The Bates Area Civic Association Board (Board), in its work to advocate for the views and objectives of the neighborhood residents, has approved the following guiding principles relating to matters that frequently come before the association. These principles are intended to improve consistency, serve as a reference for outside groups interested in BACA positions, and accelerate the decision-making process. The Board may deviate from these positions as circumstances require, with input from BACA members.
Updated on: 10/23/2017
Approved on: 11/6/2017
Development
The Board supports responsible, thoughtful, and quality residential and commercial development. Our priorities, with respect to development, are:
- Increasing the density and diversity of our neighborhood. A vibrant and livable community includes residents from all races, backgrounds, and income levels.
- Development of vacant lots or blighted properties is encouraged and prioritized.
- Higher quality, and more affordable housing in our neighborhood is a priority. To achieve this, large scale, multi-family developments should include 20 percent, or more, designated as affordable.
- Support commercial development, particularly the types of commercial operations that are lacking and appeal to a broad audience. Examples include food and beverage retailers, hardware and dry-goods stores, and retail grocery providers.
Parking
The Board understands that parking concerns are a quality of life issue and warrant due consideration, but recognizes too that many residents prefer to live without motor vehicles and new forms of transportation are increasingly viable for car-less households. Our priorities, with respect to parking, are:
- New real estate developments are encouraged to propose creative solutions that alleviate parking challenges.
- New developments will not be opposed solely on the expectation of future parking challenges.
- Commercial operations that have an impact on the immediate area’s parking availability will be encouraged to identify and implement practices that mitigate parking attrition.
- The association will support local efforts to restrict parking through the city’s residential parking permit program and other resident-led initiatives.
Alcohol
The Board supports increasing business and economic activity in the neighborhood. However, The Board will actively engage in the application process of all new, and renewals of existing, alcoholic beverage licenses in order to balance those economic interests with the well-being of residents. In general, the Board will:
- Oppose single-sales and will attempt to include such limitations in any ABRA settlement agreements,
- Enforce existing settlement agreements and will protest renewals of existing licenses to secure additional protections when the applicant has failed to abide by provisions in preexisting settlement agreements or if pre-existing settlements do not ban single-sales,
- Support the applications of businesses that demonstrate a commitment to community engagement and make good-faith efforts to operate in a neighborly manner,
- Evaluate the impact licenses may have on schools and school-aged children.
Bates Area Civic Association 