rosslynhoya
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Post by rosslynhoya on Jun 3, 2011 6:52:09 GMT -5
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hoyatables
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Post by hoyatables on Jun 3, 2011 7:18:10 GMT -5
THB did a FANTASTIC job.
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Jun 3, 2011 10:45:40 GMT -5
So it seemed our witnesses were very good. The Neighbors seem ridiculous as usual. Any sense on which way the Committee is leaning at this point?
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Post by strummer8526 on Jun 4, 2011 9:21:14 GMT -5
Good work, THB! Glad that the University seemed to pull together well on this. Hopefully it's enough for the Committee, and this Plan can move forward without protracted litigation.
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DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Jun 4, 2011 20:12:36 GMT -5
I've been reading the coverage (and yes, even as a HOYA alum, I will say the Voice has been doing a outstanding job in coverage) and the zoning commission has to be discounting much of the clearly positive (Georgetown) and erratically negative (NIMBY neighbor) testimony.
The neighbor who lamented a "student car" blocking her driveway as she was taking her cat to the pet hospital was emblematic of the demonization of the under-25 set by these neighborhood groups. However, it's politics that neighborhood groups usually hold more political sway than a non-profit applicant of any size.
I see this eventually going as a split decision. The committee will deny the plan, but, careful to avoid the legal thicket of the Fair Housing Act that could otherwise deny adults the right to housing based on age and perceived behavior, will pass on mandating the 100% housing requirement and otherwise order GU to resubmit a revised plan within six months that deletes the GUTS access road and addresses hospital changes over the next 10 years. I could also see the 1789 Block come back into the conversation as a means of addessing the housing issue.
But why doesn't Burleith simply rezone itself as single family instead of multi family? Methinks that many of the same neighbors who detest the student rentals don't want to miss out on that same rental dollar from someone more politically correct.
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Post by TrueHoyaBlue on Jun 5, 2011 14:51:45 GMT -5
Thanks guys -- I wasn't able to make it through my written testimony, but had a few chances in Q&A to expand on my experience as a neighborhood, which by and large, after 4 years on 35th Street hasn't remotely resembled some of the horror stories told by opponents.
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DoctorHoya
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Post by DoctorHoya on Jun 13, 2011 23:13:36 GMT -5
Any updates?
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hoyatables
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Post by hoyatables on Jun 14, 2011 21:46:51 GMT -5
Monday June 20 is yet another hearing. On deck is DDOT's report, followed by questions by the Commission, cross examination by the parties, and then direct presentations on traffic and parking by the parties.
After that concludes (if it does), the University then presents its rebuttal. Their written documents will be filed tomorrow in advance of the rebuttal presentation. The Commission will ask questions, and the parties then have an opportunity to cross-examine the University on its rebuttal. That could take some time and spill over into yet another hearing date.
Once rebuttal is done, the University makes its closing statement. The Commission then will review what (if any) post-hearing documents it wants to receive from the parties, and will set a date for decision. Expect a decision in the Fall.
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hoyatables
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Post by hoyatables on Jun 14, 2011 21:52:06 GMT -5
I've been reading the coverage (and yes, even as a HOYA alum, I will say the Voice has been doing a outstanding job in coverage) and the zoning commission has to be discounting much of the clearly positive (Georgetown) and erratically negative (NIMBY neighbor) testimony. The neighbor who lamented a "student car" blocking her driveway as she was taking her cat to the pet hospital was emblematic of the demonization of the under-25 set by these neighborhood groups. However, it's politics that neighborhood groups usually hold more political sway than a non-profit applicant of any size. I see this eventually going as a split decision. The committee will deny the plan, but, careful to avoid the legal thicket of the Fair Housing Act that could otherwise deny adults the right to housing based on age and perceived behavior, will pass on mandating the 100% housing requirement and otherwise order GU to resubmit a revised plan within six months that deletes the GUTS access road and addresses hospital changes over the next 10 years. I could also see the 1789 Block come back into the conversation as a means of addessing the housing issue. But why doesn't Burleith simply rezone itself as single family instead of multi family? Methinks that many of the same neighbors who detest the student rentals don't want to miss out on that same rental dollar from someone more politically correct. DFW - actually, under zoning Burleith and West Georgetown are single-family zone districts. The issue is thatzoning allows up to six unrelated people as a "family". If Burleith wanted to prohibit student group houses, they would need to secure an amendment to the zoning regulations to cut that limit back to 3 or 4 unrelated people. (and do it citywide to avoid DC Human Rights Act issues.) The issue of basement apartments is murky. They are permitted but you're supposed to get special zoning approval as well as permit/inspection approval. Few actually bother to do that. And many of the BCA board members actually rent to students themselves which makes the whole situation all the more ridiculous.
