[NENA] Council decision on the La Cueva Sector Plan Amendment

[Lisa Abeyta]

Thanks for all your work on this, Joe.  For those of you on the mailing list who are unaware of the battle NENA has fought over the past year on the behalf of our community, this was a huge victory.  This amendment will prevent higher density neighborhoods from being approved in the future.  Higher density than allowed by the La Cueva Sector Plan would increase overcrowding in our schools, clog our streets, and diminish quality of life.

A big thank-you is owed to Brad Winter as well for all of the work he put into making this amendment happen.  It was a large victory for all of us last night!

For those of you who paid your membership dues to Nor Este Neighborhood Association, thank you for the support.  It is because of those contributions that we had the ability to appeal a development in progress which eventually led to the removal of this loophole from the language of the La Cueva Sector Plan.  Although the site plan for Eagle Rock and Barstow will be allowed to continue due to the court's ruling, no future developments should be allowed with this higher density calculation.  
Sincerely,

Lisa Abeyta
Membership Chair, NENA

Visit our website: http://www.noreste.org<http://www.noreste.org/>
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joe and Jean Yardumian<mailto:jjyard at sandia.net> 
  To: NENA<mailto:members at noreste.org> 
  Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 12:41 PM
  Subject: [NENA] Council decision on the La Cueva Sector Plan Amendment


  WE WON WITH A UNANIMOUS COUNCIL VOTE.

   

  Blow-by-blow is below:

   

  The La Cueva Amendment item was in the group of council final actrions, so we knew that it would be late before Council action.  Scary part was that Brad was tied up at the APS Board Meeting and Michael Cadigan was t another meeting so our potential vote count didn't look good.  Finally Brad got to the meeting, but Michael was still absent.  Brad called me off to the back of the chambers and said that he was very concerned regarding our support base with Michael absent and that we might have to defer.  We agreed to wait to see how things would develop before he had to ask for a deferral.

   

  NENA had Lisa Abeyta, Stephen Wilding, and Jean & Joe Yardumian present, Vena had Pat Verrelle, Jimmie Verrelle, Hank Happ, Duke, and a lady whose name I've forgotten, present.  

   

  Michael Cadigan showed up and we breathed a sigh of relief , until Debbie O'Malley had to leave.  At this point we had no good feeling for how things would turn out.

   

  Brad made an excellent introduction of the item and then had Bruce Thompson, Council Lawyer presnt the history and court decisions regarding the amendment.  Bruce was superb.

   

  Speakers from the audience were next.

   

    Fortunately, Forster, Keeran's lawyer was first up so we were in a position to counter his arguments if needed.

  Lisa was our first speaker, and gave a "calm" but passionate presentation of the impact the existing language of the plan section was having on homes in the area.  I followed Lisa, noted the NENA Board unanimous support for the amendment, countered the erroneous arguments used  before the EPC regarding lower density and the supposed impact on taxes to support infrastructure costs, and countered one of Foster' arguements.  Pat Verrelle, who worked long and hard for years on the La Cueva Plan was up next and gave an impassioned and sincere plea to the council for support of the amendment   Pat is always good at this.  Finally but not least, Stephen Wilding presented very effective, sincere praise for the neighborhoods, the city, the council, and the US system.  Most impressive.  

   

  The voting followed shortly after, with councilors making statements in favor, and we were SHOCKED when they voted UNANIMOUSLY in favor of the amendment.

   

  Joe Yardumian

  NENA Secty

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