Well perhaps it’s the planners and the commission of a city that should take the fall and be responsible for the hotch potch approach to a city?

I wonder if it ever occurred to someone that it might be worth having a planning department that actually lives and works in the city.  That way they know what the citizens are facing and dealing with.  After all, the planner that approves the go ahead to build a 4 story building next to a one story house really is not directly affected by it.  In fact for all we know they live in a city that doesn’t allow lots that are small than 1/2 an acres.  (Sweet) 

Perhaps that planners should have the buck stop with them and then that would relieve the City Councilors of having to look like that bad guys.  And then Mr Caserta’s donations towards his assembly race from developers wouldn’t look so bad to the average person on the street?  And some residents wouldn’t be so upset with the whole deal.  Perhaps then it wouldn’t feel like …. oh how did the Judge at the proceedings for the Barec case put it today … something along the lines of ‘lack of concern for the residents’.

Wouldn’t it be great if a city requirement was for all planning staff to be also residents of the city of Santa Clara.  Then you might feel like you are talking to a peer.  The only dealing I’ve personally had with city planners was interesting. I am off the belief that courtesy costs nothing.  Or how do they say it here – you get more with sugar.

 

©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008