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on Jun 15, 2011 8:26:47 GMT -5
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HometownHoya
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Post by HometownHoya on Jun 15, 2011 9:05:10 GMT -5
So what does this mean? Do they just throw the report out? Do we counter-attack now and try to get some of our concessions back? Do we just move forward with where we are at now with limited biased opposition in the future?
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Post by HoyasAreHungry on Jun 15, 2011 9:34:11 GMT -5
*GASP!!!* what??? no!!!! you don't say! We all knew this was going down but kudos to the organization for filing for these documents to come to light. Fantastic work. So yes to echo the previous comment...what comes of this?
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DoctorHoya
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Post by DoctorHoya on Jun 15, 2011 11:52:01 GMT -5
Wow... This is complete BS. I hope the university's lawyers are on top of this.
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Jun 15, 2011 12:48:54 GMT -5
Anyone who thinks this is unique to Georgetown should recognize this sort of university/neighborhood conflicts occur all over the country. Here in Charleston SC there is an ongoing battle relative to the College of Charleston.
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DoctorHoya
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Post by DoctorHoya on Jun 15, 2011 13:05:00 GMT -5
Anyone who thinks this is unique to Georgetown should recognize this sort of university/neighborhood conflicts occur all over the country. Here in Charleston SC there is an ongoing battle relative to the College of Charleston. EasyEd... did you read the articles that were posted above? There is some serious corruption going on here...
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Post by strummer8526 on Jun 15, 2011 13:23:48 GMT -5
Anyone who thinks this is unique to Georgetown should recognize this sort of university/neighborhood conflicts occur all over the country. Here in Charleston SC there is an ongoing battle relative to the College of Charleston. The fact that they happen everywhere doesn't mean it's any less infuriating.
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Jun 15, 2011 18:36:09 GMT -5
Anyone who thinks this is unique to Georgetown should recognize this sort of university/neighborhood conflicts occur all over the country. Here in Charleston SC there is an ongoing battle relative to the College of Charleston. The fact that they happen everywhere doesn't mean it's any less infuriating. What it does say is, perhaps, just perhaps, the neighbors have some legitimate complaints that students are not willing to acknowledge.
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Jun 15, 2011 18:39:02 GMT -5
The fact that they happen everywhere doesn't mean it's any less infuriating. What it does say is, perhaps, just perhaps, the neighbors have some legitimate complaints that students are not willing to acknowledge. You're on the side of the neighbors? Really?
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Jun 15, 2011 21:26:31 GMT -5
Since the Neighbors are unreasonable and crazy.
I propose an equally crazy proposal. All the lands surrounding existing universities are rezoned to accommodate majority student populations. These knew zoning laws would allow for higher noise levels and require any non students who want to live in the area to sign a consent form stating that they understand they are moving into a university zoned area and waive any right to complain about excessive noise.
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rosslynhoya
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Post by rosslynhoya on Jun 15, 2011 21:30:37 GMT -5
What it does say is, perhaps, just perhaps, the neighbors have some legitimate complaints that students are not willing to acknowledge. You're on the side of the neighbors? Really? To be honest, I have a hard time pinning down exactly what was so terribly wrong about the OP individual or ANC commissioner's behavior. Were any actual laws or even procedural guidelines violated? If you go back and substitute "DeGioia" for "Lewis" in the original article, would the anti-University neighbors have had an equally legitimate basis for grievance?
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