To: Julie Eiselt, James Mitchell, Carlenia Ivory, LaWana Mayfield, Patsy Kinsey, Gregory Phipps, Dimple Ajmera, Kenny Smith, Edmund Driggs, Vi Alexander Lyles, Mayor, Braxton Winston, Larken Egleston, Justin Harlow, Matt Newton, and Tariq Bo...
Wesley Heights Rezoning Petition 2017-159
I’d like to voice opposition and concern regarding Rezoning Petition 2017-159 in Historic Wesley Heights. This petition is not appropriate for our neighborhood, sets an unequivocally bad precedent for further rezoning requests, and puts our small historic district in jeopardy. Please OPPOSE Rezoning Petition 2017-159.
Why is this important?
Hello.
I’d like to voice opposition and concern regarding Rezoning Petition 2017-159 in Historic Wesley Heights. This petition is not appropriate for our neighborhood, sets an unequivocally bad precedent for further rezoning requests, and puts our small historic district in jeopardy. Historic integrity, home values, and zoning standards are on the line for Charlotte during this unprecedented time of growth. I have listed some of my concerns below.
I ask you, as my representative and community partner, to OPPOSE Rezoning Petition 2017-159.
OPPOSE Rezoning Petition 2017-159 in Historic Wesley Heights because:
1.) Historic Community Erosion is a real problem. Wesley Heights is already one of the smallest Historic Districts in Charlotte. This rezoning would further erode the district further and establish more pressure for further historic district erosion in Historic Wesley Heights and other limited Historic Districts. Keeping the character of this small community should be a priority for the City of Charlotte.
2.) A redistrict to Multi-Use allows for property boundary reshaping. A redistrict would allow structures to be built closer to the property lines than neighboring historic homes.
3.) Changing the zoning of residential properties into MUDD & B-01 is not in keeping with historic character of the community. These properties are inside of the Historic Boundaries approved by the Wesley Heights Community in 1994.
4.) Bad precedent. Developers will continue to put pressure on this community as the area becomes more and more desirable. Historic Wesley Heights implores the Planning Department, Historic District Commission, Historic Landmarks Commission and City Council to encourage developers to respect historically designated districts.
5.) Why couldn’t other Charlotte residents build condos in their backyards? Petition 2017-159 builds condos not only in the “backyards” of existing historic homes but also builds them against adjoining properties thus destroying their historic context and value. Cities like Austin, TX are running into issues where residents are creating backyard rental units due to lack of zoning restrictions which has created enormous conflict in the city. Would this rezoning create a bad precedent for the City of Charlotte?
6.) Structures on new property line inhibit privacy of neighboring historic homes.
7.) The owner/building group owns several properties in Historic Wesley Heights already (potential future petitions for rezoning). If the council does not oppose this petition request, the owner could then try to rezone other properties within Historic Wesley Heights. Rezone Petition 2017-159 is on property that borders non-Historic District areas. The owner could potentially be testing the waters for future rezoning of other properties thus further eroding the district.
8.) Destroys historic requirements as well as the Historic Neighborhood’s look, feel, charm, and consistency. Adjacent properties will have the historic nature of their property destroyed by this rezoning. This could have major negative impacts to property values of adjacent properties. This effectively nullifies some Historic District Commission requirements that must be adhered to by neighboring residents, such as limitations on the percentage of land that can be developed, etc. Residents who live within these districts must follow strict guidelines and pay fees to make changes or modifications to the structures and landscaping. Changing zoning of properties within the existing historic district is unfair to all of those who have followed the guidelines, invested in their homes, and adhered to the specific rules within the district. The reason we adhere to these rules is to maintain the value and character of our homes.
9.) Increases traffic and parking in an area of Walnut Street already struggling with traffic and parking. Traffic and parking are already a problem on the edges of the Wesley Heights Community due to new businesses, apartments and the bustling W. Morehead Street Corridor and soon to be bustling West Trade Street Corridor.
10.) Enormous Risk to small undeveloped lots within Historic Wesley Heights. Some of our neighbors build new houses. However, they build them within the guidelines of the Historic Commission and so the new home is period appropriate to Wesley Height’s initial boom. A rezoning of the existing historic property could mean future rezone petitions, further degradation of Historic Standards, and continued historic district (and home value) erosion.
11.) Wesley Heights welcomes development, but not at the expense of our charming Historic Neighborhood. There are plenty of other opportunities to develop in Charlotte and even areas outside yet adjacent to our Historic neighborhood without disturbing the protected communities showcasing a different time in the history of our city.
