The information below is provided by the Historic Mobile Preservation Society on behalf of the Oakleigh Museum and Home. This is in response to recent news that the new city budget cuts funding to Oakleigh by $3000 annually. This recent cut is on the heels of cuts over the last few years that reduced funding from $100,000 to the current $27,000 annually, expected to cover, with ticket revenue, all utilities, insurance, property care and structural maintenance and safety. Those of us who live in historic structures realize that maintenance is ongoing and costly to keep a historic home well maintained, and when public use is added, maintenance increases. Further, there are virtually no grants available which provide operational funding such as utilities or insurance. When the general condition of a museum and historic structure declines, when advertising cannot be afforded, and when grants are not available, a downward cycle is begun: declining condition results in fewer visitors, which results in decreased revenue, and the cycle continues. Like almost all of our community’s nonprofits, Oakleigh operates on a month-to-month basis for operational expenses, and low income months such as non-tourist times are particularly challenging. Note below that HMPS will bring their case to City Council on Oct. 11. You are encouraged to attend and if you are moved to do so, speak or write Council for your personal position on Oakleigh.
FROM HMPS:
“Oakleigh remains open for at least the next two weeks as we pursue several initiatives to ensure the continued operation of Oakleigh.
One of those initiatives is to address the City Council and seek their assistance at the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 11 at 10:30 am. We hope that as many supporters of Oakleigh as can will attend this meeting and show their support for Oakleigh.
Another initiative that we are pursuing is requesting pledges to support Oakleigh. The recommended amount is $500, but any pledge will indicate support for Oakleigh. Pledges only are being accepted now – we will not begin to collect pledges until we have received enough pledges to ensure the continued operation of Oakleigh. We are encouraged with pledges received so far – pledges have come from all over Mobile and from as far away as Virginia and Louisiana.
You can make a pledge at hmps@bellsouth.net or by mail to HMPS, 300 Oakleigh Place, Mobile, AL 36604.”
Busy Year One for the GSC closing with Wins for Historic Preservation and News on the Horizon
The Government Street Collaborative is now over a year old, born in July, 2017, on the heels of a fight to stop an inappropriately designed fast food restaurant on Government Street, then was immediately faced with sorting through the drafting stage for the first total rewrite of Mobile’s Zoning Ordinance since the 1960’s, which we still await.
The Collaborative’s mission is the preservation of the Government Street corridor in such a way that it continues to draw and serve RESIDENTIAL use, as well as the types of “9-5, low impact” business, or B2 retail that specifically serves midtown district neighbors. The goal is down-zoning where reasonable, and maintenance of the current, approximat 50-50 balance between residential and commercial, with commerce clustered into nodes, leaving residential blocks for residences.
Our mission: ONE VOICE: PRESERVE THE PAST, ENDOW THE FUTURE frames our advocacy.
The Collaborative does not seek to freeze Government Street in its past, but rather seeks a mixed use corridor that maintains low impact commerce appropriate in intensity, purpose and design for a well-balanced roadway supporting private family residences. Our purpose is not to oppose all development, but rather to work with developers ad realtors to insure that the development coming to Government Street between Broad and Pinehill is that which our neighbors don’t mind sharing their neighborhood with. In addition, the Collaborative supports historic preservation in all member group neighborhoods and districts.
GSC SUPPORTS NEW DEVELOPMENT: GARDEN CENTER ON GOVERNMENT
With that background, the Collaborative first engaged and then embraced the proposed Stokley Garden Center at the old KMB Recycle Center site at Stocking. This is a crucial area, as the Government Street frontage from Dexter to Stocking has been vacated for years, and faces an undeveloped, vacant block across the street from the Shoppes of Midtown to Lafayette Street. Vacant lots are often thought to be a degradation, but the Collaborative position is that a vacant lot represents potential for a neighborhood, while an inappropriate design, use, and up-zoning for a new development can actively degrade. The Collaborative arranged a meet-up at Serda’s to bring together neighborhood district leaders from Leinkauf, Church Street East, Government Street frontage, and the Porch Society to meet with the Stokley family, Weavil Realtor, and the architect, Steve Stone of Dakinstreet Architects, to hear the plans for the Garden Center and voice our concerns and goals. We found all parties to be willing to talk, cooperate, and assure the neighborhood that the resulting development will be clean, aesthetically pleasing, preserving all heritage trees on the property, focused on serving the neighborhood with largely locally produced plants from Semmes, as well as gardening giftshop items, and an attractive and appropriate redesign for and use of the old mid-century tire center building on the property. Midtown was once home to a number of memorable old Mobile garden centers, all now lost to time with the exception of midtown’s beloved Zimlich. Stokley’s Garden Express will be a bookend on Government Street’s south side to Zimlich on Dauphin. Midtown can and will support both of these wonderful local centers. The Collaborative is planning to join our member groups to host an official Welcome to Stokley’s when they are ready to open in spring of 2019. In the meantime, enjoy their “pop-up truck sales” on the property this fall through the holiday season.
