Stack Hill Admendments: Opinion

Council Member Bradley Huson gave a stirring speech at the special meeting last week just before losing a critical vote on the Stack Hill amendments. He was especially concerned about the contentious view corridor . Several people wanted his comments documented. With his permission, here is Mr. Huson's speech:

Is this our legacy? Is this how we move forward?

This is ridiculous.

This is the reason that the Master Development Plan is being replaced with a new development plan for the lower ASARCO site. The old plan is outdated, full of contradictions and assumes many things that are just not relevant to the way that Ruston is changing.

The last thing (most unlikely) that was envisioned on any of the ASARCO site was single family residential, yet that what we are getting on Stack Hill. A view corridor was relevant with a different type of development. One that was far less harmonious than the one that is currently being built. The old plan with its suggestion of 30 foot high buildings on top of the existing grade (which was 20+ feet higher than the current grade) needed view corridors to help break up what could have been a massive structure. That is why the view corridor was there.

We do not have one massive structure or two massive structures which would be so out of character up here on the the hill (as the monstrosity is behind me). We have 30+ single family homes which are dispersed over the site adding to the character of the neighborhood, not detracting from it. Of course Mr. Cohen graded the site to his own advantage. Of course he decided to build singe family homes here, which is one of his strong suits. What we as a town got from this is a better net view for everyone, and an addition to the neighborhood that we can all be proud of.

People have asked, but what has Mr. Cohen given to the town? That Mr. Cohen has any kind of good will left for the Town of Ruston is a miracle in itself. Through inept and lackadaisical leadership and aggressive planning by Huitt-Zollars, Mr. Cohen has paid over $400,000 to develop this property. And we have all been discussing this for over 2 years with no end in sight. The reason the discussion continues - we are trying to force incompatible items from the Master Development Plan onto Stack Hill.

The process bodes very unwell for the next several weeks of presentations and meetings by Point Ruston. If we can't move forward with a simple single family residential plan, how will it be possible to deal with the complexities of a hotel, Shoreline permits, 200 residential units, 200,000 square feet of commercial space, the LID and all of the parking, infrastructure, traffic and services that go with it?

I hate to lose when I think that I am right, but what is equally frustrating is the fact that those who vote against me have absolutely no strategy for moving forward. Once they vote no, that is the end of the subject. There is no plan to compromise or move the matter forward in any way shape or form.

I only ask that common sense prevail and that we can move this matter forward in a way that is fair to everyone.