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194 <br /> <br />will cause rents and income in the area to shrink and will <br />allow the City to over-regulate and become financially <br />over-extended. Mr. Hahn stated that he felt free enterprise <br />should be allowed under existing zoning which will lead to <br />higher rents in the area. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jim Morris, evidently a resident of Albemarle County <br />who owns rental property on Delevan Street, stated that he <br />felt creation of conservation districts would suppress <br />people's ability to own their own homes and did not think the <br />City should decide what owners could do with their property. <br /> <br /> Mr. Francis Fife, 1605 Concord Drive, stated that he has <br />continually heard from residents that ways needed to be found <br />to prevent people losing their homes as they did on Vinegar <br />Hill and to help people stay in their homes. Mr. Fife stated <br />that he did not feel members of the General Assembly should <br />micromanage City government and that this Charter amendment <br />should be granted. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tom Hill, 1204 Rugby Road, stated that his house is <br />subject to architectural design controls and he strongly <br />opposed what he referred to as the creation of residential <br />"confiscation" districts° Mr. Hill stated that creation of <br />such districts will restrict owners' rights and will put a lid <br />on future property values. <br /> <br /> Mr. Eldon Wood, 104 Village Court and a member of the <br />Board of Architectural Review, stated that he understood the <br />call for conservation districts had come from grassroots <br />efforts by neighbors adjacent to West Main Street and urged <br />citizens to contact their legislators to support the Charter <br />amendment. <br /> <br /> Mr. Eugene Williams stated that few who have spoken in <br />support of the conservation districts live in the affected <br />neighborhoods and he did not think property owners have been <br />properly informed about the proposal. Mr. Williams stated <br />that he felt the City should enforce existing laws and that <br />Council should have more public discussion and weigh all the <br />impacts on the neighborhoods. Mr. Williams also stated that <br />he did not think Council should inhibit economic progress in <br />the neighborhoods. <br /> <br /> Ms. Alicia Lugo, 800 Rose Hill Drive, stated that she <br />resented the comments by previous speakers who opposed the <br />Charter amendment and stated that many meetings have been held <br />on the need to preserve neighborhoods. Ms. Lugo stated that <br />the Charter amendment will provide the opportunity for future <br />city-wide discussions about conservation districts and noted <br />that no specific neighborhood has been targeted for <br />designation at this time. Ms. Lugo urged Council and the <br />General Assembly to approve the charter amendment as soon as <br />possible, noting that if the matter is delayed a year people <br />with self-interest and greed will come into the neighborhoods. <br /> <br /> Ms. Rebecca Brannock, 907 Anderson Street, stated that <br />she was displaced from her previous home on Vinegar Hill and <br />she did not want economic forces to displace her again because <br />even if she was offered more for her home than it is currently <br />assessed, she would still be unable to afford a home in <br />another part of the city. <br /> <br /> Mr. Neal Walker, 1201 Little High Street, stated that he <br />had previously opposed the notion of conservation districts <br />but now supported the proposal as a means to preserve <br />neighborhoods. <br /> <br /> Mr. Thane Kerner, 609 E. Market Street, opposed the <br />creation of conservation districts, stated that he felt it <br />would take away power from property owners and did not think <br />the City should be paternalistic toward residents. Mr. Kerner <br />stated that he felt residents were capable of making their own <br /> <br /> <br />