The DVR is busy recording last night's Plan Commission meeting. If you have Time Warner cable, it is channel 25. Here is the schedule.
It was an interesting meeting. I went late as I know how wordy our commissioners can be, and guess what? I timed it perfectly. Slid into a back corner seat from the side door as Director of Community Development Dan Ertl was reading the agenda item. It took a while for people to figure out I was there.
There's a long version and a short version of this, and I've decided to cut to the chase and spare you the inside baseball. I'll pout for a minute or two, because that's where the fun is in this game! You'll like me better if I leave it out, though.
Bottom line: I introduced myself and visited with the developer for about 20 minutes after the presentation last night. (Nice, nice guy, by the way.) I explained my interest and why I thought the city was out of bounds to call an extension until 2017 an administrative procedure instead of an amendment. Then I talked about my goals for the property: to lessen the density a bit, protect the neighborhood by not placing the third office building and tucking in a little park instead, and breathing a sigh of relief.
Guess what? He thought that was a great idea.
The next part is paraphrased but I'm trying my best to be very accurate.
In fact, he didn't think he'd be building that third building given the time constraint. HE'S NOT PLANNING ON BUILDING THE BUILDING I WAS HOPING WOULDN'T BE BUILT. But "the city" wouldn't hear of it. He had to take the whole package, budget for one and two, let the time run out, and put in a little park.
I am a crummy poker player. I'm sure a wide grin and something of a touchdown dance gave away my position on the matter.
The map that's the photo attached to this post has a yellow-shaded area to show where the third building location would make an excellent pocket park. It's next to the pond and next to the condos. It would give a little density relief to the project from hell circa 2003. The developer is fine with it. The couple of neighbors I've visited with seem enthusiastic. Slam dunk, right?
(Oh, wait. I used a baseball, a football, and a basketball metaphor. I'm going to have to work on that...)
One would think. In my happy mind I formulated a plan as I fell asleep last night. I'd get the map you see above, stop by the mayor's office, explain how the neighborhood and developer are happy to have the same thing, a voila! No more grumpy Cindy.
The mayor called back about 3:00 p.m. I gave him my best work. I WAS NICE. (I know that's hard for some of you to believe.) I told him what a wonderful leadership opportunity this was for him. And he pretty much said no thanks. He's happy with the way it's all happening. If the developer doesn't build, the developer doesn't build.
Thanks for calling.
I give up. As I explained this morning, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. I thought this mayor, of all others, would be politically astute enough to champion such an easy win. I was wrong. I've been wrong before. I'll be wrong again. I will live.
But...
This is still a great opportunity for someone on the Common Council to pick this ball up and run. (I guess we are back to football again.) It's not going to be 2nd District Alderman Rick Owen. He all but asked where he was supposed to kiss last night at the Plan Commission meeting. Maybe there's still hope for the other 2nd District Alderman Bob Reddin.
Really, though, if any one of you are reading this, it could be you. All you have to do at that meeting is table this plan and direct the Director of Community Development to come back through the appropriate process with what you understand to be a more elegant solution. At least one brave soul on that Council will second you, and then it will go to a vote. (Oh I am so rusty here, but I think I remember a motion to table is not debatable, although you and I both know one alderman who will try his best to debate it.) so the vote will be quick. In the end, it could be you who showed the real leadership on this issue. Wouldn't that be fun?
The delay at most would be about six weeks. The park could be scheduled to be built when the first permit was pulled. It's all so easy. I know you can do it!
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Ok, I waited until the end, but here's the technical stuff, because I know the city will be reading:
1) Ertl misspoke (I'm using my nice words. I didn't say "lied.") when he said the zoning used to be O&LB. It was M-2 with a small corner that was O&LB. There's a map notice that is the second photo above.
2) Ertl kept talking about how this new amendment (hah! Or not. If it was an amendment it would have to go through a proper rezoning process.) was really a better deal because the buildings were slightly smaller.
Ertl, never, ever, not even once, mentioned the staff report that explained the plans were being changed to include a drive-thru.
(This is where I always run into trouble. I don't know how to put it to the Patch site, so the document is on my old site, Fairly Conservative.)
You folks curious about the Mandel proposal for Towne Centre will find interesting stuff in that report, too.
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In summary, this is a great chance for our elected leaders to do something right. Let's hope that right thing happens.
