Thank you Tandi and Pat and everyone that became active on this problem! I agree with Tandi on how this gets resolved.
Ron Halbgewachs
-----Original Message-----
From: Tandi Hufnagel via Neighbors_nobhill-nm Sent: Sep 12, 2017 12:02 PM
To: "Davis, Pat" Cc: "neighbors@nobhill-nm.com" Subject: Re: [Neighbors] Update on zoning for new building at Aliso and Copper
Thank you Pat, for showing how local governance can be responsive and timely!
We would appreciate updates as to this property, how the permit is resolved, and especially if any variances are requested.
Thank you,
Tandi
On Tue, Sep 12, 2017 at 11:23 AM, Davis, Pat <patdavis@cabq.gov> wrote:
Tandi and others,
I wanted to share an update with you regarding this property.
After you alerted my office to your concerns, I asked the Planning Department to review the permit.
After reviewing the permit process, the Planning Department this morning ordered the builder to stop construction and revoked the permit because it was issued by their office in error.
We'll work with them to find a way to resolve the discrepancy and bring the plans into compliance.
Thanks for your patience as we gave planning time to compete their review.
Here are photos from this morning on the progress of the Aliso and Copper building - they are up to 3 stories on the west end. The pace of construction has picked up.
As you can see, there are dividing walls between decks on the third story that extend into the 15' setback. Those walls are over the 26'/2-story limit within the 15' setback. The point of this setback limit was to better fit in with the mostly 1-story
neighborhood that surrounds it. We now have what is visually a 3 story building right up to the sidewalk.
Clearly this building does not fit the zoning code.
We can't stop constriction with a valid permit based on allegations that the permit was improperly granted. That's why I directs my staff and the planning staff to provide me with an accounting of how the permit was granted so we can get
the facts and share them publicly.
If the permit was improperly granted, there are plenty of options to intervene. If it was granted properly with a variance or for other permitted reasons, the neighbors who have concerns have a right to know why they were not notified.
I want to get the facts so we can all evaluate it together and I'm confident we will do so quickly.
Pat
Pat Davis
-City Councilor
On Sat, Sep 9, 2017 at 11:09 AM -0600, "Sam Bawcum" <sambawcum@aol.com> wrote:
Of course we can stop a project already in progress, particularly if the permitting was faulty. The builder will hav to deal with the remedy, which my include seeking losses from the city.
This mentality of "seeking forgiveness, after the fact, is easier than getting permission ", along with the continued special consideration developers receive, must be controlled.
Pat, your acquiescence to the SOP is akin to collusion. A change of perspective is needed.
Tandi, I wanted to share with this list what I had shared with you in response to your earlier email.
Tandi, I have requested both our council planning staff (which does not do plan review but can research existing zoning rules) and the administration's planning department review the permit and application to ensure both were handled appropriately.
We can't stop construction with a permit in place, but if a problem is found the planning department can take action based on those findings.
The expedited review will help us get that done to answer those questions quickly.
Is this the building that is already under construction at that location? I have been by there several times and it does not look all that sturdy! I sure would not want to be on a floor above the two already in place.
Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: Tandi Hufnagel via Neighbors_nobhill-nm
Sent: Sep 8, 2017 11:52 AM
To: neighbors_nobhill-nm@mailman.swcp.com,
patdavis@cabq.gov
Subject: [Neighbors] Update on zoning for new building at Aliso and Copper
Hi neighbors -
Another neighbor, Veronica Salinas, went and talked to Andrew Garcia, head of Code Enforcement at the Zoning Dept yesterday about this new building which was permitted
for 4 stories even though zoning is limited to 3 stories.
His response was vague and he said they are "looking into it".
We are wondering if there is a member of the community who is an attorney, who would be willing to write a letter to the Zoning Dept requesting that the project be
halted until the issue is resolved.
Anyone able to do that? Please feel free to contact me directly if you would like.
Thanks so much for all the supportive responses too. Please keep up the pressure to let the city know that we intend to hold them accountable for their decisions.
That's the only way to improve the functioning of local governance.