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city is supposed to be a government of the people by the people and for the people. The city is forcing something on the residents. The ordinance should be given an opportunity to be tested. Mr. Crabs said Article VII of the charter is not clear and has mixed intents therefore he is in favor of the ordinance. He suggested that Mr. O'Malley has had conversations with an attorney who has written a statement showing that following the charter the issue must go to the vote of the people. He read aloud an article out of the Plain Dealer which published results of rezoning issues which were on ballets and passed. Mr. O'Malley said the provision of the charter refers to multi family developments which the Biddulph Trail project is not. Mr. Sharp said the ordinance was not a reaction to the Biddulph Trail development; it is a reaction to 30 years of city officials failing to protect the Butternut residents. The residents of Butternut realized last November that their comments were not being addressed and the commission had already made their minds about the proj ect. He has read the city master plan which has many problems as it is not being followed. He suggested officials favored developers as residents opinions were struclc down and not taken into consideration. The residents provided ample reasons why Biddulph Trail plans should be denied and the commission didn't listen. Mr. Gorris submitted numerous statements from Ward 4 residents (attached) which stated they were in favor of Ordinance 2008-131. Ms. Shear submitted two e-mails from residents in support of Ordinance 2008-131. They support the ordinance because elected officials whom they helped elect were not doing what is best for the residents. Ms. Shear voiced she supported the ordinance because to start a referendum to get the required signatures would talce close to 3,000 signatures which would take too much time. Other cities require zoning issues go before the voters and if the Biddulph Trail project went before all city voters or ward voters and was approved then she would accept the project. Ms. Wade said she had lived on Butternut for 20 years because it was a historic district. Although she would like to see the area stay historic it has changed over the past 20 years and will no longer be historic. Every time there is a large space it does not need to be rezoned and redeveloped. Mr. Ross said that he and his wife are for the ordinance even if he doesn't live in the ward 4. He questioned if the government was a servant of the people or the people a servant of the government. Mr. Evans said he supported the ordinance because of the Biddulph Trail project. He quoted a passage from a USA Today article dated October 24, 2008. Mrs. Gorris said she supported the ordinance as Butternut Ridge is the best place to live. A brief discussion ensued regarding required signatures for referendums which are covered in the city charter. Mr. Malone said looking in a broad sense the ordinance gives portions of the city the right to exclude certain types of housing from their wards which would not be a good practice to start. He believes residents are represented by their elected officials and passing the ordinance would place a burden on the community. Mrs. Meredith said the city is a mature suburb and it is difficult to find ways the city can grow and move forward. The cluster district is not a multi family district it is a form of single family housing, which provides for greater green space. Passing an ordinance to put any zoning issue before the people prior to the development hinders the development process. If the Biddulph zoning went to the voters first the city boards and commissions could not have increased the amount of greenspace, landscaping, preserved the historical home, minimized the number of units built or required the architectural changes that were made. Having any zoning or rezoning go to ward residents opens up the not in my backyard mentality. There would never be a fire station, school, 2