The Planning and Zoning Commission narrowly approved a zone change for a proposed apartment complex on University Avenue near Southwestern University. Conditions restricting the number of units to 25, restricting building height to 30 feet and maintaining 61 parking spaces were imposed with the approval. The issues goes to the City Council tomorrow for consideration where they can either approve the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation; approve the original proposal of 33 apartments, 36 feet high; do nothing; or approve their own conditions on the development.
The real question is: WHY IS THIS CONTROVERSY HAPPENING AT ALL? Doesn't the city have a set of zoning and building standards that a property owner/developer is supposed to adhere to? If the city can grant waivers to the rules, why have the rules in the first place? Wasn't there a time in the past where present and prior council members campaigned on the promise that the people of Georgetown should have a "well-defined and stable" set of rules to provide certainty so that they could plan their lives and businesses without worrying about the city changing requirements on a whim. What happened to that idea?
A cynic might think that the rules are for the "little people". They keep the average property owner from using or developing his/her property in a manner that is "best" for them. It is only for the powerful and well-connected that waivers are granted. Hey, that sounds like crony capitalism!
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