Public Comment

As a concerned citizen deeply involved in public safety, economic stability and environmental welfare, I believe that we urgently need to revise our Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Our roads and highways are populated with vehicles that are too large (posing safety concerns) , too heavy (destroying our roads faster), and too inefficient (disproportionately contributing to climate change). Have you seen this petition yet? Revise CAFE Standards for Safer, More Efficient Non-Commercial Vehicles Please sign and share! - https://chng.it/qLV6GbLF7H Thank you, Stewart O'Marah

As a concerned resident, I strongly oppose Ordinance 791-2024, which seeks to rezone a parcel currently under the Pedestrian Retail Overlay (PRO) for general retail use, with present intent to allow a new gas station development. This site, adjacent to Marion C. Seltzer Elementary School and Cudell Commons Park, is incompatible with such a car-centric business, creating safety hazards for pedestrians, children, and cyclists. The gas station proposal disregards the long-term potential for sustainable, pedestrian-friendly development and ignores community feedback, which has been overwhelmingly against it. Both the Board of Zoning Appeals and the City Planning Commission have rejected this rezoning, and the ordinance risks setting a dangerous precedent for spot zoning that undermines the city’s planning efforts. The proposed gas station not only threatens to worsen traffic and pollution near a school and park but also compromises the future of this vibrant, transit-rich area, better suited for other development. I urge Council to respect the community's needs and vote against this short-sighted ordinance.

I’m frustrated by the Councilman’s actions with regards to how he’s going about this development by going way out of his way to make this happen with a business use that has ZERO site compatibility. The adjacent lot is a school and park which is wholly incompatible with a gas station that will sell tobacco & alcohol. In addition, it will create heavy traffic by a school, park, & rec center where kids are walking. Why isn’t the councilman creating a vision for this larger site in the midst of a residential & commercial district that would have benefit to youth rather than aiming for the very lowest common denominator of business (gas & convenience) that will harm youth and likely harm future development potential of this site. Critical to note that Gas stations require underground storage tanks which often leak during their lifecycle thus requiring expensive clean-up before the site can be reused for another purpose. In summary, why is the Councilman thinking so short term with regard to this site when doing so will cause damage in the present & the future? Where is the vision for the community and our youth? Important to remember that this site is adjacent to the Tamir Rice Memorial which is roughly 150’ away. I ask again, why is this council person, a public servant, seem to be lacking any regard for the public/community/youth in this area (his ward tho he does not reside in his ward) This whole gas station idea seems to be entirely self serving, not the work of a public servant.

Councilperson Danny Kelly is fighting tooth and nail to site a gas station at the corner of West Blvd and Madison in Cudell, despite opposition from the community and being voted down by both the Board of Zoning Appeals AND the Planning Commission. This section of Madison is protected from certain undesirable uses -- like gas stations -- by a Pedestrian Retail Overlay, and has longer-term potential to become a vibrant and Complete & Green corridor. Councilperson Kelly is now trying to pass an ordinance through Council that would circumvent the PRO protection and allow "spot zoning" at this site, something that could set a really bad precedent and have negative consequences for sustainable and pedestrian-friendly development in neighborhoods across the city. Please respect the public trust, our community's longer-term needs, and this city's core values by voting against Ordinance 791-2024. Thank you.