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Wednesday, 04/04/07, article by
Heather Donahoe, Tennessean staff writer, Copyright © 2007
Tennessean.com
Q & A with City Commission
Candidate Fred Kane
Age: 44
Years in Brentwood: 3
Personal: wife, Sandra, and two
daughters
Occupation: commercial real
estate agent, previously worked as the advertising director for L.A.
Weekly newspaper
Interesting fact: "Acting has
been a hobby for me for about 15 years. I have a great amount of
respect for that profession. I studied at the Actors' Studio in
L.A."
Why should voters elect you?
"There are some issues in
Brentwood I feel need to be addressed. I have a good game plan for
looking at those issues, and I'm passionate about passing on a city
to our children and grandchildren who will love this place like we
do. I talk to county and state officials on a very regular basis.
I'm out there already, working on Brentwood's issues."
With build-out projected for 2016, how do you see the city's
leadership adapting to deal with the corresponding changes?
"I would propose forming an
economic development committee to study community and economic
issues, such as zoning, the aging commercial properties we have and
why we're losing major businesses like Healthways and Mars Petcare
to other cities. The committee would locate companies looking to
move their headquarters, because by creating a thriving business
community, you alleviate the need to raise residential property
taxes."
Nearly everyone wants to preserve the city's famous "scenic
views" and green space. What fiscally responsible steps can be taken
to facilitate this?
"I'd like to see an open space
steering committee, a group that works with planning and zoning and
is charged with developing a comprehensive 'use plan' to assess
everything that's left and target specific properties, based on
historic significance and topography. What we know nationally is
that if you have a tract of land, you need to be contacted three or
four times before you place that land into preservation easements or
land trusts. There is an educational process for land owners."
The Town Center development hasn't yet come to fruition. Is it
a good idea? If so, how does Brentwood make it happen?
"A town center is generally set up
where the municipal buildings and courthouses and small retailers
and attorneys are. Unless the city is willing to relocate its
municipal facilities, it would be an unusual arrangement. We could
have a commercial development and call it Town Center, but it's
really just going to be like what they've done in Green Hills with
Hill Center. I like everything about that, and I think we could
cookie-cutter it, actually. I think, too, having more cultural
activities in that area would draw people out, especially since the
population here is so educated."
What, in your opinion, has been Brentwood's biggest blunder
since incorporation?
"I could have moved anywhere in
the country, and I moved here, so I can't say there has been
anything incredibly obvious. I'd like to see continued and more
preservation of historic sites, Indian graveyards, family cemeteries
and battle sites that tell a neat story. Those areas give me a sense
of place and a grounding, a real understanding of where I live." |
