Planning Commision Meeting Important to Attend...

Pawww....

I understand the first reading of the new development for a shopping center at N.W. corner of Mt. Vernon and Barton Road is due up for discussion at P.C. meeting on Thursday night of Dec. 18th. Nothing wrong with that. In the past this plan has been shown, but never actually voted upon by the P.C.

There were an awful lot of code violations on the earlier examples, and much bending of the rules shown on the new proposed plan.

It became a "verbal" OK more than a written one.

Let Us See what the P.C. and the public has to say now.

Plan that I last saw showed a Drive through Pharmacy, which is considered a No-No after the previous attempts by other developers. And was also deficient on standard parking spaces by about 10-20 percent.

If you want to visit and shop at the place, park out in the street then. We got space there. It was also a maze of aisles just to locate a space, and say nothing for simple delivery truck access everyday.

Or if you need to P-U anything via drive through hope you car does not overheat, or there isn't a delay in waiting for the delivery truck to get going.I understand that now that the buildings have been enlarged, much of the cited problems have increased.

Don't expect this one to open up in Spring 2009. It looks to have problems, and maybe the P.C. will ask for a better plan addressing these matters before proceeding (if they do).

Hope folks can come, on the evening of the 18th.

Gramp's Reply:

Sounds like the problem of eyes being bigger the appetite. The code on the Drive Thru was changed apparently for the benefit of Doug Jacobsen and Miguel's. After Years of Demetri's being Rejected for a Drive Thru they finally were permitted to have one only after the City had approved Miguel's Drive Thru and Jacobsen convinced the City Council that he needed to include Drive Thru services to his CVS Drug Store, and other businesses in the Town Center Project. So I think that Code has been negated permanently.

The city chased away Mc Donnalds, a Jack in the Box and who knows what others by their code of No Drive Thru until the magic Doug Jacobsen contributed his way to a change of their position. Oh did I just link a Policy Decision to Contributions to Campaigns and City Coffers for Party Days in GT? OH MY...

Now as to the parking and traffic flow through the area to be developed. I have not seen the plans. But, I do know that the area is kind of smaller than one would think and I agree that the developer seems to be putting too many individual stores in addition to the Fresh and Easy in one space. Parking and traffic problem located near the Child Care Center even with its entry point change will be a concern. Close proximity to particulate mater by children playing in the play yard should be an issue for citizens and parents who have children attending the GT City Child Care.

That all being said. This project is a Privately Funded Project. I think if they over build their lot, they will not have the customer base needed to support it, then the Private Party will have to redesign to fit the needs and use of the customer base. To the best of my knowledge no RDA or City funds or finagling has benefited the project so I kind of have to take the Libertarian Approach. IF there is no city involvement, the property owner should be able to build what ever he wants however he wants within the law and design for safety as prescribed by Federal and State Regulations. I don't give a darn about City Codes, they can put them in their pipes and smoke them. If City Codes are knowingly waived, then it erodes the code for the next applicant. To be honest I hope they erode all the way to dust.

If the City is using RDA funds for land purchases to support a project, or if a Developer has contributed to a City Fund or Political Campaign in the City they should be held to 100 percent of the Codes Requirements including fees and setbacks, and all other codes and an EIR in addition.