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<br />that the area is quite evenly balanced right now, and a further change to increase the density could <br />detrimentally change that balance. <br /> <br />Second, the issue of traffic, although clearly relevant to any consideration of changes in the <br />comprehensive plan, was dealt with in the Commission's decision in an inadequate manner. <br />They approved a change to medium density, with the proviso that any development address traffic <br />concerns. This would seem to be more properly a zoning issue than a matter of the comprehensive <br />plan. As a city commission member myself, I understand that the Planning Commission <br />members are ordinary volunteer citizens, and I applaud them for caring enough about the city to <br />get involved. Nonetheless, that does not absolve them of their duty to immerse themselves in a full <br />understanding of the issues, which include the City Council's clear directive that the Commission <br />discuss all the implications of a comprehensive plan change prior to any discussion about zoning <br />in general or the Kehr townhouse project in particular. <br /> <br />I would make two alternative suggestions. The City Council eould open this issue up for public <br />hearing, so the Council itself could hear both from the residents and from any proponents of the <br />comprehensive plan change. In the alternative, the Council could remand the issue again to the <br />Commission, but provide it with very specific instructions about delineating the types of issues <br />involved, and the necessity of extensive discussion of all relevant issues, including <br />environmental and residential impact. And, although the Commission was correct in noting that <br />it had already entertained public comments on the issue, further opportunity for the <br />Commissioners to familiarize themselves with issues involved in the plan change would be <br />beneficial. <br /> <br />I do want to thank you and the Council for the time and consideration you have given the proposed <br />changes in my neighborhood. It would ease my mind tremendously to know that, whatever <br />decision is ultimately made by the Council, changes are not made without at least some discussion <br />about the impact on those of us who live with our families in this area. <br /> <br />Si~ <br /> <br /> <br />Jill Bergquist <br />486-8661 <br />