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Mark Statz <br />From:Susan Love <s.love1953@yahoo.com> <br />Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 3:42 PM <br />To:CV Info <br />Subject:Project Feedback re: Rehbein Commercial Development <br />Caution:Thisemailoriginatedoutsideourorganization;pleaseusecaution. <br />GreetingsCityCouncil <br />AsaresidentofCentervilleforthepast20years,IwanttoprovideyouwithmypersonalopinionabouttheRehbein <br />CommercialDevelopmentProposalbeforeyou. <br />Concern1ImplicitBiasinHousingItisconcerningtomethereisatoneofbias(implicitandexplicit) <br />thathasbeen <br />expressedbysomeLinoLakesresidentsandCentervilleresidentsaboutindividualswhochosetoliveinapartment <br />buildingsdrawingassumptionsaboutwhatwilldototheWatermarkneighborhoodortheCityof <br />Centervilleiftheprojectisapproved. <br />PriortomovingtoCenterville,Ihavepersonallylivedinfourdifferentapartmentbuildingsasayoungadult.Ineachof <br />thosecitiesthroughoutMinnesota(FergusFalls,BrooklynCenter,MaplewoodandCrystal)IfeltwelcomedbythecityI <br />livedinandenjoyedthecompanyofmyapartmentneighbors.Ourthreeadultchildren,allbusinessprofessionalswho <br />couldaffordahome,chosetoliveinapartmentbecausetheydonotwanttodealwithyardworkandotherhome <br />maintenanceissues.Howmanyofyouhavealsolivedinapartmentbuildingsatsomepointinyourlife?Andyetwe,asa <br />city,continuetofindamultitudeofreasonstonotapproveapartmentbuildingproposalswhileallthecitiessurrounding <br />usarebuildingthemonayearlybasis?Thismakesitseemasthoughourcitizenswhogetangryeverytimean <br />apartmentbuildingisproposed,arepressuringCityCounciltoengageinexclusionaryzoning(orcommonsensere <br />zoning)ofapartmentsasawaytoturndowndeveloperproposalstobuildthem.Thisexclusionaryzoningtrendcan <br />easilyleadonetobelievethereisanissueinourcitywithclassbiasand/orincomebias. <br />Inthepastyear,Ihavewatchedtwodifferentapartmentbuildingproposalsgetshotdownbysomeofourcommunity <br />membersinpublichearings.NowitseemsasthoughthecurrentRehbeinproposalisnotgoingtobesuccessfuldespite <br />beingbuiltontheveryedgeoftownandpricedatahigherratethenalargenumberofmortgage <br />payments. <br />Ratherthanfindingamultitudeofexcusestonotapproveanapartmentbuilding(needtohire2policeofficers, <br />loudmusic,lackofupkeep,thelistofisendless),itismyhopethattheCentervilleCityCouncilwill <br />standfirminapprovingtheRehbeinprojecttoopenupmorerobusthousingoptionsaccessibletoALLpeopleinour <br />City. <br />Concern2Businessdecisionsbasedonfriendshipbias.Itisalsoconcerningtomethereisatoneofbias(implicitand <br />explicit)thathasbeenexpressedbysomeLinoLakesresidentsandCentervilleresidentsaboutnotallowingthe <br />proposedQuikTripgasstationtohaveacarwashattachedtotheirbusinessbasedonloyaltytoToddwhoownsCorner <br />Express.Thetruthis,weonlyhaveonecarwashinCentervilleandownedbyTodd.TodenytheQuikTripgasstation <br />theabilitytohaveacarwashattachedtotheirbuildingismakingabiaseddecisioninfavorofoneCentervillebusiness <br />ownerbasedonhowwellheisloved.AndIthinktheworldofTodd.Heisanamazingfriendandhehiredoursonto <br />workathisgasstationforyears.However,Ithinkallbusinessescomingtotownshouldbetreatedfairlyandequitably.If <br />Toddcanhaveacarwash,thenQuikTripshouldbeallowedtohaveoneaswell. <br />1 <br /> <br />