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0 <br />➢ The written record itself (see the document submitted by the City planning staff prior to <br />the Planning Commission meeting) was wholly conclusory in nature, offering no analysis <br />for whether this rezoning, in this location, would be consistent with the larger goals <br />advanced by the Comprehensive Plan. (The analysis regarding the impact of the CUP is <br />equally thin, esp. in sections 7.2 to 7.7, which are statements of conclusions only, with no <br />analysis on the record.) Even at the Planning Commission meeting, many of these <br />statements were repeated with no further justification for the analysis that this proposal <br />"will have no impact on the general public health, safety, and welfare". <br />In summary to this section, it appears that, to date, the City has given this proposed action rather <br />cursory treatment. Understandably, while it may be a very important proposal for the <br />neighborhood, it is a small matter in terms of the city as a whole. Nevertheless, the scale of a <br />project relative to other projects on the agenda does not absolve the City of its responsibility to <br />make its decision-making transparently rational. The analysis given to this action is wholly <br />inadequate to support a minimally rational conclusion and to avoid the conclusion that the action <br />is arbitrary and capricious. <br />Conclusion <br />A nice little deli might be a wonderful addition to this neighborhood. Done right, in a scheme <br />that included substantial landscaping of the south side of the property and the removal of the <br />existing parking slots, it could enhance the residents' enjoyment of the neighborhood. <br />However, rezoning a site such as this demands far more long-sighted concerns for the residents <br />who have invested themselves in the neighborhood. These concerns are substantial and they are <br />real. The City Council should look closely at this property to imagine the possible outcomes of <br />the decision they will make here. <br />At a minimum, this plan can go forward only with a firm commitment to the integrity of the <br />Autumn Street residential neighborhood. It appears from the Planning Commission meeting that <br />steps are being considered in that direction, and the unanimous voice of the neighborhood speaks <br />to the importance of those efforts—removing the parking on the Autumn Street side of this <br />property and ensuring that the property is properly landscaped on all sides facing residential <br />properties. But more deeply, the City Council should be concerned about the Rezoning itself and <br />should wait until it can consider this property in conjunction with the property to the north. <br />Sincerely, <br />[signed] <br />Patrick Schmidt <br />1140 Autumn Street <br />Appendix: Documents presented to the Planning Commission, including as appendices to that <br />document, a list of Residents Joining in the Expression of Concern and Four Photos of Autumn <br />Street and 1901 Lexington Avenue <br />