Update: The Metropolitan Planning Commission has issued further comments regarding the Highland LFL. Read here.
Highland is making national news due to the recent closure of the Little Free Library which has been shown a lot of local love this past year. Nestled on the 500 block of Wilkinson – smack dab in the middle of our city’s own little artist-loving, garden-growing, love-spreading, beautiful, musical, wonderful community – Ricky and Teresa Edgerton created a space to take a book, leave a book; as per a national movement that actually expands outside U.S. borders to Africa, South America, and even Australia. The Edgertons were given 10 days to file an appeal, an appeal which will cost them $500, after being told by the Metropolitan Planning Committee that their “library” violates a commercial zoning law – one the MPC has stated themselves as being “antiquated.”
But we all know this already. Each of us have read the articles, seen the news stories, commented on the angry Facebook posts from members of the community. About 1,300 of us have signed the petition and a handful of Highland residents have placed their own little libraries in their yards as a sign of support for the Edgertons. We are here. We will be heard. We are Highland, hear us roar, right?
I could sit here and spout off more facts about the Edgertons and the injustice their facing. I could write about the local warriors stepping up to the plate and trying to correct this matter. I could give you the same MPC quote about how they are already in the middle of changing the zoning laws which have been in place since 1953 and how they hope to have this particular matter resolved before the end of next week. How Councilman Jeff Everson plans to address this at the City Council meeting next Tuesday. I could say all of this, but you’ve already heard it – so let’s break this down and take a look at the bigger picture, shall we?
First thing’s first: what the heck is a zoning law? Briefly, it’s the idea that certain areas in a city are reserved for specific uses. The 500 block of Wilkinson is zoned for residency and residency only. According to the MPC, the Edgertons’ “library” defied this zoning law by creating a commercial area in a residency zone.
If you’re still with me, I hope you’re currently asking yourself “How does a FREE library have anything at all to do with anything commercial?” That’s the question we all want answered. Unfortunately, everyone keeps talking their way around it, or just won’t answer the phone (cough, the Mayor, cough).
So what’s the bigger picture?
Local Dene Lee sees this as a big loss for our community. “We’ve just lost the opportunity to give our residents and locals the education and entertainment they want and need. I’m sure there are students and those who lived nearby who loved that library. It’s quite a shame.”
Overall, it seems to be a majority belief that the closing of this “library” is so much more – it is a prime example of city government overlooking what the people of the city actually want and need.
Erica Falbaum, President of the Pet Education Project, says this is typical of local government. “Our public officials and public servants have a problem listening to its citizens when we offer to help and better our community,” stated Falbaum. “Instead of looking into creative solutions, they just put their foot down and go with the easier option. PUBLIC officials and PUBLIC servants don’t seem to have the best interest of the PUBLIC.”
Local resident David Adam Pinter feels the action to close the “library” gives us a chance to pull together, but also that we should look at the changes that need to be made and what we spend our energy on.
“Complacency kills. Taxes pay salaries and the people can change things. Squeaky wheel and all of that,” says Pinter. “Roads, water mains, sewer mains and water treatment facilities are collapsing under the strain of McMansion neighborhoods and fists are banging on podiums over dog parks.”
So what does this mean for the city? It could mean something as little as a disgruntled neighbor has succeeded in costing another citizen $500, or it could mean that commercialism is more important than community. It could mean free publicity for the Little Free Library on Wilkinson, or it could mean the death of a locally loved venue.
What happens next will have to be determined at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, but do we stand to the side and complain that there are more important things to worry about or do we use this as a platform to stand up, be heard, and take a small step towards change with the bigger picture in mind?
This is my city, your city. This is our city.
We have always had the voice, but now we have the numbers. At what point do we decide it’s time to really make a change? Is there really any such thing as a small deal in comparison to a big deal? Do you wait until the bully pushes you into bringing a gun to school, or do you confront him the first time he knocks your books from your hand?
We are Highland. Hear us roar.