LETS TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES
PROTECTING OPEN SPACE
PVHA needs to take a stronger stance in enforcing our CC&R’s. Effective stewardship of parkland is one of my primary goals. Although parkland is deeded to the City of PVE, PVHA is still ultimately responsible to see that our CC&R”s are enacted to protect this valuable resource.
APPLICATION IMPROVEMENTS
Submitting to PVHA should be a clear, reasonable and cost effective process. The day-to-day operation of PVHA is mainly focused on what happens at the counter. The application process needs simplification. Clear equitable guidelines need to be established and communicated to residents. Better coordination with the city in developing a common set of standards is a necessity if our community is to evolve effectively.
SUPPORTING MODERNIZATION
Although I love the art expressed in a beautifully crafted set of working drawings, the reality is that the construction industry now communicates and coordinates electronically. In addition to submitting in a CAD format, GIS mapping would substantially improve the ability to track neighborhood trends relating to demographics, design and construction. I see these two important technology improvements as a primary element to add to our toolbox. I also support the newly implemented process of electronic storage for construction documents.
IMPLEMENTING A TRANSPARENT BUSINESS MODEL
There is a perception within the community that because much business of the Homes Association occurs behind closed doors, that there is easy opportunity for favoritism, and selective editing of business dealings as represented to the public. PVHA is not a secret society with a nefarious agenda. It is a group of professionals conducting business to the best of their abilities within a structured environment.
That structure is shaking on is foundations. The old business model of an elite group making decisions for homeowners is no longer applicable to our modern lifestyle. Just as we embrace open plan living spaces, and restaurants where you can view your meal being prepared, we want to see how our government works, and be assured that it is working properly.
PVHA needs to open the door to the back room. Posting agendas and meeting minutes on the PVHA website would go a long way in connecting residents to important information. Occasionally opening the doors to Art Jury process with regularly scheduled open meetings for residents would educate applicants as well as dispel any misplaced suspicions about unfair review. Instituting checks and balances by tracking projects according to key elements to identify successes as well as areas in need of improvement would also be a great tool and fold into developing strategies and policies for effective future outcomes.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY
Our community has an unofficial line in the sand. On one side, PVHA is concerned with how things look, and on the other side, the City of PVE is concerned with how things measure up. I see this as a qualitative/quantitative split. Evidenced by numerous neighborhood compatibility inconsistencies in virtually every PVE neighborhood, this approach is not working. New guidelines that serve both aspects need to be co-developed by PVHA and PVE. A review and evaluation of existing policies with the intention of proposing a more effective process is in order. I would advocate creating neighborhood workshops focused on discussing residents’ needs, perceptions, and future goals for their community as a solid way to begin addressing this complex issue.
PROTECTING VIEWS
Large building envelopes and tall trees are contentious issues in our community. We need better parameters and an agreed upon policy that is consistent between PVHA, and PVE to serve residents effectively. Mediation on a case-by-case basis is not a solution in the long term unless it leads to something better. Tracking outcomes would make the mediations meaningful to the community at large, provide transparency, and create a database for future policies. Residents need a venue to participate in defining the character of their neighborhood prior to development. The Master Plan should include these concerns.
A WORD ABOUT TREES
Yes, I have compassion for our oldest residents. Beautiful trees are part of the character of our various neighborhoods. They may enhance a view by softly framing a sunset, complement the architecture of a streetscape, or in some instances be the view. Other trees may be imposing, dense, poorly maintained, or badly located in which case they are a detriment to the community character.
Trees have other functions besides being a pretty feature complementing a front yard. They sequester carbon in their roots, store water for dry spells, hold soils to prevent erosion, cool the air on hot days, soften rainfall, and provide a home for wildlife. They are also alive and have a predictable lifespan. Many of the large older trees that we see on the peninsula were originally planted for their fast growing habit in order to give PVE a quick canopy and present an established appearance to the community. They have been successful at their task, and are slowly being replaced with more appropriate choices as they complete their lifespan.
I support the PVE effort to create a database for city trees. It would be a great benefit to extend this effort to residential properties, perhaps using a voluntary format where residents would log in information about trees on their property and comment on their neighborhood treescape. Landscape information is currently being updated as plans are submitted for review, but the information needs to be put into a useful format. From the database we could glean important information such as established view corridors, the ideal height for trees in a given neighborhood, heritage trees that should be protected, trees that need better maintenance, and the growth profile of a neighborhood treescape.
WATER CONSERVATION
Address this at the source. The state of California has a set of standards for water usage and we are charged extra for overruns on our water bill. The Art Jury reviews all landscape plans and has a new extensive list of requirements for submission. Why do I see numerous new landscapes installed with expansive thirsty lawns? What exactly is being reviewed and how is it being enforced? Our community has the intelligence and the resources to be ahead of the curve on protecting our valuable water supply. Lets do it!
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FOR RESIDENTS
PVE has a rich historical context that is generally understood by the public only in terms of a few names, dates and old newsletter articles. It is important to expand awareness of the concepts behind the original Master Plan for PVE and show how the application of these principles relates to current trends and issues. Beyond our community, dialoging with other Olmsted Cities and Olmsted Parks Associations would be a wonderful inspiration and cross pollination of ideas beyond our peninsular experience. Hosting forums and workshops on interesting topics would encourage residents to feel more connected to our unique community and serve as a bridge for productive conversation on important topics. PVE is alive and evolving. PVHA deserves a role in celebrating the future as well as the acknowledging the past.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
There are many ways to promote PVHA as a dedicated and upstanding community organization. The newsletter and website are excellent tools where enriched content would project a favorable effect. Spotlighting members of the Art Jury with interviews touching on their background, architectural inspiration and inner guidance on evaluating submissions would humanize a mysterious process. Links to pertinent media articles would keep the conversation fresh and current. Making specific design criteria available to residents prior to submission would be extremely helpful. Creating an attractive online ‘style guide’ featuring some ‘best of kind’ architecture would be a great way to ease concerns about architectural choices and attract attention to the PVHA site.
HIT THE RE-SET BUTTON
Unlike many neighboring communities, it is amazing that our city has survived the temptation to build out every inch of land. You may thank Mr. Olmsted and the organizations that uphold our CC&R’s for your ocean views, expansive open space and attractive architecture. It is time to hit the re-set button and re-align our actions, words, and policies to reflect the clear direction set down in our CC&R’s. Effective modernization builds on the past, respects community values and takes the long view to development and change.
