Monday, October 22, 2012
FOOD DAY FESTIVAL OCTOBER 27
FOOD DAY FESTIVAL will be held for the first time on October 27, from 2 pm to 6 pm at HEYMANN MEMORIAL PARK, at the corner of South College Road and Girard Park Drive.
Please come support this event and meet with the neighbors to talk about the neighborhood, while enjoying the fun.
ZONING COMMISSION
On Monday, October 15 the Zoning Commission did not vote in favor of Dr. Dugas's request to rezone his property from residential to commercial.
Our neighbor who owns the empty lot on Girard Park Drive wishes to build an office for his practice.
A lot of the neighbors came to the meeting and spoke against the rezoning request for the same reasons that they oppose Mr. Davidson in their legal battle.
Rezoning to commercial would create a domino effect that would eventually over the years lead to the loss of the Girard Park neighborhood integrity and its exceptional quality of life.
The City Council will meet and vote on a final decision in November.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
It was Mr. Davidson Appreciation Night
Well, It's over. The vote did not go our way. Congratulations to Mr. Davidson. The pro-rezoning camp put together a great show. Mr. Davidson's friends paraded in front of the microphone praising his accomplishments and sense of ethics. They left nothing out save the plaque commemorating his great moral integrity. They were also very convincing in painting Mr. Davidson as a victim; a victim of his own actions even.
For instance, that non-conforming plastic factory that was in the backyard for years? We, his neighbors, should all be grateful to him, you see. We should be grateful that he did not try to have commercial zoning grandfathered in after the factory was there illegally for years. What an outstanding citizen. Why, it was only Mr. Davidson's high standard of ethics that stopped him from cashing in on his ethically questionable activity, his law partner informed us with a straight face. Mr. Davidson, we were told, is a victim of his own high ideals.
They successfully turned the tables on Mrs. Verlander, who saved an historic downtown house from demolition by moving it onto her property near the park and occasionally holding wedding receptions there as a "bed and breakfast". They falsely stated that none of the neighbors ever complained about the bed and breakfast so therefore Mr. Davidson was being persecuted.
The facts are that there was no rezoning hearing for the Bed and Breakfast; they are allowed to operate in the designated zoning of that property. None of the neighbors knew it would be run illegally beforehand. As far as we know, none of the neighbors knew Mrs. Verlander was in violation of any ordinances pertaining to bed and breakfasts until it was brought up a week or so ago. To the charge that no one complained about the Bed and Breakfast, that is not true. Many questions were raised at the time the plan was announced and the police were called out to that property at least once over noise issues.
Mr. Davidson complained about the Bed and Breakfast in front of the City Council yesterday. It seemed as if he told Councilman Menard to jump and Councilman Menard didn't even have to ask how high. He immediately berated a subordinate and demanded in no uncertain terms of her that the transgressions of the bed and breakfast be investigated. He apparently didn't see the logical disconnect in condemning one person for not operating under ordinance and rewarding another who operated a plastic factory in his backyard against zoning for years.
Another theme of the night was that Mr. Davidson would be held "captive" by not allowing this rezoning. Indeed, almost every speaker sent to the microphone in support of Mr. Davidson used this word as if programmed. Mr. Davidson is captive to no one. As far as we can determine, he is moving, leaving the rest of the neighborhood to deal with the changes. Good luck to his new neighbors.
We do applaud Mr. Davidson for one thing. He absolutely refused to abide by the plans he submitted proudly before the council, but he did promise that the spirit of the plan would be adhered to. We are sure it will be easy for him to live up to this promise since he gave it on record in front of the City Council and he is a man of integrity. Those of you, however, who know the history of this property and the constant effort to squeeze every penny out of it at the expense of his neighbors might think it difficult for him to do so.
Please join us in hoping that he is a man of integrity and fulfills his promise.