THE GSC ANNOUNCES THAT THE DATE OF THE UPCOMING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING FOR STOKLEY’S GARDEN EXPRESS IS MONDAY, NOV. 5. WE HOPE THAT OUR MEMBER GROUP LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN SUPPORT OF STOKLEY GARDEN EXPRESS, OR SEND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES. WITHOUT OUR SUPPORT, THE PROCESS COULD SLOW AND PROGRESS DELAYED.
FIVE WINS FOR SUMMER 2018
In late spring 2018 and through summer, the Collaborative engaged with other historic districts on five big issues, and on July 4, 2018, the Collaborative posted a website blog about those 5 upcoming zoning cases impacting midtown’s historic districts or Government Street specifically. We are pleased to report that the position supported by the Collaborative has PREVAILED IN ALL 5 OF THESE CASES:
24/7 Shelter services at 1805 Government Street. Opposition led by GSC - APPROVAL DENIED
2 properties on Conti Street, application to UPzone properties to more intense zone, from R1 to B2. GSC wrote letters and posted information as received. WITHDRAWN
137 Tuscaloosa St home on National Registry of Historic Buildings set to be demolished. MOVED AND SAVED (Thanks for RESTORE Mobile, Syndney Betbeze, MHDC, GSC, and all other supporting preservationists voicing support for saving this structure, posting information and writing letters.)
Application for a 36 stall car wash at Dauphin and Sage (Graf Dairy property) first stage APPROVAL DENIED (owners have not reapplied.) GSC wrote letters, posted information for member groups, and provided membership present for the vote.
Proposed SURFACE parking lot that began without permitting at 255 & 257 St Joseph Street. GSC provided research upon request for our DeTonti member district and provided speakers to the Board of Adjustment hearing. APPROVAL DENIED
On other issues:
LADD: Administration’s plan to fund support for a new campus stadium at USA and repurpose LADD. The GSC did not take a position as an organization because member groups preferred to provide and post information received so that our member groups and individuals could stay informed and advocate as they chose. Council voted No on the funding to USA, then budgeted $750,000 in the 2019 budget for work at Ladd. The Ladd Authority has met over the summer and is committed to improving Ladd marketing. The Council having made its decision, the GSC will now seek input from its member groups to take a position and have a voice in the operation of Ladd going forward, since Ladd is closely associated with, and physically near to, Collaborative member districts.
ZONING ORDINANCE: GSC is assured the rewrite continues and that when the first draft is published, the City will meet with GSC membership to present and answer questions about the new ordinance.
AIRPORT: Airport move from west Mobile to Brookley, a move that so far seems to have the support of a vast majority (polls show citizen support at over 80%) but little information is yet available about issues such as Where are the air lanes to approach and take off? What do studies show noise levels will be? How will the move impact surrounding residential areas? How will the move impact existing urban traffic patterns, especially in light of the delay in the bridge development? The airport authority promises a study so the GSC encourages citizens to get the details. At a summer community meeting of the Airport Authority, citizens heard of plans to improve and beautify roadways leading to a new Airport site with added bicycle lanes, followed by retail development and hotels. Stay tuned.
RAIL - The Mobile-New Orleans rail line fell through when Gov. Ivey refused her support BUT local citizen groups continue to advocate for the rail service. GSC posted a citizen survey on the rail service in September which the nonprofit Coastal Alabama will use as part of its advocacy.