12.) The community wants to retain the Historic character of Historic Wesley Heights with historic single family homes, duplexes and quadraplexes that already exist. We do not want to see residential homes turned into mixed use developments within the historic boundaries of Wesley Heights. It is contradictory to the Historic Designation.
13.) Historic Wesley Heights is galvanized by this issue. Residents in this historic district and our surrounding neighborhood partners are unified in its plea – we do not want rezoning or erosion of the integrity of our historic neighborhood.
I’d like to voice opposition and concern regarding Rezoning Petition 2017-159 in Historic Wesley Heights. This petition is not appropriate for our neighborhood, sets an unequivocally bad precedent for further rezoning requests, and puts our small historic district in jeopardy. Historic integrity, home values, and zoning standards are on the line for Charlotte during this unprecedented time of growth. I have listed some of my concerns below.
I ask you, as my representative and community partner, to OPPOSE Rezoning Petition 2017-159.
OPPOSE Rezoning Petition 2017-159 in Historic Wesley Heights because:
1.) Historic Community Erosion is a real problem. Wesley Heights is already one of the smallest Historic Districts in Charlotte. This rezoning would further erode the district further and establish more pressure for further historic district erosion in Historic Wesley Heights and other limited Historic Districts. Keeping the character of this small community should be a priority for the City of Charlotte.
2.) A redistrict to Multi-Use allows for property boundary reshaping. A redistrict would allow structures to be built closer to the property lines than neighboring historic homes.
3.) Changing the zoning of residential properties into MUDD & B-01 is not in keeping with historic character of the community. These properties are inside of the Historic Boundaries approved by the Wesley Heights Community in 1994.
4.) Bad precedent. Developers will continue to put pressure on this community as the area becomes more and more desirable. Historic Wesley Heights implores the Planning Department, Historic District Commission, Historic Landmarks Commission and City Council to encourage developers to respect historically designated districts.
5.) Why couldn’t other Charlotte residents build condos in their backyards? Petition 2017-159 builds condos not only in the “backyards” of existing historic homes but also builds them against adjoining properties thus destroying their historic context and value. Cities like Austin, TX are running into issues where residents are creating backyard rental units due to lack of zoning restrictions which has created enormous conflict in the city. Would this rezoning create a bad precedent for the City of Charlotte?
6.) Structures on new property line inhibit privacy of neighboring historic homes.
7.) The owner/building group owns several properties in Historic Wesley Heights already (potential future petitions for rezoning). If the council does not oppose this petition request, the owner could then try to rezone other properties within Historic Wesley Heights. Rezone Petition 2017-159 is on property that borders non-Historic District areas. The owner could potentially be testing the waters for future rezoning of other properties thus further eroding the district.
8.) Destroys historic requirements as well as the Historic Neighborhood’s look, feel, charm, and consistency. Adjacent properties will have the historic nature of their property destroyed by this rezoning. This could have major negative impacts to property values of adjacent properties. This effectively nullifies some Historic District Commission requirements that must be adhered to by neighboring residents, such as limitations on the percentage of land that can be developed, etc. Residents who live within these districts must follow strict guidelines and pay fees to make changes or modifications to the structures and landscaping. Changing zoning of properties within the existing historic district is unfair to all of those who have followed the guidelines, invested in their homes, and adhered to the specific rules within the district. The reason we adhere to these rules is to maintain the value and character of our homes.
9.) Increases traffic and parking in an area of Walnut Street already struggling with traffic and parking. Traffic and parking are already a problem on the edges of the Wesley Heights Community due to new businesses, apartments and the bustling W. Morehead Street Corridor and soon to be bustling West Trade Street Corridor.
10.) Enormous Risk to small undeveloped lots within Historic Wesley Heights. Some of our neighbors build new houses. However, they build them within the guidelines of the Historic Commission and so the new home is period appropriate to Wesley Height’s initial boom. A rezoning of the existing historic property could mean future rezone petitions, further degradation of Historic Standards, and continued historic district (and home value) erosion.
11.) Wesley Heights welcomes development, but not at the expense of our charming Historic Neighborhood. There are plenty of other opportunities to develop in Charlotte and even areas outside yet adjacent to our Historic neighborhood without disturbing the protected communities showcasing a different time in the history of our city.
12.) The community wants to retain the Historic character of Historic Wesley Heights with historic single family homes, duplexes and quadraplexes that already exist. We do not want to see residential homes turned into mixed use developments within the historic boundaries of Wesley Heights. It is contradictory to the Historic Designation.
13.) Historic Wesley Heights is galvanized by this issue. Residents in this historic district and our surrounding neighborhood partners are unified in its plea – we do not want rezoning or erosion of the integrity of our historic neighborhood.