Tulsa World, Okla., Zack Stoycoff column

Source: Tulsa World, Okla.存倉Oct. 10--Tulsa's mayoral candidates took sides Wednesday night on economic development issues such as downtown's stadium assessment district, zoning codes and water in the Arkansas River.Sometimes, they even disagreed.The discussion came in a 90-minute development-related forum hosted by the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa at the University of Tulsa.Mayor Dewey Bartlett, 66, a Republican, and former Mayor Kathy Taylor, 58, a Democrat, told a live audience that they have clear philosophies for improving Tulsa's economy -- an emphasis on workforce development for Bartlett; and education, infrastructure and safety for Taylor.But on whether to expand the form-based zoning code beyond the Pearl District and on downtown's stadium assessment district, they differed widely."In my view, that was a great example of how to approach things thewrong way," Bartlett said of a recently rejected proposal to expand the form-based code in the Pearl District, arguing that property owners were not adequately consulted. "So I say no."Form-based code establishes requirements for the appearance, or "form," of development in a certain area -- in the case of the Pearl District, with an eye for making the area more attractive to pedestrians.Taylor said the addition of the regulations in that neighborhood was an example of the city's allowing a polarizing proposal to proceed without seeking middle ground.But there are neighborhoods, she added, where the city should encourage density and accommodate segments of the population that might not want to drive, such as millennials and seniors."I agree that people have property rights," Taylor said. "We also need to look and educate people about the long-term future ... of our community."Bartlett sided against the Tulsa Stadium Improvement District for a similar reason -- property owners did not want it, he said.The district -- within the Inner Dispersal Loop -- was established under Taylor to help fund the construction of ONEOK Field, the home of the city's Double-A baseball team, the Tulsa Drillers.Property owners within the district pay an annual assessment that also covers upkeep and maintenanc儲存 of the district.Bartlett said he agrees with property owners who believe that the district has not increased their property values and added that the city also pays the assessment on City Hall, which he said is a form of double-taxation."It's essentially the taxpayers that are getting nailed twice," he said.But Taylor pointed to a report this year that recently sold properties downtown have increased in value by an average of 70 percent since 2008. The Drillers announced on June 26, 2008, that they would move downtown, and the ball park opened in April 2010."I think the assessment turned out to be a good investment for those downtown property owners," Taylor said.She added that people seem to forget that ONEOK Field prevented the Drillers from moving to Jenks.However, if the assessment district is ever restructured, she said she might consider basing assessments on "net usable space" rather than total square footage.The candidates more easily found common ground on putting "water in the river," saying they support some kind of action.Bartlett said he is pursuing state and federal help for a low-water dam.Taylor said she would create a task force of local stakeholders and governments to draft a detailed plan that could then be vetted by voters.The candidates also had similar stances on a proposal to restrict building demolitions for surface parking lots downtown.Bartlett called it an invasion of property rights. Taylor said the city should instead be developing structured parking to negate the need for more surface parking.Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.comTULSAWORLD.COMUpcoming forumsFriday, 2 p.m.:Life Services Q&A, Southminster Presbyterian Church(ASTERISK)Oct. 22,6 p.m.:Cox televised forum, My41 and Cox channel 3Oct.28,6 p.m.:Tulsa Health Department/Morton Comprehensive Health Services forum, TCC Center for Creativity(ASTERISK)(ASTERISK)Nov. 5,8 a.m.:Televised KOTV Channel 6 morning show forum--To attend, call 918- 664-9000, Ext. 285(ASTERISK)--Public. No registration requiredCopyright: ___ (c)2013 Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) Visit Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) at .tulsaworld.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