GSC WEBSITE - An anonymous benefactor has offered to fund the Collaborative’s second year of website fees so it will not be necessary to ask member groups to contribute.
LADD LOW-DOWN
VISIT THE Leinkauf website home page at www.leinkauf.org for documents related to the Ladd Stadium decision: THE LADD MGMT TEAM’S 5 YEAR FINANCIAL PROJECTION AND OVERVIEW (3 DOCUMENTS) and Plan developed for administration. VISIT THE CITY WEBSITE AT cityofmobile.org for the Notice of Intent document between the city and USA.
You may provide your opinions to the Mayor and your Councilor by going on Facebook (sandystimpsonmobile), or emailing (mayorstimpson@cityofmobile.org, council2@cityofmobile.org(put your council district number in place of the 2 ) , or by attending the Council Meeting tomorrow morning, August 14, 10:30am at Govt Plaza.
That's ALOTTA Parking Lots...
[Disclaimer: The GSC seeks to serve as an information source about community issues, especially as they relate to neighborhoods, quality of life, and protections for our historical legacy. The information presented is a citizen-editorial blog, supported by news reports, attendance at planning, council, or community meetings, public information or records review, and interviews. Every attempt is made at accuracy but this does not represent to be legal analysis or information. Member Collaborative groups may submit editorial blogs for consideration for publication. ]
THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FOUND IN FAVOR OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE DETONTI HISTORIC DISTRICT ON THIS PARKING LOT CASE.
Attend Monday, Aug 6, 2pm, Board of Adjustment meeting, Govt Plaza, either in support of our member DeTonti and the DDD zoning ordinance, or just to hear the sides presented in regard to expanding hard surface, street level parking lots in the DDD. The BOA will make pertinent decisions we all have an interest in following. “What happens there can happen here.”
On July 31, the President of DeTonti and a former Board member appeared before City Council to address the Downtown Development District zoning code which was passed in response to a changing downtown that has successfully drawn more and more residential development to support a clearly re- energized downtown and her businesses. These are facts which bring great promise for our city after decades of decline. These changes have been largely motivated by urban trends across the country, including younger residents returning to urban life as their preference. Realtors in Mobile have witnessed this. Businesses have followed, bringing tax dollars to our city. An improved zoning code that is more respectful of residential life further encourages this growth and improvement. Thus an upward cycle is established which can only benefit all Mobilians.
Good urban planners have recognized these trends, written books about it, and begun to change the narrative of the latter half of the 20th Century. It is no longer desirable to sacrifice all to the auto-Gods of another era. Will every citizen embrace the change? Of course not. Is the trend strong enough and with enough growth to demand that even cities slower on trends respond? Absolutely.
The current question before the Board of Adjustment on Monday, August 6, is one we all have a vested interest in following:
A private citizen reported to GSC, and GSC confirmed, that land disturbance work began without permitting at a site at 255 & 257 St Joseph Street ( across from the post office.) in late spring. Note that the GSC, in its Mission statements, includes the improvement of our neighborhoods through enforcement of city code (signs, zoning, nuisance, building, etc). Since this builder did not follow Code, the GSC stated support for a fine penalty and requirement that if the project is not approved, the builder return the raw earth to a vegetated space to prevent runoff and other negative results. None of that happened, but the builder/contractor was issued a stop work order until permitting was completed.
