I've been following this thread for several weeks after being alerted to the
hotel project by a friend in close proximity to the proposed site.
We can certainly continue to discuss the machinations that got us here.
I, for one, am in support of Mr Grossman's suggestion to set our sites on
what's ahead of us and work together towards a resolution that satisfies the
majority.
Respectfully submitted by your neighbor,
Suzanne B. Anderson
Frank <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I respectfully disagree. "How we got here" is indeed important. If mistakes
were made regarding advertising previous meetings then those meetings should be
held again and advertised correctly. Ignoring the fact that mistakes were made
doesn't make it right. This is exactly the type of behavior that makes
residents distrust their community associations.
Frank
On Feb 13, 2008, at 03:30 PM, Dan Morton wrote:
This letter is being posted in anticipation of the Feb. 13 meeting
about the proposed hotel project at 40th and Pine Sts. It is being submitted on
behalf of Barry Grossbach, the Spruce Hill Zoning Committee chairman.
Questions have been raised about what meetings have taken place before the
Spruce Hill Zoning Committee regarding the proposed hotel project at 40th and
Pine Streets. Here are the facts: Tom Lussenhop asked to speak with the
committee about a concept for a proposed project on the abandoned nursing home
site. He was added to our meeting agenda on August 1, 2007, and neighbors
immediately adjacent to the site were informed and invited to attend. This was
simply a preliminary discussion to consider the viability of a hotel project at
that location. A recent discovery had revealed that the mansion on the site
was listed on the local historic register, and the committee encouraged the
developer to find a way to incorporate the original portion of the mansion into
any plans.
Tom Lussenhop and his architect asked to appear before the committee in
September to share some conceptual drawings. Our September 26thmeeting placed
them last on a crowded agenda. Based on that meeting, the committee gave some
limited feedback (concern about the height and about parking), but decided to
suspend any further consideration of the project pending the outcome of
discussions before the Historical Commission. That was the last time that the
zoning committee of Spruce Hill discussed this project.
I asked that the hotel proposal be put on the agenda for the annual meeting
in November in order to have a broader forum for information and discussion. A
mailing about the meeting went to all Spruce Hill members, but without any
attached agenda. The omission was Spruce Hills, not the developers.
Additionally, the architect for the project, Sam Olshen, assumed when he
appeared twice before the zoning committee that the meetings were open and
public. They were open and public, but they were not advertised in public
print.
The bottom lineno one was operating deceptively or in bad faith. Any
mistakes or omissions were made unintentionally. Members of the Spruce Hill
Zoning Committee last saw the hotel proposal at the November annual meeting
(those who were able to attend), and have not discussed the project at any
subsequent zoning meetings. The meeting on Feb.13th will enable all interested
parties to see the current state of the proposal and to ask questions and offer
comments for the committees consideration. This, for the zoning committee, is
an interim step in the process. Some project opponents have secured legal
counsel and are in discussions with attorneys for the applicants, and the
committee will reserve any judgment until we see what, if any, points of
agreement are reached. In the meantime we will continue to take the pulse of
the immediate neighbors and the surrounding communities as the discussions
move forward.
So, here is where we are: The Spruce Hill Zoning Committee will continue to
seek feedback on this project. We will do our best to address concerns on all
sides. We will not preempt ongoing discussions between the parties, but will
await the outcome to see what, if anything the parties can resolve. Whatever
decision we as a zoning committee ultimately reach will be brought to the full
board of Spruce Hill for ratification. Whatever the board decides will then
become the official position of Spruce Hill for presentation to the citys
Zoning Board of Adjustment. I ask that everyone now consider where we are, for
that is more important at the moment then how we got here. The important point
is what we do with what we have learned. A healthy discussion and debate can
enrich a community as long as it is civil in tone and respectful of differences
of opinion. Im confident that our community is up to the task.
Barry Grossbach, Chair
Spruce Hill Zoning Committee
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