Residents push back on proposed Reagan Street housing and urge infrastructure first

Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press the council on a proposed development near Reagan Street and to urge caution about building type, density and amenities. Gregory Johnson, Michael Jackson and Paige Sanders each described concerns about the project's scale and neighborhood impacts.

Paige Sanders told the council, "We are all against this on Reagan Street," arguing that the area needs grocery stores and other businesses before high-density housing will attract and retain higher-income residents. Michael Jackson, who said he provides home care services for elderly residents, warned that large multi-unit buildings can become dilapidated without occupancy restrictions and said, "Somehow or another, you need to put some restrictions on who could come, how long they can stay." Residents asked the council to require buffers such as fencing and to limit unit counts to protect the neighborhood character.

Council members said they heard constituents' concerns and emphasized that zoning and developer proposals come from private developers; one councilmember summarized that the city listens to constituents and that the decision would reflect community input. The rezoning application tied to the project was later declined by the council at the same meeting.