During followup, the DeTonti Board and neighbors made several discoveries, as follows:
1. The project was to be a hard surface parking lot*; 2. The parcels are zoned T5.1*; 3. T5.1 zones under the DDD code prohibit surface parking lot development* and further, the DDD prohibits all new surface parking lot development in the DDD Code.*4. The builder/contractor did not apply for either a use variance or a zoning change as required under city Code and city enforcement procedures*; 5. On May 25, a letter from Planning explains that code does not allow the project proposed unless further information could be submitted*; 6. Planning staff review following this May 25 letter later awarded administrative approval to the contractor on the basis of the parcel being covered by the "legal non-conformity" status of the parcel when the DDD was adopted. This decision was provided verbally to neighbors who inquired, but as of 7/5/18, no written administrative approval letter of decision with sustantiating finding of fact, as required, had been provided*; 7. The documentation in the public record for this approval included several aerial photographs, dates unknown, and a letter from a prior owner stating that "at various times" people parked on the parcels. All is undated information, which is pertinent because a parcel loses legal nonconformity status after a 24 month lapse in the nonconforming use.* 8. A review of permitting history showed no permit to operate as a parking lot dating back to the early 1990's. This was verified by a record search requested by citizens.* 9. Citizens asked in writing that the approval be vacated since there was no legal basis - as required by the Code - for the approval decision, and would avoid a formal appeal to the Board of Adjustment.* 10. Citizens were informed they, as private citizens, would have to appeal the administrative approval to the Board of Adjustment. 11. The western boundary of the combined parcels is the historic district boundary of DeTonti Square HD. If developed as proposed, 255 and 257 St Joseph will join the southernmost existing, operational parking lot on tht block, such that the entire city block bordering DeTonti's eastern perimeter will be a hard surface auto desert. Some say a parking lot is better than a vacant lot. Not so. A vacant lot has potential for improvement, but once a variance is granted, the status remains indefinitely, thus prohibiting more resident-friendly businesses that could bring energy and greater safety to that end of St Joseph St. That area, after hours and afer dark, is unappealing if not frightening, and desperately needs good urban planning to bring in energizing activity. We have sacrificed enough downtown surface to the auto Gods. We need the combination of improved transit and better planning that parks more cars on a surface footprint, which the DDD code encourages. 12. When Citizens delivered their letter of appeal, they reported they were made to: a. Pay an appeal fee; b. Pay postage for notification mailouts to owners of record in a 300 ft perimeter from site; c. Also given a notification list, and told to address the labels using the list. The total appeal fees paid by private citizens was approximately $300. Each time citizens have requested hardcopy documentation from the file, a new fee has been imposed and paid by residents. Attorney fees added to these fees could result in costs of up to or over $1,000 which private residents are paying in an attempt to simply hold the city accountable to follow the requirements of the DDD which the City Council legislated. [*statements asterisked are verified in public record]
The residents involved brought these facts to the City Council on July 31. The Council stated they were unaware, though the citizens had been told that the Council had approved the parking lots. The DeTonti residents were well received by both Council and the administration, but nothing changed, and the case is to be heard by the Board of Adjustments on August 6th.
From the perspective of the GSC, this is a matter beyond supporting a member group, DeTonti, but more importantly, to stand, in all cases without exception, for the Ordinances that protect our residential quality of life and personal investments, for transparency in government decision-making, and for all procedures that promote rather than silence the voice of private citizens.
"What happens there can happen here."
THE CHANCE FOR GOVERNMENT STREET TO RETURN TO OUR ROOTS!
MOBILE has one of the richest horticultural heritages in America, and it goes far beyond our signature Bellingrath. Most of our people do not even know that heritage, but from Bellingrath, to the K. Sawada name and heritage camellias and azaleas preserved at the beautiful nonprofit operations at Mobile Botanical Gardens, to the nursery industry in Semmes that supplies plants from shore to shore in America, Mobile's history is rooted in her roots. Some of us have been around long enough to remember, if vaguely, when a section of Van Antwerp's downtown carried some gardening needs, and a September 2, 1907, introduction to Van Antwerp's grand opening published in the Mobile Register refers to the Van Antwerp "seed business" to be there along with the pharmacy, soda fountain, and other uses. We return to our heritage when we garden, and we will soon enjoy an industry name in midtown to join those some of us remember from past times. From Ibsen to Ellis to Mobile Seed to Zimlich and others, we can now add Stokley of Semmes!
The old KMB recycle center will soon be the new home of Stokley Garden Express garden center!
If you don't know Stokley's, visit them on Facebook at Stokley's Garden Express! Stay tuned to the Collaborative for updates about fall popup garden sales at the site while the site is being developed. Projected opening: early spring, 2019, with some fall, 2018, preview pop-up sales on the corner.
