Public hearing on city's zoning plan set for tonight
Lockport residents can voice their opinions on a draft zoning plan and map at 6 p.m. today at a public hearing at city hall. The hearing, which caps off a lengthy process of zoning evaluation by Colliers Engineering, the city corporation counsel's office, the common council, and stakeholders, is meant to preserve the character of neighborhoods across the five wards, correct inaccurate categories, and provide a framework for future development.
'We have some very outdated restrictions on some things like sheds, and driveways, and chickens,' said Alderwoman Margaret Lupo of the 5th Ward. 'This will help building inspection and code compliance do their jobs. I have heard from some residents, and they mostly want to make sure the integrity of their neighborhoods remains.'
If zoning creates restrictions, residents may wonder what good it does.
Anthony Serianni, the city's deputy corporation counsel, who has been deeply involved in the draft zoning plan, said it creates communities with common priorities.
'It's largely a tool to protect the interests of the community as a whole. It protects the ability for people to have a right to quietly enjoy their homes without interference from outside property owners.'
America is approaching the 100th birthday of zoning. Back in horse and buggy days, property owners had the unrestricted right to use their parcels and plots however they wanted. This created the popular image of small town main streets, with stores, workshops, and homes mixed together. Someone lived next to the bakery, and someone else lived next to the blacksmith.
In a 1926 case, the US Supreme Court decided that zoning laws promoted the public's health, safety, and welfare, and were legal under the government's traditional police powers. 'The underlying rationale for zoning laws at that time was to separate industrial uses with their noxious smells, effluent, noise, and intensity from residential neighborhoods in order to provide a cleaner, safer, and more healthy environment,' said Christine Neal Westover in the National Law Review.
The result has been districts or neighborhoods with distinct uses.
'It keeps where you go to work and where you live in two separate areas,' Serianni said. 'It ensures that when you go home and decide to relax, you're not going to be bothered by the ongoing impacts of industrial or commercial activity. It helps create an appropriate environment for activities.'
After decades of zoning implementation, Serianni said people now place a certain intangible value on the character of communities. While mixed-use zones, that allow businesses and residences together, can have their conflicts, other people gravitate to such 'walkable' neighborhoods with services and products available within a few blocks.
'The dream of the mixed-use community is where you have boutiques on the first floor and upper-level apartments,' Serianni said. 'So then if you need to get your groceries, you walk downstairs, and it can eliminate the need for a vehicle. That vision only works in an area where you have those relatively densely populated residences. The closer you get to downtown in Lockport, the closer you can get to having the mixed-use vision implemented.'
Serianni said it's important to recognize that not all neighborhoods have the character of downtown. Many Lockport residents have agreed, communicating to the city council what they want to be included and excluded in their neighborhoods.
'Some people have concerns that they want to keep single-family houses single family,' Lupo said about discussions to allow conversions to duplexes. Lupo said homeowners have expressed worries about absentee landlords and a lack of on-street parking. 'I think it's mostly residents who are paying a very high rate of property tax. We need to listen to the people who pay high property taxes because that's where we get the bulk of our money in Lockport.'
Community members can find the proposed zoning plan and map online at https://bartonloguidice.mysocialpinpoint.com/city-of-lockport/document-center .
