Neighborhood Meetings

The City conducted two neighborhood meetings to present information about the project and to discuss the tennis facility and parking lot design.

• The first meeting was held on August 30, 2017. The attached invitation with a four court and 39 parking space rendering was mailed to 78 residential properties around the facility, all property owners in the area generally bounded by E. Schantz Avenue, E. Thruston Boulevard, Shafor Boulevard and Patterson Road. Approximately 30 citizens attended. Eight of the 78 households (11 people) invited were represented at the meeting. The remaining attendees were citizens living outside of the immediate project area.
• The second meeting was held on December 13, 2017. The attached invitation with a five court and 25 parking space rendering was mailed to the same 78 properties around the facility. Ten citizens attended. Three of the 78 households (four people) invited were represented at the meeting. The remaining six attendees were citizens living outside of the immediate project areas.

Public Notification

In addition to the two neighborhood meetings, plans for the project were shared with the general public through the February/March 2018 Oakwood Scene newsletter that was delivered to all Oakwood residential and business properties at the beginning of February 2018 (copy attached). Plans were also shared with the general public through a front page article in the February 14, 2018 Oakwood Register newspaper (copy attached).

Citizen Issues and Concerns

Below is a compilation of the project concerns (shown in bold) raised at the March 12, 2018 City Council meeting, along with a response (shown in italics) for each. A total of 12 citizens spoke.

• We do not feel that residents are being listened to. City Council and staff have a long history of meeting with and listening to residents’ opinions and points of view. In many cases, residents have opposing views on matters. At the end of the day, it is the responsibility of City Council to make decisions that they believe are in the best interests of Oakwood. Council is elected to the public office for this purpose.
• Why weren’t our suggestions heard? The original plan was for four courts and a larger parking lot including 39 spaces. After hearing comments at the August 30 neighborhood meeting, the plan was revised to five tennis courts and the smaller 25 space parking lot.
• We do not need a parking lot. We are a walking community. Given the number of Oakwood citizens that use the OCC, Gardner Pool, Shafor Park, and the tennis court facility, and the fact that many residents live between ½ mile and a full mile from these four public facilities, a modest parking lot is justified. It will also serve visitors attending tennis matches and swim meets, reducing the frequency of public parking in front of residential properties in the adjoining neighborhoods.