Pawww...
Went to Wed. meeting which related to older A.O.C. site (not the Stater Bros. site as previously mentioned elsewhere).
My estimate is that was a 80 percent to 20 percent crowd NOT in favor of the project. Which is generally a hard sell.
Overall project was "Picture-wise" most vague.
Although stated initially that it was a cooperative project between new developer and city based Redevelopment, during the public discussion period Gary Koontz stepped in to contradict what ever had been stated. That ratio noted above could have easily gotten more balanced had he not stepped in so often. My feeling is that those in attendance have a natural mis-trust of whatever Gary now says. He is tainted meat.
Was a significant amount of overlapping going on. "We are planning on doing this here" and illustrative maps showed otherwise. One big boner was in that the maps overlapped the O.E.C. site and then a quick mention towards the end of the event that the maps were all drawn wrong.
Other points were in that the project was stated to be fully cooperative with new adjoining High School, when the illustration did not show plans covering the northern boundary of that site which many residents received via mail months ago.
Although a lot of time and money must have been spent on this project already, this basic mistake of not using curent and easily avaiable materials turned the crowd against the project.
The leader went on to mention that no more public meetings would be held, they were going ahead with a planned E.I.R. and site plan now. Then on to Planning Commisssion and City Council.
I smell lawsuit once again.
