Concerned Citizens, 

Wow! I would like to thank you for supporting each other. We have over 420 signatures in 5 days and momentum is growing. We are seeing almost 100 signatures a day! Let's keep making as many people aware as possible. 

Last week I sent an email to the Mayor, The City Council, The Planning Commission, and various news outlets. As of today, only ONE city official has responded. I would like to thank Council Member Dennis Hennen for his time, response, and for hearing us (his response below). This is serious and should be taken as such.  Whether you agree or disagree with everything he says, it is important to respect other's opinion, perspective, and voice. While I do not agree with everything in his email, it is important both sides are represented and information remains "free". This is what makes America great. 

If you have not already, please, please, email these elected officials so your voice is heard....otherwise I promise you it will not.

Mayor

Bridget Dean
bdean@berkleymich.net

City Council Members
Ross Gavin
rgavin@berkleymich.net
Steven W. Baker
swbaker@berkleymich.net
Dennis S. Hennen
dhennen@berkleymich.net
Jessica Vilani
jvilani@berkleymich.net
Greg Patterson
gpatterson@berkleymich.net
Mike Dooley
mdooley@berkleymich.net

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(Email Response from Dennis Hennen)

"Thanks for sharing this and your passion for it.

First, I want to say I am undecided. There are still a lot of questions. Chief among them, if the city is giving some things up to allow this proposal to go forward, what does the City get in return?

However, I wanted to address what I believe are some misconceptions in the petition.

"So a waiver is being provided." Absolutely nothing has been decided yet. They are asking for a "waiver." That does not mean they'll get it.

"Set a precedence for future projects right next to your home!" This doesn't set any precedents. Each project is unique.

And there are only a very small number of people where apartments such as this would impact -- those who live abutting a commercial corridor. The Master Plan, which had significant community input over multiple years, determined our commercial corridors are good locations for apartments such as these. They are not going to be plopped down in the middle of neighborhoods.

This does not mean we ignore resident concerns. As I have sat on the zoning ordinance rewrite steering committee I have gone to great lengths to reduce the impact on residents from businesses. But there certainly are going to be people impacted.

I live next to Coolidge. There is one house between me and Vibe. I bought knowing full well I could have future development right up to my doorstep. So I am not asking for a sacrifice from others I'm not willing to make myself.

"Traffic congestion." The addition of 57 units is not going to significantly change traffic. They aren't all coming and going at exactly the same time. However, I'm willing to ask for a traffic study to prove that out.

"Individuals on the 2nd and 3rd floor would be looking directly into the backyards and windows of multiples homes." This can happen right now, anywhere in the city. If your neighbor adds an addition to their home, it can now be looking where they once couldn't see. But, one of my concerns here is the screening between the properties.

Parking: I sat on the parking study steering committee. Our current parking standards for apartments are way too much. I also am not willing to go as low as the consultants are recommending. But what is proposed for 57 units here is likely sufficient.

With a 1 bedroom apartment, some units will use 1 car, and some will use 2. When I was single in my first apartment, I certainly only had one car.

As for visitors, the lot across Cambridge is often not full. They have proposed a permanent shared parking agreement as a location where visitors can park.  

To sum up, there is a lot going on here, but absolutely nothing has been decided yet. 

-Dennis"

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You’ll see it when you believe it.

LET'S IMPACT THE OUTCOME! 

-Frank