Patty Fletcher
From: John Mullin < [email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 9:49 AM
To: Caylin Frank; Peter De Hoff; Anita Edmondson; Brian Pepin Cc: Steve Vaus
Subject: MDRA Revisions
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Caylin, Peter, Brian and Anita,
Hope you are all well. For the last year, I have passively followed, often from afar, your decisions and actions - and been grateful that you all were there instead of me. Today, however, I would like to proactively offer some thoughts on the Mayor's proposal to curtail the MDRA process.
Despite what some may think, I recognize and appreciate your responsibility to maintain development standards within our City and to mitigate the impact of new construction. The question on the floor, however, is whether or not the MDRA process helps you (or staff, in most cases) fulfill this responsibility. I think the fair answer is no, it doesn't.
Once an applicant satisfies the requirements of our PMC, the zoning and building codes and the state and regional agencies, the layering on top of that a separate MDRA application adds needless cost, delays and is an inefficient use of staff time.
I suspect those who object to this proposal will cite the lack of opportunity for awareness and input by neighbors and neighborhoods. I believe there is a valid argument that a neighbor's interests are protected by the myriad of development requirements listed above and additional input from the neighborhood is unwarranted. Absent a request for a variance or any other exception to existing development standards, an applicant should be able to improve his/her property by right.
But let's leave that argument for another day. Given today's reality and the expectation that one neighbor can opine on the improvement of a nearby property, I am sure staff can devise a system to notice neighboring properties of a pending application that will provide them the opportunity to examine the improvements being proposed.
Helping people invest and improve their property provides a general benefit to the City, adds to the quality of life for our residents and should, in my opinion, be a priority. I think the Mayor's proposal does that, and I urge your support tonight to explore the benefits of the proposal and ways to provide notice and/or address the objections I expect you'll get.
Thanks again to you all,
John
John Mullin
cell, 858.864.2125
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