Pardon Me For Asking: Local Resident Writes To City Planning Regarding Gowanus Rezoning. You Should Too.

Dear Neighbors,
If you feel, as I do, that twelve story buildings are just too high along the Gowanus Canal, you have until Saturday, January 17th to submit your comment to New York City Planning Commission's Chair Amanda Burden.
A group of local residents testified in front of City Planning last week.
But it is vital that the Commission hear from as many of us as possible.
Below is one such testimony by a Carroll Gardener. Please take a moment to read it, and then, please consider writing your own.

January 14, 2009

Chair Amanda M. Burden
City Planning Commission
22 Reade St., Room 2W
New York, NY 10007
Dear Commissioner Burden,
I am a Carroll Gardens resident and write in support of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association's efforts to reduce the Toll Brothers' development plans at the Gowanus Canal. Carroll Gardens is a wonderful place to live and I am thankful every day am to be so blessed. We are fortunate to be in such a healthy community: respect for culture, love of sunshine, and opportunities to have a positive impact not only for how things are now, but for future generations. Thoughtful economic development is vital to the health of our community, and growth must have balance.

My concerns:

Twelve stories would bring a behemoth to the Gowanus - it is completely out of scale.
Developer's fiscal assumptions are based on numbers that as everyone is painfully finding out, never really existed.
Long-term growth planing for the entire Gowanus is required.
This is a heavily polluted site. Development of a realistic cleanup plan that includes all stakeholders is a moral obligation.
We live how the rest of the country longs to live. You have an opportunity and responsibility to provide leadership in this situation, and I strongly urge you to listen to your constituents.

Sincerely,
J.R.
Carroll Gardens
(name withheld by request)