Less shouting, more listening
Re “Next Steps” (Opinion, 10/27/2016): Maybe the time is right to form a third political party focused on actual governing and not maintaining political control. Less shouting and more listening would be a good start. Moreover, true campaign finance reform is desperately needed. Common-sense ways to fund all elections without political donations and imposing spending limits in all races might help attract the best candidates and not the ones with the most to gain.
Re “Remembering David Medaris” (10/27/2016): As a sales rep at Isthmus, I was around David for about a year. He was genuine, considerate, an intellect and artist, sort of a maverick. Speaking with David was like conversing with a true friend.
Rest in peace.
Brent Wood (via email)
Shady development
Here’s an additional and important piece of information related to Mike Ivey’s cleverly titled “Sunblock” article (9/15/2016), which concerned a potential Park Street development that would cast shade on the existing solar installation on our home. The current four-story proposal requires a conditional use permit since city zoning code calls for a three-story building on that site.
One of the conditions that needs to be met is, “The uses, values and enjoyment of other property in the neighborhood for purposes already established will not be substantially impaired or diminished in any foreseeable manner.”
In our case, we have been generating 100% of our electricity with solar panels for nearly a decade, and gardening even longer. These would both be measurably diminished. Other neighbors also garden, and another neighbor is hoping to go solar very soon.
In addition, the Urban Design District requirements and guidelines state that development should preserve and enhance property values. Many descriptions of houses for sale (or apartments for rent) highlight sunny interiors as a major selling point; significant additional shading would negatively affect the value of houses east of the site. When you consider that shading would begin three to four hours earlier than sunset, that’s close to 100% of most people’s evening free time after work.
“Who has a right to Madison’s precious sunshine?” Ivey asks. It looks like first come, first served.
For many reasons, I’m much more likely to welcome this development at three stories, even though it will still cast some shadows.
Jim Winkle (via email)
