votewojcik.org

Here is a great note I recieved explaining the history and reasons for passing Core Neighborhood Zoning.  I am glad that it passed, but 4-2 was disappointing.  I remain disappointed in some of the statements associating density with crime coming from the Eastside Neighborhood.

I will be unable to attend tonight’s meeting because of family obligations, so I thought I would send out an e-mail with my thoughts. Sean and/or Kellie from IK will be in attendance and will probably speak to this issue.

I ask that you support this tonight. It’s the first and an important step toward making a real change in our neighborhood.

The reason Imagine Kutzky was started back in 2004 was because of all the development pressure we were experiencing. Because the zoning code was created to address primarily cornfield and auto dependent development, it doesn’t fit with the urban style of development in the city’s core that was built pre- WW II. Then and still now, every new development requires an Incentive or Restricted Development, multiple variances and design modifications….because they are following these “rules” (zoning). The neighborhoods want walkability, good urban design, quality materials, landscaping, etc and the rules don’t mention that. So developers get mixed messages – the city rules say this and the neighborhoods say something different. It’s a frustrating process for everyone.

So that’s why we started Imagine Kutzky – To create a new set of rules that everyone can live with and make the process more predictable and efficient.

In 2006 we amended the Land Use Plan which is necessary if you are going to revise the zoning.

In 2005 we created Urban Design Guidelines, but since the city was not interested in a design review process/board, that idea was abandoned.

In 2007, we developed a comprehensive Form Based Zoning Ordinance – that means regulating what things actually look like – where the building go on the lot, where the parking goes, where the doors and windows should be, etc. It was full of pictures, graphics, plans and is meant to be easy to understand. Our goal was to make an ordinance that is simple to read, comprehensive (signage, lighting, landscaping, parking, etc) that would make development more predictable. It was not perfect. From 2007-2010, we met over 40 times with the planning staff to discuss and amend the specific language.

In late 2007 – 2008, we decided to move forward with the 2nd st. corridor study. This study re-enforced many of the Imagine Kutzky principles, and is also now a part of the city’s comprehensive plan.

In 2011 we (city planning staff and IK) decided to move forward with the “low hanging fruit”, which is the low density, single family areas – the CN-NR – which is before you tonight. This has been thoroughly vetted with numerous neighborhood meetings and dozens of IK meetings. It’s not perfect, but no ordinance is. We ask that you approve this tonight and support actually mapping it in the very near future (in Kutzky Park)….and then request that the Planning Dept. move forward with both the UR (urban residential) and the MS (main street) zoning ordinances ASAP. These are the edges and where the real development is occurring.

I’ve attached just a couple of pages from a Form Based Code, so that you can start to understand what that means. Imagine Kutzky, the 2nd st. Corridor Study and the Downtown Master Plan all call for Form Based Codes to be developed.

Thank you for your support.

1) DMC Update
2) St. Marys Tank Update
3) Core Neighborhood Zoning Approved

Some neighbors are unhappy that the city has approved the potential vacation of an alley in Kutzky Park.  I understand their frustration, but think that it was the right decision.  It passed unanimously 6-0.  Here are some facts that I base this on.  I am also disappointed with having a purity test applied to me whereby all the work that I do for the neighborhood is disregarded if I don’t vote the way that they would like on one issue.  I would ask which elected official in the city of Rochester has worked harder for core neighborhoods over the past 5 years?  Even if friends and neighbors are angry with me I will be there for them whenever they need me.

Read the rest of this entry »

1) Thank you for your support, please cast a vote for Michael Wojcik on Tuesday March 19, 2013
2) 2nd street alley vacation delayed.
3) Uptown project hearing complete
4) 16th street between Broadway and 3rd Ave to be done this summer.
5) 65th street interchange coming.
6) Council chooses out of town architecture firm. We need to help locals be more competitive.

I am sharing this Facebook post from our Rochester Police Department.  Kutzky Park has come a long way in the last 20 years and we are going to fight this till its go as well.  Please read the note below.  I don’t want you to be scared, I do what you to be aware and proactive.  Please write down license places from cars you don’t recognize at night and leave the front lights on.

PLEASE READ IMPORTANT NEWS RELEASE BELOW:

On 9-12-12 at 2318 hours the Rochester Police Department responded to a call of sexual assault that occurred in the 1200 block of West Center Street. Upon arrival officers meet an adult female victim that reported that she was physically and sexually assaulted by an intruder who had entered her unlocked residence. The assault ended and the suspect fled the scene when the victim yelled and screamed alerting a nearby neighbor. A motor vehicle was heard leaving the area in the alley way behind the residences on West Center Street. The victim was seen and released at St. Mary’s hospital with injuries consistent with her report. The victim recalled that earlier in the day she had observed a younger black male subject in a vehicle staring at her as she walked in the area. She described the vehicle as an older burgundy colored minivan with wood grained sides. The occupant of this motor vehicle is not considered a suspect in this crime however law enforcement is seeking the assistance of the public in identifying either the vehicle or its occupant as a person/vehicle of interest.