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Southern Baptists overwhelmingly call for a ban on gay marriage
Southern Baptists overwhelmingly endorsed a ban on gay marriage — including a call for a reversal of the US Supreme Court's 10-year-old precedent legalizing it nationwide. They also called for legislators to curtail sports betting and to support policies that promote childbearing. The votes came at the gathering of more than 10,000 church representatives at the annual meeting of the nation's largest Protestant denomination. A proposed resolution says legislators have a duty to 'pass laws that reflect the truth of creation and natural law — about marriage, sex, human life, and family' and to oppose laws contradicting 'what God has made plain through nature and Scripture.' A wide-ranging resolution calls for the 'overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God's design for marriage and family.' A reversal of Obergefell wouldn't in and of itself be a ban. The resolution calls 'for laws that affirm marriage between one man and one women.' There was no debate on the marriage resolution. The two-day annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention began Tuesday morning with praise sessions and optimistic reports about growing numbers of baptisms. But casting a pall over the gathering is the recent death of one of the most high-profile whistleblowers in the Southern Baptists' scandal of sexual abuse. Jennifer Lyell, a onetime denominational publishing executive who went public in 2019 with allegations that she had been sexually abused by a seminary professor while a student, died Saturday at 47. She 'suffered catastrophic strokes,' a friend and fellow advocate, Rachael Denhollander, posted Sunday on X. Friends reported that the backlash Lyell received after going public with her report took a devastating toll on her. Several abuse survivors and advocates for reform, who previously had a prominent presence in recent SBC meetings, are skipping this year's gathering, citing lack of progress by the convention. Two people sought to fill that void, standing vigil outside of the meeting at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas as attendees walked by. The pair held up signs with photos of Lyell and of Gareld Duane Rollins, who died earlier this spring and who was among those who accused longtime SBC power broker Paul Pressler of sexual abuse. 'It's not a healthy thing for them (survivors) to be here,' said Johnna Harris, host of a podcast on abuse in evangelical ministries. 'I felt like it was important for someone to show up. I want people to know there are people who care.' The SBC Executive Committee, in a 2022 apology, acknowledged 'its failure to adequately listen, protect, and care for Jennifer Lyell when she came forward to share her story.' It also acknowledged the denomination's official news agency had not accurately reported the situation as 'sexual abuse by a trusted minister in a position of power at a Southern Baptist seminary.' SBC officials issued statements this week lamenting Lyell's death, but her fellow advocates have denounced what they say is a failure to implement reforms. The SBC's 2022 meeting voted overwhelmingly to create a way to track pastors and other church workers credibly accused of sex abuse. That came shortly after the release of a blockbuster report by an outside consultant, which said Southern Baptist leaders mishandled abuse cases and stonewalled victims for years. But the denomination's Executive Committee president, Jeff Iorg, said earlier this year that creating a database is not a focus and that the committee instead plans to refer churches to existing databases of sex offenders and focus on education about abuse prevention. The committee administers the denomination's day-to-day business. Advocates for reform don't see those approaches as adequate. It is the latest instance of 'officials trailing out hollow words, impotent task forces and phony dog-and-pony shows of reform,' abuse survivor and longtime advocate Christa Brown wrote on Baptist News Global, which is not SBC-affiliated. In a related action, the Executive Committee will also be seeking $3 million in convention funding for ongoing legal expenses related to abuse cases.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Sadiq Khan is the last person that should get a knighthood
With Mayor of London Sadiq Khan belatedly dubbed a knight today, the integrity of the honours system will be questioned by many. Part of me recognises the significance of an unapologetically pro-Islam monarch knighting a Muslim mayor of London. And there is no doubt that Khan has shattered his fair share of glass ceilings. Indeed, he embodies the story of social mobility in many of Britain's traditional ethnic-minority communities. Born in south London to a Pakistani family, his father worked as a bus driver and his mother a seamstress. He completed a law degree and went on to establish himself as a successful solicitor. Following his election as the MP for Tooting in the 2005 general election, The Spectator named Khan as 'Newcomer of the Year' at its Parliamentarian of the Year awards. Khan was reportedly singled out by the judges 'for the tough-mindedness and clarity with which he has spoken about the very difficult issues of Islamic terror'. The Mayor of London could have implemented an agenda in keeping with his own background – a wholesome working-class traditionalism focused on family values, the dignity of work, social mobility, and public security. Instead, he converted himself into an opportunistic purveyor of identity politics. He appears to be more interested in public relations and international showboating, having regularly scrapped with American president Donald Trump, as well as wading into issues such as the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v Wade. One could be forgiven for wondering how Khan even has the time to waste on antagonising diplomatic allies and debating abortion rights across the pond. London continues to be plagued by youth knife crime – especially in areas where the fatherlessness epidemic is being exploited by predatory violent gangs. Political conflicts and sectarian tensions from various parts of the world have been imported, yet we continue to hear empty platitudes from Khan on London's 'rich diversity' and 'vibrant cosmopolitanism'. Keeping our streets safe should be at the very heart of political and public service. Khan has failed spectacularly at this basic task. The honours system all too often rewards mediocrity in public office. Khan is just one of many eyebrow-raising choices we have seen in recent decades. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
