Your View: Cookie Cutter Processes Create Cookie Cutter Subdivisions

A Resident Provides His Thoughts on the Recent Approval of the First Phase of the Cliff Oaks Subdivision

As stated before, Civic Capacity, is a community asset. It’s not simply designed for myself to provide insights and information on our community (though, I am happy to do that). But, Civic Capacity is at its best when other residents join in the conversation and provide their own thoughts on the issues of the day facing our community.

Today, our publication is putting forward an editorial by Steve Henriksen. If you have been reading our work, you already know Steve, he eloquently spoke at the last council meeting.

Here are Mr. Henriksen’s thoughts, in his own words…

Things never heard at a Troy Council meeting:

“That’s a good idea”

“Let’s just do it”

“Let’s work together to get an optimum result we can be proud of”

I’m making a generalization to make a point regarding Councilman Jeff Shilling’s dissenting opinion on O-30-2024 the Final Plot Plan for Cliff Oaks Subdivision Phase One and Dedication of Right-of-Way.  This was the first reading, but Council decided it had heard enough, dispensed with the three-reading rule and quickly approved the ordinance.  Oh my.  Instead of passing the matter on the first vote, it would have been well within reason to let the matter go to three readings while discussing how to improve the subdivision.  

There was no discussion of the merits of Mr. Shilling’s position, just the dire warning of what could happen if it was not passed – especially the possibility of a lawsuit. God forbid that we could have used the time to begin negotiating with the developer as a partner to create a better subdivision even if the city had to contribute to its success. 

There could have been a win-win solution if some effort was expended, but expediency and risk-avoidance triumphed.  We all know there are plans afoot to spend millions on projects that Troy citizens couldn’t care less about, so why not entertain spending some money on something our citizens would benefit from and enjoy?

Meeting zoning codes just means that minimum standards have been met. I’m reminded of a time while working for a Fortune 500 company when an HR professional from “corporate” advised me that while interviewing job candidates that I was to hire the first person who met the minimum requirement of the job and forego additional interviews. We would avoid lawsuits that way.  (Fortunately, I ignored this “advice,” sought the best candidates, while “corporate” eventually filed for bankruptcy.)

I see a parallel to the recent actions of Council.  Is Council just joining the administration’s bureaucracy?  Just follow the rules, keep your mouth shut, and keep your ideas to yourself.  Obviously, we can avoid lawsuits by accepting minimum results without exploring ways to achieve optimum results.  This begins a slow, downward spiral of quality that produces cookie-cutter solutions that offer uniformity and boring results.  Troy deserves better.  How about introducing a moratorium on accepting zoning and other minimums and demanding explorations of optimums?

I completely understand the need for codes and having folks in various positions understand and decide upon them.  These folks deserve our respect for the important role they play in the operation of the city.  I just think that there needs to be another level of review that discusses ways to optimize results, and not settle for meeting minimum standards and reinforcing the status quo.  How many additional subdivision submissions will be expeditiously approved before new zoning rules become available next year, at the earliest?

Mr. Shilling’s ideas and those of others should be openly discussed and if they have merit, let’s have the wherewithal to give them the time and consideration they deserve.

Share your Ideas!

Civic Capacity is always open to guest editorials, free from word counts, editing and paywalls. It’s one of the few opportunities to get your thoughts and ideas forward to a growing number of people dedicated to the improvement of our hometowns here in Miami County. If you have a piece to share, send it to pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com

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How would you respond to Mr. Henriksen? Our paid subscribers are more than welcome to leave their ideas and insights in the comment thread!

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