-----Original Message-----

From: Michael S Almon [mailto:paradigm@ixks.com]

Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 1:16 AM

To: Amyx, Mike ; Paul Patterson; Michelle Leininger

Cc: Hack, Sue ; Highberger, Boog; Rundle, Mike ; Schauner, David ; Brown, Aaron ; Tomc, Matt; Wellman, Emily ; Good, Janet; Klingenberg, Gwendolyn; Huff, Kay; Zinn, Richard; Dave Corliss; Sheila Stogsdill

Subject: Redraft SA Conditions from Neighborhood Coalition

 

Dear Mayor Amyx:

Attached is a draft copy of conditions rewritten by the Eastside

Neighborhood Coalition to be attached to the zoning of the Salvation

Army facilities proposed for Lynn and Haskell Ave.

 

As you know, both parties submitted a list such as this at the 3 May

2006 negotiations.  However, the Staff Report for the 6 June 2006 CC

meeting included only the Salvation Army list of conditions as

"Attachment A".  The ENC list of conditions were not included, and staff

recommended only the conditions as proposed by the Salvation Army.  The

SA said on 6 June that their list "incorporated a number of the

suggestions made by the neighbors", but that amounted to only eight

words from our proposal - three "shall"s, and "shall make every

reasonable effort" (in item #7).

 

While the Eastside Neighborhood Coalition has clearly said that we would

welcome most of the Salvation Army proposed activities, we still want

enforceable conditions on the potential for a transient shelter or

community meal program.  Our attached rewritten zoning conditions have

indeed incorporated the bulk of their list ("Attachment A" from 6 June),

with two exceptions.  Items #2 and #3 disallow the transient shelter and

community meal program.  As such, the Salvation Army can readily

continue "to be the Salvation Army", because they have repeatedly said

they are moving away from these services and over to the homeless

rehabilitation services, which we commend.

 

Our list of conditions are also proposed as applied to the zoning only,

with no reference to the site plan at all.  Because you initiated the

rezoning on 6 June, the entire need and rationale for cobbling

conditions onto a site plan is now rendered moot and without merit. 

David Corliss said at the 6 June CC meeting "Use conditions on a site

plan are problematic", which has been our position all along.

 

We believe that the recent City Commission decisions have moved us all a

bit closer to mutually acceptable terms.  We  feel it would be wise that

the next effort fully incorporate the ENC draft conditions to avoid the

appearance of favoritism.  As I said at the 6 June CC meeting, the City

Code is not for the purpose of protecting the interest on one party at

the expense of another party.  While the Salvation Army may wish to

"avoid a UPR to gain stability and predictability" as they said, doing

so puts the neighborhoods into a position of instability and

unpredictability.

 

Thank you for your dedication to the Lawrence community, and we look

forward to strengthening both our neighborhoods and our community

services in mutual respect.  Feel free to contact any from the Eastside

Neighborhood Coalition if you have any questions.

 

Sincerely,

Michael Almon

for the Eastside Neighborhood Coalition