Over the course of the past 4 months Police have identified 4 incidents with some broad and basic similarities that heightened concerns for public safety in this general geographical area. These three incidents below along with the most recent assault (9-12-12) all occurred in the neighborhood or area bordered by the following: St. Mary’s Hospital on the south (2nd St SW) , Hwy 52 on the west, Kutzky Park on the north, and 6th Ave on the east.

These incidents share some common characteristics such as the suspect was a stranger or was an intruder in the victim’s home, basic suspect description, and sexual assault or possible sexual assault as a motive.

These incidents are being aggressively investigated in an effort to determine if they are related however at this time no direct investigative connection can be made between any of these incidents

The three additional incidents each of which was released to the public are:

On 5-4-12 at approximately 0530 hours an adult female reported that she was sexually assaulted by a unknown light skinned black male as she prepared to jog in area. The suspect abandoned the assault as the victim physically resisted her attacker.
On 7-1-12 at approximately 0310 hours an adult female reported that she was awaken while sleeping in her bedroom as she was being touched by a male intruder. She yelled and the suspect fled the unlocked residence.
On 9-4-12 at approximately 2145 hours an adult male subject was in a bedroom of his residence when a black male intruder opened the bedroom door. When verbally confronted the intruder fled the residence on foot.

All four of these incidents involved a suspect that generally can be described as a light skinned black male, 20-30 years of age, 5-6 to 5-10 height, average to athletic build.

The Rochester Police Department is releasing this information so that individuals that reside in or near this neighborhood can take action to lock and secure their residences and be alert to their surroundings. The Rochester Police Department is also seeking the public’s assistance with information regarding possible suspects, the ownership of the burgundy van, or any additional information regarding any of these incidents or other suspicious activity occurring in this area.

On June 16th I will host a Root Beer float social at St. Mary’s Park from 11 AM to 1 PM. Please come out if you would like to discuss the potential water reservoir.

For years Rochester and Olmsted County have been developing a bicycle masterplan.

Many meetings and opportunities for feedback have finally resulted in a plan that the city council got to review.  For this to be implemented we will need your advocacy and support at the Rochester City Council and Olmsted County Board meetings.  Even after we get these plans adopted we need to make sure that they are not ignored.  There is so many good recommendations here that I encourage you to take the time to read this, write down your thoughts, and make sure your elected leaders vote to adopt and follow the plan.

To make this plan a reality we will need to spend about 2.5% of our transportation funding on this system.  This SHOULD be an easy sell given the fact that:

• 12% of all trips in Minnesota are by walking or bike (higher in places like Rochester)
• biking receives about 1.5% of federal funding
• results in more than 9% of all traffic fatalities in Minnesota
• the industry represents has more than 1500 jobs in MN
• the industry contributes $145 million annually to the MN economy

And just in case you hear this nugget:

According to County Planner Phil Wheeler’s presentation to the city council, only 1.8% of transportation funding comes from the gas tax.  So don’t buy that tired talking point.  Biking is far more cost effective for taxpayers than more and bigger roads.

http://www.bikeleague.org/conferences/summit12/factsheets/State_MN.pdf

Here is data on bike commuting in major cities:

http://www.bikeleague.org/news/acs2010.php

Here is the link to the yet to be adopted masterplan:

http://www.co.olmsted.mn.us/planning/trnsprtnplng/bpac/bikemasterplan2011/Pages/default.aspx

Here is the downtown bicycle study:

http://www.co.olmsted.mn.us/PLANNING/TRNSPRTNPLNG/BPAC/Pages/dwntwnbikestudy.aspx

Here is a link to our Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee:

http://www.co.olmsted.mn.us/PLANNING/TRNSPRTNPLNG/BPAC/Pages/default.aspx

This is a tough situation where pandering would be easy, but fiscal stewardship hard. Read the rest of this entry »

As many of you are aware, the city council sent a note to the County Board pointing out that Rochester now represents more than 5/7 of the county.  As such it is our expectation the 5 seats be contained entirely in Rochester.  Also we asked that districts be drawn fairly and respect neighborhood boundaries.   Since we are asking the County to redistrict fair, we need to do the same.  The plan that passed the council 6-1 does just that.  We adopted what is called Option 8.

Note that Ward 2 is pretty much the same (as it should be).  Ward 2 was actually the closest to the correct size of all 6 wards, and thus shouldn’t have changed much.  Basically I pick up all of the Historic SW, including the urban village and the Parkway Neighborhood.  I picked up all of Kutzky Park south of the river, which still divides Kutzky, but not as bad as previously.  I also lose Salem Sound and Bamber Valley Estates which are outside of West Circle Drive.  From a political standpoint I lose areas were I did well in 2008 (Salem Sound), and gain areas that I didn’t do as well (Kutzky Park).  So why am I happy?  Because the maps are fair to Rochester neighborhoods and that is what districts should be.

Edit:  I also gain 3 areas with a population of 0, but I was willing to take more…

Edit 2: Upon further review looks like I didn’t take the urban village?

Read the rest of this entry »