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Last evening, January 23rd, the City Commission voted down the option of arcades and the ability to build habitable space above them. Mayor Servian, Vice-Mayor Atkins, Commissioner Palmer all voted against arcades. Commissioner Shelin was against arcades but did not vote for the language presented. They did discuss they would like to discuss this option at a later date.
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Through our Charrette with Urban Planner, Ramon Trias, we learned that arcades would work and sometime necessary in Burns Square. I spoke at the Commission Meeting last evening to express the view of the Burns Square Property Owners Association. This is what I said:
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I cannot speak with authority for the entire city but I can speak for the interests of Burns Square.
The Property Owners Association has invested tens of thousands of dollars in our process to create a long-term vision for development, which we hope to present to the City Commission, in an open public meeting sometime in March. Our vision includes arcades in some areas and we found in many cases they were not only completely appropriate in scale and effective but also necessary in Burns Square due to the current downzoning to DTC. The elimination of this option will drastically hinder our process that has been underway for months. We are quite proud of the work we have undertaken, our ability to work together with differences and create a shared vision that will benefit not only the businesses and property owners in Burns Square but the entire city.
We find it upsetting that the Burns Square Property Owners may not be recognized as responsible citizens, working diligently to grow their area into a wonderful destination with the possibility of arcades, should you rescind this option. We ask you to keep the possibility of arcades in the Master Plan and in the very least, keep them as an option that can be approved by the commission.
We hope you respect the work we have done and allow us the opportunity to present our vision before you deny it."