the proposal and cast a vote online. I do wish the postcard had been delivered before Tuesday so that I could have attended a meeting. It takes 1 1/2 hours one way to get to Owens Field as I live in Fort Mill, SC. Has the city presentation been posted to the web aand if so what is the address?
Thanks
By Jo Ann C Thomas on Nov 20, 2008
Hi Jo Ann,
thanks for visiting the site and voting. The Q & A sheet posted on the site sums up the city staff presentation and answers the most commonly asked questions. If you have a question that isn’t answered, feel free to post it here or email me directly at rbmunnerlyn@etiwan.com. I’m sorry that your card didn’t arrive sooner, our mailing did not move through the post as quickly as we hoped. But I’m glad you received it and found us online!
By rmunnerlyn on Nov 20, 2008
I am all for passing the measures but have seen firsthand how things like this can be “forgotten” by the city. As a 5 Points merchant that helped draft the “Future Five” plan, we now see that being completely ignored with the planned Walgreen’s on the old Kenny’s site.
Best of luck!
By Debbie McDaniel on Nov 23, 2008
Will there be a way for a property owner who voted on Interim Measures for Community Character Protection to verify that his/her vote was counted and whether the vote was placed in the proper category (category meaning yes vote or no vote)once all the votes are tallied? If yes, please give the specifics so that all will know that their vote has truly been counted. Thanks.
By Jack on Nov 25, 2008
If an organization is non-partisan (which by its own website description the Rosewood Community Council claims to be), presentations it offers to its constituents on issues must be balanced. All viewpoints on the issues should be given equal time during a presentation or, at the very least, presentations that would provide opposing opinions should be offered by the organization. Unfortunately, I do not believe this could have been accomplihed with the informational opportunities provided by RCC on Interim Measures for Community Character Protection. The City has an interest in having these measures passed. Did the RCC offer any develpers, or others that may be opposed to the measures, the opportunity to present? True consesus on any vote cannot be achieved unless those voting have the means to obtain unbiased information upon which to base their vote. I hope those who voted were able to do so.
In light of the above and as a way to help the RCC maintain or move towards non-partisanship and provide the greatest level of worth to the community it represents, I urge the officers of the RCC (or others within the RCC who organized the presentations and other outreach on the Interim Measures for Community Character Protection) to make their votes known to all property owners in the Rosewood Community. Wouldn’t you like to know which side your represtatives represent? If you would, let them know it.
By Jack on Nov 25, 2008
Hi Jack,
thanks for your comment. If you had attended any of the three public meetings, I think you would agree that the Interim Measures information was presented by the city staff in a completely unbiased fashion. Their charge was to explain precisely what an Interim Measures overlay means, and to answer any questions posed by the attendees. The meetings were not intended to be a debate about the ordinance—it was simply a “what is it”/ “what is it not” presentation and Q&A.
We’ve gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to solicit the opinions of our property owners and I’m glad you’ve participated. Over 2300 postcards were mailed, three public presentations have been held, RCC sent blast emails (and reminders)to everyone we have an email address for, and there was an announcement in the newspaper. We’ve collected paper ballots from attendees and provided an online ballot for those who either could not attend or weren’t ready to vote at the meetings. So, with all due diligence, we have tried our level best to give every Rosewood residential property owner a chance to support or oppose this option. NO other neighborhood, in fact, has taken as many steps as RCC to solicit the opinions and particpation of its residents. We’ve done so because Rosewood encompasses a large area, and because your RCC board members and your City Council member truly want to know how property owners feel about Interim Measures for Rosewood.
By rmunnerlyn on Nov 25, 2008
So Jack, you obviously oppose the interim measures. I feel that you missed the point of this issue. This issue was about whether the property owners in the Rosewood would like to protect their property from their neighbors lots being subdivided and sold to developers, building a new house completely out of character, or moving their 50 year old house to somewhere else. This issue was not about whether home owners wanted to know what developers had to offer. Since the interim measure only applies to property that is subdivided after the measure is passed, it shouldn’t have any affect on homeowners. This measure would most likely only affect someone who wasn’t really interested in the character of our neighborhood but how much money they can make off of their property.
I don’t think it’s RCC responsibility to seek out developers to come and speak at a meeting to keep it “non-biased”. I think it’s the developers responsibility to contact RCC and offer to come and speak at a meeting in opposition.
As for what our community leaders are going to vote, I would say it’s much like the presidential election, if you didn’t vote, you can’t complain. But that’s just my opinion, for what it’s worth.
By Bobby on Nov 25, 2008