For instance, that non-conforming plastic factory that was in the backyard for years? We, his neighbors, should all be grateful to him, you see. We should be grateful that he did not try to have commercial zoning grandfathered in after the factory was there illegally for years. What an outstanding citizen. Why, it was only Mr. Davidson's high standard of ethics that stopped him from cashing in on his ethically questionable activity, his law partner informed us with a straight face. Mr. Davidson, we were told, is a victim of his own high ideals.
They successfully turned the tables on Mrs. Verlander, who saved an historic downtown house from demolition by moving it onto her property near the park and occasionally holding wedding receptions there as a "bed and breakfast". They falsely stated that none of the neighbors ever complained about the bed and breakfast so therefore Mr. Davidson was being persecuted.
The facts are that there was no rezoning hearing for the Bed and Breakfast; they are allowed to operate in the designated zoning of that property. None of the neighbors knew it would be run illegally beforehand. As far as we know, none of the neighbors knew Mrs. Verlander was in violation of any ordinances pertaining to bed and breakfasts until it was brought up a week or so ago. To the charge that no one complained about the Bed and Breakfast, that is not true. Many questions were raised at the time the plan was announced and the police were called out to that property at least once over noise issues.
Mr. Davidson complained about the Bed and Breakfast in front of the City Council yesterday. It seemed as if he told Councilman Menard to jump and Councilman Menard didn't even have to ask how high. He immediately berated a subordinate and demanded in no uncertain terms of her that the transgressions of the bed and breakfast be investigated. He apparently didn't see the logical disconnect in condemning one person for not operating under ordinance and rewarding another who operated a plastic factory in his backyard against zoning for years.
Another theme of the night was that Mr. Davidson would be held "captive" by not allowing this rezoning. Indeed, almost every speaker sent to the microphone in support of Mr. Davidson used this word as if programmed. Mr. Davidson is captive to no one. As far as we can determine, he is moving, leaving the rest of the neighborhood to deal with the changes. Good luck to his new neighbors.
We do applaud Mr. Davidson for one thing. He absolutely refused to abide by the plans he submitted proudly before the council, but he did promise that the spirit of the plan would be adhered to. We are sure it will be easy for him to live up to this promise since he gave it on record in front of the City Council and he is a man of integrity. Those of you, however, who know the history of this property and the constant effort to squeeze every penny out of it at the expense of his neighbors might think it difficult for him to do so.
Please join us in hoping that he is a man of integrity and fulfills his promise.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
What's What
On September 17, 2007 the Lafayette Zoning Commission unanimously opposed an application to rezone the property located at 537 Girard Park Drive (the Davidson property). The Zoning Commission is an advisory board to the Lafayette City-Parish Council. On October 23, the City Council will vote on the rezoning request. We trust our City Council members will recognize the desires of Lafayette Zoning Commission, the park-goers and the neighborhoods around Girard Park who overwhelmingly oppose this requested change. This is an opportunity for the Council to leave a legacy and set a precedent and a mandate toward "Smart Growth".
Map of subject property (click photo to make bigger):
Map of subject property (click photo to make bigger):
Friday, September 21, 2007
The issues we are facing
The issues addressed by the Zoning Commission and the issues facing our City Council are as follows:
Traffic flow. With the new student parking garage on Taft and University, the traffic will already be increasing. A 2005 Traffic Department study measured 1000 cars per hour at this intersection during peak traffic hours. Any increase due to new commercial development presents numerous problems for all citizens. Peripheral traffic leading in and out of the university and the Oil Center will be negatively affected. Students who walk to class and pedestrians who use the park will face increased risks. With no fence protecting the park, any increase in traffic is a potential danger to any children who inadvertently stray from the park. With no bike lane in the park, bikers must use the surrounding streets. This affects not only recreational users, but also the many students who travel to and from class on bikes. Lafayette General’s Emergency ambulance entrance is directly across the street from the proposed entrance. Prompt access for emergency care will be negatively impacted.