LADD MEETING ANGST
First, be sure to watch this week's City Council meeting, held the day after the community meeting, where Ladd was discussed at some length at this link: http://www.cityofmobile.org/livestream/
The meeting at Williamson began with a brief presentation by the Mayor, reinforcing his position that it will be more costly to repair and maintain Ladd as it is than give 500,000 annually to USA for 20 years and repurpose Ladd as a smaller and less costly venue. It is fair to characterize the audience as not receptive to that news. It is also fair to say most audience members were not equipped with realistic perceptions of the cost to maintain Ladd, the income projections if USA leaves, and the resulting bottom line. Therefore, their approach was emotional rather than factual.
The audience submitted written questions which were sorted into about 22 categories, all directed to the Mayor. He answered the questions in varying degrees of completeness. When asked what would be done with Ladd he said that he has no preconceived plan but was seeking input. Because he had no definitive plan, he also could not say what dollar amount he was willing to commit to a repurposed Ladd plan. He stated in general terms a desire to support high school football with a smaller venue and offer on the Ladd property improved community facilities. He named a developed walking trail and amphitheater for music and other events, and other amenities in a park-like setting.
The audience was largely from Maysville. They expressed a very emotional reaction against the move of the bowl and "classic" games to USA, stating these were part of their neighborhood culture and heritage that were being taken from them. The Mayor's responses were unable to draw much support there.
At the Council meeting the next day, the Mayor challenged the Council and community to bring a plan to him. The CEO of the Senior Bowl spoke to Council and flatly stated the Senior Bowl is definitely moving to the South stadium. He explained that the NFL partners to Senior Bowl are demanding an extended "event" that goes beyond just a game, and that Ladd is land-locked and cannot provide the type of extended activities possible at the USA site. Watch the video to hear the city financial director explain that Ladd income averages $1M annually, but $900,000 of that comes from USA and Senior and Dollar General bowl games. It is clear that the remaining $100,000 cannot maintain and support a 40,000 seat stadium for the 4 high schools using Ladd (any of whom may elect to play at USA instead of Ladd, since high schools pay rent to play at Ladd, a fact most Mobilians do not realize.)
Mr. Small indicated if the vote were today, he would have to vote against the money to USA. Mr. Richardson seemed to support the money to USA, stating his belief that the tax revenue from game visitors would offset the amount given. Mr. Manzie said the city is about to face the same issue when Bay Bears leave in 2019 at Hank Aaron stadium, and pointed out the Civic Center and Gulfquest facilities also being in the red. "Mobile," he said, "has a stadium problem." He said the decisions to be made should not be rushed and should consider all of these floundering facilities.
The Council is due to vote on July 31 but ended the meeting on the 25th seeming to back away from that deadline.
Welcome to THE STREET...
The old KMB Recycle Center will give way to a new Stokley Home Garden Center, to be designed we are told by the talented dakinstreet architect group from downtown who worked their magic to turn an ugly tire store into the new Serda Brewery on Government.
Stokley will join another new retail store, The Barkery, set to open at the former Jonelli's next to Griffith Shell. The Barkery will offer handmade, healthy, gourmet treats for your pets in the storefront, while the kitchen carries on the production of their packaged products now placed in pet gourmet stores around the southeast.
The Collaborative welcomes both retailers to The Street.
TWO SURVEYS SEEK INPUT ABOUT LADD'S FUTURE
In the spirit of sharing information, a city survey posted now is seeking citizen feedback about the future of Ladd. The link to that survey is:
(if link fails, copy and paste address into your browser):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOFgljL2fetBdq4h4EO5IVMLVekEX4pB2dOvPpauO_DqK1EA/viewform
Take a moment and complete the survey.
In addition, a Leinkauf resident has posted a similar citizen survey to Next Door which he says he will compile and present to Councilman Manzie. This survey addresses a question that the city survey does not ask: Should the City of Mobile give $10M toward a new USA football stadium? The address for that survey is (if link fails, copy and paste the address into your browser):
COMMUNITY MEETING:
Mayor Stimpson and two USA representatives will present information and take questions at the July 23 meeting, arranged by Councilman Manzie, 6:00pm at Williamson High School on Dublin Street.
