Imagine looking out on your backyard and seeing not the familiar green of an Upstate lawn, but rows of cars stretching out to the fence, car lights and flood lights glaring through your bedroom windows at midnight. That's the reality my family and neighbors face if a new proposal is approved to pave a backyard at 52 Clayton Avenue for a parking lot to service student housing. We live right next door in this quiet residential neighborhood near SUNY Cortland, where the allure has always been the peaceful environment, safe streets, and the sense of community. Now, those cherished aspects of our home life are deeply threatened, and along with it, our property value and quality of life.

According to the City of Cortland zoning code, specifically section 300-24 on Residential bulk requirements, the maximum lot coverage for a single-family residence is clearly set at 60%. Yet, the new proposed parking structure will exceed this limit. Importantly, the zoning regulations state that the number of parking spaces for a single-family dwelling should not exceed 200% of the 2 spaces per dwelling unit requirement. This new plan flouts these guidelines, threatening the very fabric of what makes our neighborhood special.

The proposed development far exceeds the permissible lot coverage and maximum number of parking spaces, setting a dangerous precedent that undermines our city's own codes. It's not just about what it means for today, but the implications it sets for future development projects on other neighboring streets on the Hill. Allowing this proposal, without adhering to established city codes, risks the integrity and landscape of our entire neighborhood.

We call upon the City of Cortland to adhere to their own zoning regulations and deny this permit. This decision does not only affect us; it affects every homeowner and resident who has chosen this neighborhood for the very qualities threatened by this proposal.

Please sign the petition to stop the paving of our neighborhood and preserve the character and safety of our community, keeping a healthy balance between residential properties and student housing. We are in a super prime and attractive area for students to live, but also for professors and families to live. It's not just one backyard at stake—it's our homes, our neighborhood, and the attractiveness to stay and live in the City of Cortland.