Remarks by Dimple Ajmera
136 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 6
So it's not conditioned to just EV charging. So let's say if they were to turn around and in a few years convert it to a gas station, could they?
So they're not putting it explicitly just for EV charging station as part of the conditions. It's all right. Okay. I I think that's where Madam, I mean, Mayor Harrington, we need to separate this out because, and I know, I think it was Monica who sent us the memo on EV charging. And you know, what, what concerns me is that it, EV charging station is not the same as gas station. And we should understand whether our current ordinance creates unnecessary barriers to investment while still protecting our neighborhoods, especially for EV. I don't know how we are preventing EV charging stations…
Thank you. So the I think it might have been the planning staff who mentioned that because the size of the lot is so small, that wouldn't trigger stormwater. Am I correct?
So is that because it wouldn't add to the problem?
But voluntarily, what would they do to make it better? Because it's what protections or what additional protections things they could do to improve the stormwater issue?
I understand. It's a very small, 0.5 acres. So it's a small lot, and they are not contributing to the problem. And even if they were to put any additional protection, it wouldn't necessarily address the underlying problem because it's just so small.
Okay, I think that's all I have. Thank you.
Thank you, Mayor Harrington. I agree with my colleagues. This one is pretty unique. I've not seen this in my 10 years on the council. I live pretty close to this site. I'm a resident of Far East. And I'm pretty familiar with this site, and I understand the concerns that's been raised by some of the public speakers, especially around light pollution, and especially now that the signs have these videos you have seen. So it's not just the light pollution. I can see noise and sound effects, right? No sound effects.
So this one is a digital sign. So... It will obviously, after a few seconds, you're going to see new. So there is no noise associated with it.
So it's just the light. But it does have these changing effects. And that does concern me, because we are talking about quality of life. And residents who live close to the site didn't expect this giant sign to come in place and where they have to. If they're outside, I'm sure that that will have an impact on their quality of life. Is there restrictions? I think one of the speakers mentioned having restricted hours. Would that be something that you'd be open to? So it's only like at night, it wouldn't run any ads.
Yeah, and I think one of the speakers asked specifically for the hours and restricting not having any ads during the nighttime. So I would be interested if you were to explore that recommendation. I do appreciate the tree save aspect because that certainly helps us with our tree canopy goals. And it also helps with being a natural barrier to adjacent residential community. And I certainly appreciate that with the growth that we are seeing, this will preserve those tree canopy in perpetuity. So that is certainly very unique, and I appreciate that about this rezoning petition. But the light…
Yeah, I think that's where I'd suggest you work with the Far East neighborhood and the residents. to see what they would like to have restricted. But I would definitely like us to explore limited hours. That's all I have. Thank you.
Thank you. Mister Carmichael. So the side that we're talking about redeveloping is just the theater or there is a retells you know in the same last year.
Got it. So there will be additional retail as part of this redevelopment?
That's great, because all the retail that's there, it's actually, I mean, it activates the space. So it's good to see that there is a plan to activate the theater space. Yes, ma'am. Yep, that's all I have. I think this is... I was looking at the neighborhood meetings. How many people attended the neighborhood meetings? Were there any opposition?
That's helpful. I think activating the site would be certainly a key plus. And also really so that there is a transition from this existing retail that does exist with restaurants, with shopping, to something that is going to be activated again. There used to be a yogurt place there. I know that's shut down. That's closed for a while now. But I hope we will have that frozen yogurt place again. That's all I have. Thank you.
Move to close if there are no other questions. Move to close. Second.
Thank you, Mayor Harrington. Couple of questions, if we can have someone from Charlotte Water come to the podium, please. So Reverend Boyd talked about how the vendor was treated and he specifically mentioned communication challenges. Could you walk me through the process and how this was brought forward?
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Okay. So, Reverend Boyd, if you could come to the podium, I have a question for you. So, The staff tells us that the concerns that you raised is not specific to this agenda item number 31, which is in the amount of $8.4 million to VRS Incorporated for the installation of water and sanitary sewer service connections. Is that correct?
I understand. So your concern is the overall procurement process.
Sure. That's all I have. Thank you, Reverend Boyd.
Yes, and I think after the review, could it be referred to the committee for a deeper dive so that we know if there are any changes that needs to be made to the policy, we could do that. And I do have a question about the time sensitivity for water and sanitary sewer service installations. I don't want us to hold something that might affect millions of customers that Charlotte Water does serve every single day. So if you could speak to the sensitivity of timeline here.
Could you talk about what that impact looks like?
Okay, so if we were to choose the alternative, would that increase the service delivery timeline?