Councilman Plans Meeting with Maysville Neighborhood re: Ladd
At the July 10 Council meeting, the city Council delayed until July 31 a vote on funding a $10M contribution to USA which the Mayor requested. (see al.com, 7-10-18) At the same meeting, Mr. Manzie announced that he has scheduled a meeting with his constituents in the Maysville community adjacent to Ladd to hear their input. The meeting is scheduled for July 23, 6pm, at Williamson High School in Maysville. Mr. Manzie stated in a letter to all District 2 residents mailed out and received around July 13 that all are invited to the meeting where Mayor Stimpson and a representative from USA will present information about the topic. (source: al.com, 7-10-18 and letter to District 2.)
City Parks and Recreation Ask Citizens for Input at Community Meetings
As a leader in the City of Mobile with an interest in our parks and recreation system, I’m seeking your assistance with conducting outreach about a series of community meetings taking place throughout the month of July, with the first one kicking off on Thursday, July 5. We will be hosting a meeting at Ashland Place United Methodist Church on 7/24/18 beginning at 6 pm. I invite you to join us, but keep in mind that residents are welcome to attend any of the meetings throughout the month that are most convenient for them. The meetings are interactive and include activities in which members of the community can provide feedback about parks and recreation in the city, including their thoughts about facilities and programming. Children and youth are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please share the attached poster with your network, organization, digital email distribution list, and social media channels. Residents that are interested can use the link below to get additional information, and to RSVP that they plan to attend.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/MobileParks/events/
Summer Update on Midtown Zoning and Development Issues
Disclaimer: The GSC seeks to serve as an information source about community issues, especially as they relate to neighborhoods, quality of life, and protections for our historical legacy. The information presented is a citizen-editorial blog, supported by news reports, attendance at planning, council, or community meetings, public information or records review, and interviews. Every attempt is made at accuracy but this does not represent to be legal analysis or information. Member Collaborative groups may submit editorial blogs for consideration for publication.
The GSC issued information on several zoning cases that came before the Planning Commission in May, 2018, at the request of members. This blog seeks to update readers.
1. 2 properties on Conti Street, application to change zoning from R1 to B2, applicant withdrew request.
2. 137 Tuscaloosa St home on National Registry of Historic Buildings set to be demolished. The latest update from sources in the historic development community is that a second or third investor has come forward and is trying to relocate the building to save it.
3. 1805 Government Street shelter application, denied approval at first step, see full blog for details
4. Full Zoning revision remains in progress; Planning division remains committed to the GSC to co-host a community meeting when the first draft is published and public input is requested.
5. Application for a 36 stall car wash at Dauphin and Sage (Graf Dairy property) is not fully resolved by the denial at the Planning Commission in May, which dealt only with the specific application that day dealing with site plan details rather than with the "Use" question itself. Neighbors remain vigilent.
6. Several important announcements this summer stir midtown conversations and midtown residents are encouraged by the GSC to learn all you can before you support or oppose these:
A. Airport move from west Mobile to Brookley, a move that so far seems to have the support of a vast majority (polls show citizen support at over 80%) but little information is yet available about issues such as Where are the air lanes to approach and take off? What do studies show noise levels will be? How will the move impact surrounding residential areas? How will the move impact existing urban traffic patterns, especially in light of the delay in the bridge development? The airport authority promises a study so the GSC encourages citizens to get the details.
B. USA will move their football program away from Ladd and build a campus stadium, and seek $10M in city dollar support for the move. The mayor and Chamber of Commerce have voiced support for a USA home stadium and the city contribution. The question becomes what is left at Ladd, and how will the city support Ladd and surrounding neighborhoods so that this move does not leave behind deteriorating infrastructure as has happened in other cities and other areas of our city. Additionally, the Bay Bears announced they will relocate to another city in 2019, leaving yet another unused sports venue to join Ladd and Civic Center and Museum facilities which seem to contradict an urban rebirth.
C. The Mobile-New Orleans rail line fell through when Gov. Ivey refused her support.
7. A private citizen reported to GSC, and GSC confirmed, that land disturbance work began without permitting at a site at 255 & 257 St Joseph Street ( across from the post office.) in late spring. Notice that the GSC, in its Mission statements, includes the improvement of our neighborhoods through enforcement of city code (signs, zoning, nuisance, building, etc). Since this builder did not follow Code, the GSC stated support for a fine and requirement that if the project is not approved, the builder return the raw earth to a vegetated space to prevent runoff and other negative results. None of that happened, but the builder/contractor was issued a stop work order until permitting was completed.
