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Something is afoot in your neighborhood. Surveyors are walking around a defunct property taking notes. When you approach and ask questions, they are evasive; however, through persistence your neighbors piece together a puzzle. It’s another development by “surprise!”

One of the best ways to counter a surprise is to let your government representatives know that you know. One of the most effectiveways to declare your position on the surprise development is to write a polite letter or email to the appropriate individuals.

So whether your neighborhood becomes the site of a haunted bed & breakfast, a high-rise condo, or something else that does not fit the Unified New Orleans Plan, the Master Plan, or your idea of rational, sustainable development, focus your efforts on writing letters. They usually receive some sort of response and provide documentation that will provide clarity and direction as the process and dialogue move forward.

One of the most important aspects of a good letter to a city official and news outlets is to write a polite, fact-based letter devoid of angry rhetoric. As an example, below is a letter that Karen Gadbois wrote on behalf of her neighborhood association.

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Dear Ms. Wright,

It is my understanding that a preliminary plan for the Carrollton Shopping Center area has been put forward internally, including double left hand turn lanes on Palmetto and the relocation of a Bus Stop at the Palmetto Canal.

While I understand that this plan has not been adopted or formally reviewed the fact that the Developer is going forward with financing strategies utilizing tax credits it would seem that the public should be engaged.

I attended the meeting last year {May 2007} where the developer set out vague and non-specific ideas for the property with no mention of the impact on the area or the wishes of the residents in terms of traffic and scale. While we were asked what kind of stores we would like we were never asked what kinds of traffic and transportation issues there were nor what mitigating factors may come into play. In fact at that very meeting the developer needed to be reminded of his obligation to mow the grass. Which may give some indication of his familiarity with the site and surrounding areas.

If you are familiar with the area, you would understand that this intersection not only causes great issues with the on and off ramps of 110, but that the underpass is impassable in a heavy rain fall. The issues that have plagued that area Pre K have not been relived by the lack of retail there. It is as bad as it ever was.

http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/05/storms_sweep_through_region.html

We in the community have spent endless hours visioning and planning as we were ordered to in order for funds to be released by the State. It seems that the plans we made with UNOP and Lambert are not being considered.

Could you please inform us of a meeting timeline for this project, if there is one. If not would you please inform Mr. Fiel of the need to engage the community.

As you stated, “As noted in this email chain to you, no updated conceptual designs for the footprint of the shopping center itself have been presented to ORDA by the property owners.”

Our concern is not just with the design of the shopping center, but with the configuration of the area surrounding it. We do not want to find ourselves in a position of arguing about poorly designed intersections which do not take into account the knowledge of people who use it on a daily basis.

Thank you,

Karen Gadbois

Northwest Carrollton Civic Association

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This letter was cc’d to many of the decision makers in our city. Karen received a response from a sampling of the contacted, including a response from Dr. Edward J. Blakely and Lavon Wright, community Development Specialist for the Office of Recovery Management. At the very least this begins a dialogue, and lets the relevant folks understand that your neighborhood is not one that likes surprises. (Full disclosure: Karen is a member of the Urban Conservancy board).

Filed under: Editorials