Petitioners pipe up
by Jesse FroehlingArticle Tools
“There’s probably five or six of us that are involved in this thing,” he told the Indy, noting that the petition represents a last resort. “Several of us council people have shown up down there at the planning board meetings and we might as well talk to ourselves or the radio or something because they’re not paying attention to us.”
Haines says the petition doesn’t aim to block the proposal, but makes sure the minority has a place in the discussion. Specifically, he wants the zoning rewrite to require a supermajority vote from the City Council.
“[The progressive members of council] won’t be able to get [a supermajority] because there’s about five of us that won’t come over to their side until we have a chance to talk about things,” he said.
The petition lists 10 consequences that residents will allegedly see if the current zoning rewrite is approved. The list includes accessory dwelling units, three story buildings up to 35 feet and a dramatic increase in on-street parking.
Roger Millar, director of the Office of Planning and Grants, immediately responded to the petition in a point-by-point memo. Additional dwelling units, for example, do not change under the new ordinance, Millar wrote.
Haines acknowledged that other members of City Council besides he and Hendrickson are involved in the petition effort, but he stopped short of naming them.
“I’m not sure they want to be identified at this point,” he said.
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What are we, in high school here? These council yahoos sending out anonymous petitions? What a bunch of jokers. Kudos to Alderman Haines for coming clean to the Independent at least, but other members "don't want to be known yet?!" This is so totally J.V.
Weird, weird, weird. So let me get this straight. Because Alderman Dumb (Haines) and Alderman Dumber (Hendrickson) don't get their way on city council they have now resorted to being part of an anonymous group circulating a petition to undo the proposed new zoning rules? Oh man, I feel so, like, totally teabagged!
Wow, is all I can say about this. How very un-leader like these members of council are being. Can council memebers even do this? One question that has been plaguing me about the "minority" on council and their "concerns," is why did they vote to authorize the staff time and money to update the code if they don't want to see a final product that benefits the community at large? Get with it Council and grow up. It is time to recognize that Missoula is changing and we as a community (not just the squeaky wheels) need to anticipate these changes and response accordingly.
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