What is a Steeple?
How Do We Want to Live?
Two meetings were held this past week, a study in contrasts. Once again, the plan commission flummoxed as to what to do because there are no design standards. Most of what they decide is based on precedent. This can be construed as libertarian-leaning, or disorderly, or something in between.
It turns into odd conversations at times.
Scroll down to see the agenda for the Economic Development Commission agenda packet and audio of that meeting which is not recorded by the village.
Plan Commission Meeting June 12th
Meeting min 33:00 to 51:15 - trees, fence discussion
Meeting min 51:15 to 1:30:10 discussion of a proposed addition to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Fond du Lac & Bel Aire. See page 64 of agenda packet for the renderings. It will be lovely.
Particularly funny comments regarding the steeple at 1:19:00 to 1:21:30 & 1:28:15.
The last part of the meeting, after the church, addressed the hiring of more consultants for planning meetings in the neighborhoods where no meaningful end came for the planning decisions in the 2050 plan.
It’s interesting that the recording of the meeting started after the public comments - an oversight?
Prepared comments, that were addressed to commission members, because it was not recorded:
On 24th April I provided you a handout that outlines a different way to garner actual agreement, with integrity, on planning matters. The difference in the method from how the 2050 plan was conducted is that there are actual votes, and, there is not a limit to the number of public meetings. The previous process for the 2050 plan was incomplete, as is evidenced by the need to have these neighborhood meetings. (Several neighborhoods were left in limbo in the 2050 plan, resident meetings were promised. The meetings haven’t happened yet.)
In that same handout, I mention Roger Scruton. If any of you took me up on researching his approach to architecture and planning you would be struck by the difference in planning. His premise is to ASK: HOW DO WE WANT TO LIVE? Some of the characteristics of his method includes adding Townscapes to the environment, not just plunked down slabs of buildings. True mixed-use that is reminiscent of older cities. Building to last, meaning bringing in entities that will add to the community. How many actual Germantown residents are employed by the businesses at Holy Hill?
Affordability, meaning building as a natural aspect of growth, not forced growth through TIDs that according to the village administration cannot be closed for another five years so that we can use the money to support our public safety personnel. We are woefully understaffed with police and fire, and run the risk of burning out people.
Respect for heritage. Tell me how pulling down older farm houses respects our heritage.
Respect for nature. Those warehouses at Holy Hill created traffic congestion, light pollution at night, and noise pollution during the day. They are ugly and a sharp contrast to the natural beauty surrounding the area. They do not Respect the communities’ aspirations, nor the reason that people moved to that part of the village.
Stewardship is not being upheld. The 2050 process did not make the changes requested by the people for the different neighborhoods. Not all comments were accepted from those meetings, that should be corrected. The application of the devices of desirable, undesirable and allowable does not include those who live in the area in question, and it should.
The process should be handled in a democratic way.
This RFP (for planning services to do with Freistadt & Holy Hill neighborhood meetings) is written in a clinical way, without any consideration for residents first. People live in these areas. People should be the first concern here. What are buildings for? People.
Economic Development Commission June 14th
Agenda packet & Recording Below.
This was a hopeful meeting. Forward looking for people. This writer hopes they will pick up the pace in these efforts. Particularly interesting after about min 29:00.
They are asking “How do we want to live?”