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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,June 3, 2019 Page 12 Mr. Peter Heppner,3030 Woodbridge Street Mr. Heppner expressed concerned about the proposed rezoning. He believed the rezoning will be extremely harmful to the neighborhood and will set a precedent that will have implications all across Roseville in years to come. He stated his concerns are also reflected in the overwhelming agreement that he has heard from his neighbors. He and his wife, along with several neighbors, have distributed a petition around the neighborhood asking the City to decline rezoning the proper- ties. This petition which has now been submitted to the City has gathered signa- tures representing more than eighty-five percent of the homes that are within the five-hundred-foot notification radius, excluding those owned by the owners of these properties in question. Mr. Heppner understood that from the City's perspective, this type of redevelop- ment may be an attractive proposal, especially when it leads to affordable hous- ing. He also understands that Rice Street is unlikely to remain in its current state forever as noted by the call for a special investigation in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, however, to begin this rezoning and redevelopment of Rice Street without first performing that investigation and forming a plan for the future of the neigh- borhood will be extremely foolish. Certainly, if the decision is made tonight to rezone these properties, that decision will be carried on as the DeFacto plan going forward. Beyond its direct impact on the individual building, that decision will also have drastic impacts in the near term as well. For instance, consider the fact that the owners of the properties in question also own several properties that are adjacent to each other on the other side of Owasso Boulevard. If this rezoning is approved, it is almost certain that those properties will be next on the docket. Likewise, what is to prevent someone from purchasing other homes in the area and rezoning this as well? This proposal has significant consequences for the fu- ture of Roseville when the City demonstrates that it is willing to spot rezone well established neighborhoods to make way for redevelopment, it puts them one step closer to removing low density zoning all together. Once this type of rezoning starts where is the line drawn on whether it continues? That question is a much more difficult to decide then to simply decline to rezone at all. Therefore, he urged the Council to strongly consider the broader contexts of this proposal and the effect it will have on the City's policy going forward. Before any talk of re- zoning can begin, the City must carry out an investigation of what makes sense for the future of Rice Street and generate a thoughtful and well-reasoned plan. In light of these concerns and those of his neighbors that are sharing today he urged the Council to vote against the proposal. Mr. Randy Neprash, 1276 Eldridge Ave Mr. Neprash stated he was in favor of the proposal. The need for affordable hous- ing for seniors in Roseville is significant and thoroughly documented. As Leah pointed out, Roseville has not approved a unit of subsidized affordable senior housing since 1978, which is forty-one years. As a long-term resident of Rose-