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Planning Comission (Revised)

November 18th, 2008 · 4 Comments

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Thanks so much for all of you who commented on the Planning commission notes I posted a few days ago.

I re-wrote the text based on what I heard from you. I think I got all of it but help me out and tell me what I missed. It’s a bit shorter this time around because I read it out loud and it felt a bit drawn out.

Here it is…

Planning Commission Hearing November 20th 2008  - Washington Blocks  -  Levi Benkert
Commissioners I want to thank you for taking the time to review the project we are proposing for the Washington neighborhood.

For the Record my name is Levi Benkert. I own LJ Urban, the developer for the project you see before you tonight.
As you may know I recently moved into the Good project with my wife and three kids and can tell you the density works well and the concept of shared outdoor living spaces makes for a thriving community. The exact type of community that the Washington neighborhood so desperately needs.

What we seek to promote in this area with our projects is not a 24 hour restaurant scene but a quiet walkable tight knit community where people feel safe outside any time of day or night. We believe that the projects before you are the best example of how to build such a community in a responsible way. These homes will be both well designed for the residents and the neighborhood. They are designed with porches and front doors at ground level all across the street scape to encourage interaction and create a sense of welcoming in the neighborhood.

I also want to talk with you about is the historic decision you have before you this evening.

LJ Urban homes use less than half of the worlds natural resources to build compared to a standard tract home. Whats more by allowing these homes to be built close to jobs and services, the residents are able to walk or bike for their daily commute, Leaving a legacy of sustainable living for centuries to come.

The Washington Neighborhood has a chance to truly become one of the greatest sustainable neighborhoods in the country, serving as a example of how to do things right.

Today I ask you to not only vote for what is best for the neighborhood but vote for what is best for the earth, best for us as Americans who are searching for a better future. Vote to put West Sacramento on the map as the city that redefined the way we live.

The City that got it right.

I ask that you support LJ Urban as we seek to help make Washington into a great place to live.

Thank you.

Tags: author: levi · goals · housing · neighborhoods · urban design · west sacramento

4 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Ian M. // Nov 18, 2008 at 8:43 am

    Minimize your maxims.  They should flow naturally in speech.  Fill them in as you go.  If you don’t, your statements will not feel natural.  There’s nothing worse than someone talking ‘green’ and not sounding natural.  You also need to believe everything you say.  For example, “leaving a legacy of sustainable living for centuries to come” is a very strong statement for 150 new housing units.  It shows your level of passion and commitment, but you need to look them in the eyes with that one.  Tell them to BE the city that got it right.
    Good luck!

    By the way, the renderings of Simple didn’t appear to have ground level porches.

  • 2 Dan // Nov 18, 2008 at 11:15 am

    This sentance “LJ Urban homes use less than half of the worlds natural resources to build compared to a standard tract home. ” is still a bit hard to follow.  Mabye try something like:

    “LJ Urban builds homes using less than half the natural resources needed to build conventional tract homes.”

    You might want to give some reasons for the Washington neighborhood’s potential:
    >Existing small block grid system
    >Proximity to downtown and riverfront
    >Vareity of available infill sites for a diverse neighborhood

  • 3 levi // Nov 19, 2008 at 6:53 am

    Thanks so much for all the input.   Dan I am going to add something about the Grid and location.   And I changed that sentence to read like you said. 
    I have to say that you are all very helpful and I am going to start posting things like this on here more.  Its incredible to get real time feedback like this. 
    Thank you!  
    And Ian I am going to do my best to “nail it!”  
    You are right that there are no ground level porches on Simple.  I need to change my text a bit.   There are porches they are just raised up. 

    Levi

  • 4 Anonymous // Nov 20, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    Soooooo?

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