ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF PROPOSITION A
 

The issue in this election is quite simple--should the City have the right to prevent homeowners from remodeling or replacing their homes even though the new work would comply with all applicable zoning and building laws? 

An existing ordinance gives the City Council and the Landmarks Commission power to designate homes as “landmarks” or “structures of merit,” or include them in “historic districts” under vague and extremely broad standards.  These designations can be made even if the owners object and would be seriously prejudiced.  This power is not just theoretical--it has actually been used to designate, and to threaten designation, of homes both north of Montana and in Sunset Park. 

Once a home is placed in one of these categories, its exterior cannot be modified without obtaining a special discretionary City approval not required of other homes.  We believe it is simply unfair to apply different rules to different residents.  And yet this is exactly what the landmarks ordinance does. 

Zoning laws apply generally to all similar parcels--this is why the City adopted, and we supported, the “monster mansion” limitations.  The landmarks ordinance, however, operates on individual homes or, in the case of “historic districts,” small groups of homes. 

We do not believe the City should have the power to micromanage the design of individual homes or force individual homeowners to participate in an outdoor museum if they do not wish to do so. 

While we support preservation of architecturally or historically important homes, we believe that such programs should be voluntary and based upon incentives.  Naturally, city bureaucrats prefer to impose mandates rather than give citizens freedom of choice--this is a pattern we see all too often in many contexts. 

Please support the Homeowners Freedom of Choice Initiative--vote YES on Proposition A.

 

Bob Holbrook,                                                            Greg Poirier, Homeowner and
City Councilmember                                                  Sponsor of the Homeowners
                                                                                      Freedom of Choice Initiative 

Herb Katz                                                                    Phil Grunland, Homeowner and
City Councilmember                                                  Sponsor of the Homeowners
                                                                                      Freedom of Choice Initiative

Eleanor Haynes, Homeowner and
Supporter of the Homeowners
Freedom of Choice Initiative

This page was last modified on 01/23/2008