During followup, area neighbors reported several discoveries, as follows:
1. The project was to be a surface parking lot*; 2. The parcels are zoned T5.1*; 3. T5.1 zones under the DDD code prohibit surface parking lot development* and the DDD prohibits all new surface parking lot development in the DDD Code.*4. The builder/contractor did not apply for either a use variance or a zoning change as required under city Code and city enforcement procedures*; 5. On May 25, a letter from Planning explains that code does not allow the project proposed unless further information could be submitted*; 6. Planning staff review following this May 25 letter later awarded administrative approval to the contractor on the basis of the parcel being covered by the "legal non-conformity" status of the parcel when the DDD was adopted. This decision was provided verbally to neighbors who inquired, but as of 7/5/18, no written administrative approval letter of decision with sustantiating finding of fact had been provided*; 7. The documentation in the public record for this approval included several aerial photographs showing cars on the vacant lots, dates unknown, and a letter from a prior owner stating that at various times people parked on the parcels. * 8. A review of permitting history showed no permit to operate as a parking lot dating back to the early 1990's. This was verified by a record search requested by citizens* 9. Citizens asked in writing that the approval be vacated since there was no legal basis - as required by the Code - for the approval decision, and would avoid a formal appeal to the Board of Adjustment.* 10. Citizens were informed they, as private citizens, would have to appeal the administrative approval to the Board of Adjustment. 11. When Citizens delivered their letter of appeal, they reported they were made to: a. Pay an appeal fee; b. Pay postage for notification mailouts to owners of record in a 300 ft perimeter from site; c. Also paid for blank envelope labels and given a notification list, and told to address the labels using the list. The total appeal fee paid by private citizens was approximately $300. Each time citizens have requested the documentation from the file, a fee has been charged and paid by residents. Attorney fees added to these fees could result in costs of up to $1,000 which private residents are paying in an attempt to simply hold the city accountable to follow the requirements of the DDD which the City Council legislated. [*statements asterisked are verified in public record]
The residents involved will bring these facts to the City Council on July 31 at the Council meeting at 10 am, Government Plaza, and the GSC encourages attendance so that the Council will recognize that citizens are engaged on the need for ordinances to be enforced as legislated.
Shelter Application Denied...for now
Disclaimer: The information presented is a citizen-editorial blog, supported by news reports, attendance at planning, council, or community meetings, public information or records review, and interviews. It does not represent to be legal analysis or information. Member Collaborative groups may submit editorial blogs for consideration for publication.
Update: An application to open a 24/7 homeless shelter at 1805 Government Street has been denied by the Planning Commission following a June 12 Community Meeting sponsored by The Government Street Collaborative, and a neighborhood petition drive sponsored by GSC and enabled by area neighborhoods. The owner may appeal or seek to open a different type of site.
The basis for the denial included: Site deficiencies for parking (5 spaces for up to 12 residents,11 staff, visitors, itinerate service providers) and no area public parking; single narrow drive that won't accommodate dumpster service or large service vehicles and may require backing onto Govt St due to undersized turn radius in back; increased pedestrian traffic at a 7-way intersection lacking any pedestrian support; 24/7 operation where none exists; leading to conclusion not in harmony to surrounding residential area.
During the conversations, many neighbors expressed concern about the need to services to the homeless. The Collaborative agrees.
There are 13 active agencies providing services to the homeless, many in midtown and district 2. The GSC hopes all who are concerned will support existing homeless support agencies of choice and offer donations and volunteerism. These are established, experienced, effective programs and they can use our support. The Collaborative reminds neighbors of the services offered by:
First Christian Church, Govt ST at Stocking, food pantry and other support
St John's Church at the Cannon, assisting McKemie Place and Inner City Methodist with day services for homeless women
Inner City Methodist on South Broad, overnight bed shelter for women
Sybil Smith Foundation services for women and families
Waterfront Rescue Mission and Thrift Store
Salvation Army in ODWA
McKemie Place set to open expanded services for women within the year
Penelope House crisis center for women and their children and thrift store
In addition, your home church or civic organization may sponsor support or collect donations for area homeless.