Approximately 400 residents affixed their signatures to petitions asking that the mayor and city council adhere to the city's new zoning code, and refuse to grant variances in density and height for Norwood's Park Ridge 2004 LLC condominium project. Those 400 residents will probably be ignored.
Mayor Jerkxes, being aided and abetted by developer-loyalist and Benedict-Alderman, Robert Ryan, as well as Park Ridge 2004 LLC investor, John Chipman, have purportedly persuaded the Lord of the Manor, Rich DiPietro, to give Norwood the variance on density they've asked for.
The propaganda remise that again will be thrust at the community in support of this project will be the mysticism of senior housing and a 1-acre park that is unlikely to be used by anyone outside of the condominium development. The neighborhood kids who now use that area, which is already owned by the city, will have to find another venue for their winter sledding fun.
Sources tell us the Lord of the Manor will be satisfied with enforcement of the zoning code's height restrictions on the project, but is willing to give Norwood the density variance for the 8 additional units they want. And why not? It's not as if the bulk of the extra traffic created by this already dense project will be experienced by residents in the 2nd ward. As we all know, "Stop Means Stop", but only as posted for the traffic in the 2nd ward. The concept of "Stop Means Stop" does not appear to apply to the Park Ridge zoning code.
It also appears "no" doesn't mean "no" the first time the city council says it. After the first city council vote, Norwood's partners said they would go back and work on their plan. However, it appears they spent the majority of their time and effort working on the aldermen.
Tonight's city council meeting will be a long and drawn-out battle between those who demand adherence to Park Ridge's new and more lenient zoning code, and those who feel entitled to ignore the demands of the law and the will of the residents in the Park Ridge community.
Barring any last minute epiphanies, the aldermen will probably vote 4 to 2 in favor of Norwood; DreadBach is expected to be absent from the meeting. That vote count will save Mayor Jerkxes from having to cast a tie-breaking vote before the serf-izens of Park Ridge; another reason why the Lord of the Manor has been so thoroughly courted for his vote.
Mayor Jerkxes, "may you live forever." - Leonidas , '300'
October 1, 2007
Prepare for Glory!
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10 comments:
Had we thought of it sooner, some of us would have liked to attend the meeting tonight with buttons that read, "DON'T BE DENSE." But it looks like density is what we'll be stuck with-- in more ways than one.
I just looked at Norwood's site plan on the city's website and I don't see a park any place. Did I miss it?
The park is actually not on Norwood's property, which is why it won't show up on their drawing. The park is proposed for the water retention pond site, which is behind the Neri development. The local kids sled there in the winter. If you asked them, they'd say keep the hill!
Does that mean it's a park anyway and the kids use it as a park already? I don't understand what the city is getting if it is used as a park already.
8 more condo units is equivalent to 2.4 million more profit in the pocket of the developer. That is why Norwood has worked so hard on our alderman!!!
If they build a park on City Property, don't forget the City has to maintain the park and the Police Department has to patrol the Park. There are alot of other costs to the city, but more money in the developers pocket!!!
We already have one "Hidden Park" Rotary Park in the Fifth Ward. That park is south of the tracks, along Washington where Vine and Lake meet. Most residents do not know the park exists. But the teenagers have caused alot of problems at the park during summer weekends. Special Lights had to be installed to discourage the teenagers from congregating in the park at night. That park is directly behind several homes on Vine and Lake. How will the homeowners in the fifth ward enjoy the bright lights that will inevitably have to be installed in the "New" Park?
Why even have a zoning ordinance if variances are allowed willy-nilly? Let people build whatever they want, wherever they want. Who cares? Certain not Mayor Frimark. What a boob!
Just another example of a bedroom suburb selling its soul so that soul-less developers can make bigger profits - and so that the politicians can have more money to waste.
Ah.....yes! PR politics at it best.
Tell me are we allowed to approach
King Howard while he sits on his throne ? Must we kiss the ring in order to get the right things done?
Is there any - future here when we see more taxes as well as gas , heat, light, food etc - all going up !!!
Or is there a crystal ball instead to see just what we are all in for when the dems/repubs want their fair share.
You can forget the gambling for Chicago - that's a dead issue.
Someone recently said it right - "they are going to tax us right out of here".
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