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TESTIMONY

Henry Euler, President of Auburndale Improvement Association, on opposition to City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative

2:52:25

·

3 min

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Henry Euler, representing the Auburndale Improvement Association, expresses opposition to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative. He argues that the proposal has not been fully vetted and may negatively impact local communities, particularly in low-density and single-family zoning areas.

  • Criticizes transit-oriented development, arguing it unfairly affects homeowners in single-family zones up to half a mile from transit stations
  • Opposes Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in basements, cellars, and garages, citing safety concerns related to flooding and fires
  • Argues the proposal is a 'one-size-fits-all' approach that deregulates single-family and low-density zones without adequately addressing infrastructure and school enrollment impacts
  • The proposal hasn't been completely vetted and more work is needed
  • Opposition to transit-oriented development, especially in low-density and single-family zoning areas
  • Concern about unfairness to homeowners who have invested in their properties
  • Against ADUs in basements, cellars, and garages due to safety concerns
  • Preference for expanding existing homes rather than creating ADUs
  • Criticism of the 'one size fits all' approach
  • Concern about deregulation in single-family and low-density zones
  • Lack of clarity on what 'a little more housing' means
  • Potential impacts on infrastructure and school enrollments not addressed

[EXPERIMENTAL]

Which elements of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity were discussed in this testimony?

  • ADU
  • Transit-Oriented Development

The following are AI-extracted quotes and reasoning about which elements of the proposal were discussed in this testimony.

This is a quick, close approximation. Occasionally, the connection between a testimony's transcript and specific elements of City Planning's proposal is tenuous.

Read about this AI-generated analysis here.

ADU

"As far as the ADUs are concerned, what's wrong with people expanding their homes. I don't think a basement or a cellar is is a as a good place for people to live based on the flooding and and the fires that have occurred in recent years. And garages as well. Garages is not I'm not a a place for people."

The speaker directly addresses ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) and discusses specific types of ADUs such as basement apartments and garage conversions. He expresses concerns about the safety and suitability of these spaces for living, which directly relates to the ADU element of the City of Yes For Housing Opportunity proposal.

"So it seems like you've kind of stuffed people into the smallest area as possible. Why not just expand the home?"

This quote further elaborates on the speaker's views on ADUs, suggesting that expanding existing homes would be preferable to creating small living spaces in basements or garages. This directly relates to the ADU element of the proposal, even though the speaker is arguing against it.

Transit-Oriented Development

"We don't approve of transit oriented development. We feel that around a station, perhaps that that would be okay to have a little bit more development there. But as you move full out outward from from the center, I I I had heard it's gonna be a half a mile in wall directions. Well, you're gonna start going into neighborhoods that have low density zoning. Single family zoning. And that that's not fair to those people."

The speaker directly addresses the Transit-Oriented Development element of the proposal. He expresses disapproval of the concept, particularly the extent of the proposed development area (half a mile in all directions from transit stations). He argues that this would unfairly impact low-density and single-family zoned neighborhoods.


About this analysis:

This analysis is done by AI that reasons whether or not a quote from the testimony discusses a particular element of the proposal.

All the prompts and data are open and available on Github.

You can search for testimonies that mentioned a specific element in the table on the main meeting page.

When an element is explicitly stated in the testimony (e.g. "Universal Affordability Preference" or "UAP"), the analysis is accurate.

But the connection between a quote from the testimony and an element of the proposal is sometimes implicit.

In these cases, the AI might eagerly label a testimony as discussing a proposal when the connection is tenuous, or it might omit it entirely.

↗ Why are there transcription and diarization errors?
Henry Euler
2:52:25
Yes, sir.
Dan Garodnick
2:52:26
Great, man.
2:52:26
Okay.
2:52:27
Florida's yours.
Henry Euler
2:52:28
Thank you.
2:52:29
My name is Henry Euler.
2:52:30
I'm the president of the Orban Dale Improvement Association.
2:52:34
We're the oldest and probably the largest Civic Association in Queens County.
2:52:39
We overlap with many other CIVX, and we all work together and stick together.
2:52:46
We are against the city of, yes, housing opportunity question.
2:52:54
We don't feel that it's really been completely vetted with all the issues and impacts upon our local communities.
2:53:01
And I think there's still more work to do before you move forward on this.
2:53:06
We don't approve of transit oriented development.
2:53:11
We feel that around a station, perhaps that that would be okay to have a little bit more development there.
2:53:21
But as you move full out outward from from the center, I I I had heard it's gonna be a half a mile in wall directions.
2:53:31
Well, you're gonna start going into neighborhoods that have low density zoning.
2:53:38
Single family zoning.
2:53:40
And that that's not fair to those people.
2:53:43
That's not fair to them.
2:53:44
They've invested their their fortunes, their money, and to into their homes, and that's not fair.
2:53:54
As far as the ADUs are concerned, what's wrong with people expanding their homes.
2:54:01
I don't think a basement or a cellar is is a as a good place for people to live based on the flooding and and the fires that have occurred in recent years.
2:54:12
And garages as well.
2:54:14
Garages is not I'm not a a place for people.
2:54:17
So it seems like you've kind of stuffed people into the smallest area as possible.
2:54:22
Why not just expand the home?
2:54:23
I know when we did the rezoning, we were able to take that into account A lot of the homes had room to expand.
2:54:32
So that would make more sense for a family that wants to provide shelter for older adults or grandchildren.
2:54:42
I handed in my testimony earlier and typed there's a lot of points that I made in there that you'll read, I guess, when you get to it.
2:54:52
I agree with what people said that one size does This proposal has a one size fits all mentality to it.
2:55:00
This is a deregulation proposal.
2:55:03
In single family and low density zones areas.
2:55:06
This is gonna be especially for stresses to our communities.
2:55:10
And exactly what is a little more housing?
2:55:13
That I don't understand.
2:55:15
It's not clear.
2:55:16
Will you define?
2:55:18
Nor are the potential impacts on interest infrastructure and school enrollments in our communities addressed on these proposals.
2:55:26
So you'll see it all in my statement.
2:55:28
Thanks for letting me testify.

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