As Trump's deportation push gains momentum, Canada proposes tougher border restrictions
Advertisement 'It's deeply discouraging and, frankly, scary to see the government going down this path,' Sande said. Carney's move comes in the wake of a recent US Supreme Court decision that Canada, and French-speaking Quebec in particular, has long been an attractive choice for members of Greater Boston's large Haitian community. And after the high court cleared the way for the Trump administration to deport them, many were considering relocating to Canada, according to Jeff Thielman, chief executive of the International Institute of New England. The actions on either side of the border leave them and other immigrants in a quandary. 'If our country isn't going to be welcoming, which is a travesty, then maybe Canada can be welcoming. And if Canada says no to them, then what do we do?' said Thielman, whose organization serves refugees and immigrants in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 'Seriously, there's no place for them to go — and it's not fair to them.' Advertisement Since taking office, Trump has sought to end a variety of programs enabling citizens of certain countries to take refuge in the U.S., but lower courts have slowed his efforts. In May, the Supreme Court In a more recent decision, the Supreme Court Canadian officials have worried since Trump's election last year that the looming termination of these programs could lead to an influx of refugees to the north. During the first Trump administration, Advertisement A migrant was searched by a police officer after arriving at the Roxham Road border crossing in Roxham, Quebec, Canada, on March 2, 2023. SEBASTIEN ST-JEAN/AFP via Getty Images So far, evidence of a new surge in northbound migration is mixed. Nationwide, asylum applications processed by Canada so far this year are half those of last year, 14,557 through the first five months of 2024, compared to 31,244 in the same period in 2024, according to the Canada Border Services Agency. But at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle port of entry, which connects Interstate 87 near the New York-Vermont border with Autoroute 15 in Quebec, officials clocked a dramatic uptick in activity this spring, doubling month-over-month in March and April. Year to date, asylum claims at that crossing — which this year account for more than one-third of such claims in Canada — are up by about 60 percent. The agency declined to provide similar figures for other ports of entry. Rebecca Purdy, a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency, said the increase in claims at that location has not affected the crossing's operations. She said the government has plans in place to lease additional space in the area to process refugee claims if needed. The most common countries of origin of those claiming asylum at ports of entry this year are Haiti, Venezuela, and the U.S., according to Purdy. Canada's previous prime minister, Justin Trudeau, 'What Justin Trudeau said in 2017 really backfired against him,' Béland said. Pandemic-fueled inflation and a growing housing crisis as many refugees were coming to Canada 'led to a backlash,' he said. Advertisement So when Carney, a member of Trudeau's Liberal Party, campaigned to succeed him this spring, he tacked to the center on immigration. And on Tuesday, when Carney's government introduced its first bill, the message was clear. A truck crossed the Peace Bridge at the Canada-US border in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, on April 2. Laura Proctor/Bloomberg 'A strong border is essential to our national security, to foster safe communities and support our economy,' said Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree at a press conference in Ottawa. The 'It tries to kill at least two birds with one stone,' Béland said. Asked at Tuesday's press conference whether the bill was an attempt to 'appease' the Trump administration, Anandasangaree said he expected it to 'strengthen the relationship with the United States.' 'There are a number of elements in the bill that have been irritants for the U.S., so we are addressing some of those issues,' he said. 'But it's not exclusively about the United States.' Human rights activists have expressed alarm at provisions that would make it harder to seek refuge in Canada. It would prevent those who have been in the country for more than a year to claim asylum, and it would close a loophole Advertisement 'It's this massive expansion of state power that can be used for any purpose,' said Syed Hussan, a spokesperson for Canada's Migrant Rights Network. The Refugee Centre, a Montreal-based nonprofit serving new Canadians, is quick to feel the effects of immigration policy changes on either side of the border. Its clients are most commonly from Haiti and Venezuela at the moment, according to spokesperson Alina Murad, but it hasn't detected a surge in asylum-seekers relocating from the United States. Murad says she understands that citizens of Canada and the U.S. alike 'are hurting and feeling the effects' of inflation and the housing crunch. But she believes people from elsewhere 'are being used as scapegoats.' 'It's not fair to blame refugees and immigrants for bad policies in other areas,' she said. 'These are people who are just trying to get to safety.'
