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RDA narrows West‑side survey area after board concern over wetlands and past land claims
Summary
The RDA board narrowed a proposed West‑side CRA survey area on Nov. 11 after members objected to including parcels south of Lakeview Parkway because of wetlands and past land‑acquisition grievances; the board voted to make the Parkway the southern boundary (except existing commercial zone parcels) and to ask staff for additional West‑side study areas.
Melissa McNally, RDA director, presented a large study area for a proposed West‑side community reinvestment area (CRA) that included parcels both north and south of Lakeview Parkway. Board members and councilors raised strong objections to including land south of Lakeview Parkway — citing wetlands, historical disputes with farmers over past acquisitions and the political sensitivity of identifying large residential areas as part of a redevelopment study.
Board members emphasized the difference between a broad study area and a formal project‑area plan: McNally said the map shown was intentionally broad so staff could evaluate parcels that might be appropriate for incentives, and that any eventual project area would be a much narrower set of parcels adopted through a separate process. Still, several councilors asked staff to remove the southern Lakeview Parkway parcels from the study area because of community concern.
After discussion the board adopted a motion amending the survey map to make the southern border coincide with Lakeview Parkway except for the small area already zoned commercial near I‑15; the motion passed 5–2. The RDA also directed staff to return with additional proposed survey areas on the West Side (Center Street corridor and northern West Side neighborhoods) for study and public engagement.
Board members asked staff to prioritize public outreach and to clarify the difference between a study area and a formal CRA project area; staff said a project area plan and budget would be prepared only after the survey resolution and would contain exact parcel lists. Several members suggested a phased approach to avoid the political perception that the city had already selected parcels for redevelopment.
Ending: The RDA moved forward with a narrowed survey area and asked staff to bring back additional West‑side survey proposals and public‑engagement plans before any project‑area adoption.
