01-27-2000 Regular Meeing and Public Hearing

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Zoning Board of Adjustn Minutes of January 27, 2000 Page 8 of 11 also be a need for visitor parking. The City has gone to great lengths to attract nice businesses in hopes of creating a particular vision for La Porte. Specifically, the Sylvan Beach community, because of its proximity to the bay, has the best chance of carrying forward that vision. Allowing a development such as this to exist in that neighborhood would destroy that vision. He requested the board deny the request. Richard Atherton was sworn in by Chairperson Grant. Mr. Atherton has lived in La Porte for two years. His real estate agent said the City was going to have the buildings tom down. If he had known the buildings would still be standing, he would not have moved here. Terence Johnson, sworn in, resides at 212 E. Forest. Mr. Johnson moved here to get away from Houston and to enjoy the bay area. He believes more could be done to develop the Sylvan Beach area. A multi-family dwelling should not be built on this site. The property would be better suited for a park or a senior citizen or handicap living facility. Ruben Garza was given the opportunity to address the stated concerns. Mr. Garza understands the concerns of the neighborhood. He brought Chris to the meeting in an effort to show the neighborhood they were serious about what they were intending to do and how they intended to operate differently; not because they were expecting problems. He stated that everyone has lawyers, but there is a necessity for affordable housing in this community. The problems described, are problems of the past. Mr. Garza understands and respects the needs of the residents to maintain the quality of their neighborhood. He stated that Lakeside did their homework and it didn't make sense that cracked slabs have been mentioned, yet no one actually went into the buildings. Lakeside is willing to work with the neighborhood, compromise, form a committee to oversee the management of the operation, and put money back into the project, not their pockets. He noted that they have followed the process and done their homework. "Not in my backyard" is commonly known in affordable housing, and he reminded the Board of a comment received from the mail out that Chairperson Grant read aloud referring to "poor people in this country having a right to affordable housing". Chairperson Grant reminded Mr. Garza that he was trying to be fair by reading all of the comments, those for and those against and then asked Mr. Garza if, after hearing the voice of the community, he had reason for concern. Mr. Garza responded that if he had to do it all over again, he would have walked the streets himself, speaking to the neighbors. Lakeside followed the process and worked with the City, and in his opinion, was never given any indication they would ever be at this juncture. Mr. Garza stated that this has been a long process, and there has always been an opportunity to investigate the nonprofit organization. Nonprofits mature and grow, and there should not be an implication of impropriety. Chairperson Grant asked Mr. Garza to trust the Board to digest the information and make a fair judgement. Mr. Garza agreed and thanked the residents.