Preservation of green areas surrounding the park. The original 1940 Girard Park Covenant sought to protect areas around the park from commercial encroachment. This zoning request violates that covenant. Our past civic leaders were wise to consider what might happen to public green spaces if Lafayette were to grow larger. With Lafayette’s growth confirmed, now is when this covenant is needed most. Preservation of public green areas is essential for the maximum enjoyment by all of Lafayette’ residents.
The domino effect. If this zoning change is ratified, there is no legal basis for preventing further commercial development of all other areas surrounding the park. Re-zoning residential properties to commercial uses dramatically increases the value of property.
Ethics. Mr. Davidson has tried in vain numerous times to convert this property to commercial use. The most recent example was the Horse Farm transaction. Davidson was the attorney for U.L. and stood to make $3.25 million for his property (1.75m over the State appraised value). Prior to that, Davidson illegaly constructed a plastics manufacturing facility on the property. It was so wooded, the neighborhood could not see it to complain therefore the commercial zoning was granted by the City after 3 years. It remains to be seen if Mr. Davidson can be trusted. Historically, Herbert Heyman's wisdom dictated a reversal of land zoned commercial and requested it go back to residential (Park South - 12 lots fronting on Girard Park Drive). In 1998, Davidson withdrew his zoning request due to an overwhelming public outrage citing commercial momemtum in the Girard Park area. Now, the Zoning Commission voted unanimously to deny his request to rezone. This current vote acknowledges his past indiscretions, and speaks to an even greater need for public green spaces as Lafayette has grown so greatly since the 1998 vote.
Please attend the City-Parish Council meeting on October 23rd and voice your concerns. In the meantime you can contact your City Council members.
Traffic flow. With the new student parking garage on Taft and University, the traffic will already be increasing. A 2005 Traffic Department study measured 1000 cars per hour at this intersection during peak traffic hours. Any increase due to new commercial development presents numerous problems for all citizens. Peripheral traffic leading in and out of the university and the Oil Center will be negatively affected. Students who walk to class and pedestrians who use the park will face increased risks. With no fence protecting the park, any increase in traffic is a potential danger to any children who inadvertently stray from the park. With no bike lane in the park, bikers must use the surrounding streets. This affects not only recreational users, but also the many students who travel to and from class on bikes. Lafayette General’s Emergency ambulance entrance is directly across the street from the proposed entrance. Prompt access for emergency care will be negatively impacted.
Preservation of green areas surrounding the park. The original 1940 Girard Park Covenant sought to protect areas around the park from commercial encroachment. This zoning request violates that covenant. Our past civic leaders were wise to consider what might happen to public green spaces if Lafayette were to grow larger. With Lafayette’s growth confirmed, now is when this covenant is needed most. Preservation of public green areas is essential for the maximum enjoyment by all of Lafayette’ residents.
The domino effect. If this zoning change is ratified, there is no legal basis for preventing further commercial development of all other areas surrounding the park. Re-zoning residential properties to commercial uses dramatically increases the value of property.
Ethics. Mr. Davidson has tried in vain numerous times to convert this property to commercial use. The most recent example was the Horse Farm transaction. Davidson was the attorney for U.L. and stood to make $3.25 million for his property (1.75m over the State appraised value). Prior to that, Davidson illegaly constructed a plastics manufacturing facility on the property. It was so wooded, the neighborhood could not see it to complain therefore the commercial zoning was granted by the City after 3 years. It remains to be seen if Mr. Davidson can be trusted. Historically, Herbert Heyman's wisdom dictated a reversal of land zoned commercial and requested it go back to residential (Park South - 12 lots fronting on Girard Park Drive). In 1998, Davidson withdrew his zoning request due to an overwhelming public outrage citing commercial momemtum in the Girard Park area. Now, the Zoning Commission voted unanimously to deny his request to rezone. This current vote acknowledges his past indiscretions, and speaks to an even greater need for public green spaces as Lafayette has grown so greatly since the 1998 vote.
Please attend the City-Parish Council meeting on October 23rd and voice your concerns. In the meantime you can contact your City Council members.
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