Rezoning based on Error, Nostalgia, & Onion Rings
CM Gary Schiff stated that the Porky's rezoning was based on staff error & "nostalgia and onion rings."
Detailed in a Star Tribune article, Schiff shared that "issue should have never come forward."
Why not? For every consideration of rezoning, the city uses the following statement for guidance to determine if a rezoning application should be considered:
"Whether the amendment is in the public interest and is not solely for the interest of a single property owner."
Both CM Ostrow and Mayor admitted that the appeal of this fast-food drive-thru is happy memories created from biking to Porky's years ago. As a letter to the editor in the Star Tribune stated, this kind of fascination with Porky's is bizarre: especially with all the other issues facing Minneapolis.
What is next? Upcoming posts will detail what Neighbors Against Porky's is hearing.
--Neighbors Against Porky's--
neighborsagainstporkys@gmail.com
Labels: Nostalgia, Ostrow, Rezone, Rybak, Schiff, Star Tribune
posted by Neighbors Against Porky's @ 11:57 PM
5 Comments:
I knew you had no integrity. I think I'll start a blog exposing the dishonest "Neighbors Against Porky's who won't post opposing views".
In regards to: "Whether the amendment is in the public interest and is not solely for the interest of a single property owner."
If this was granted solely for the bennefit of Porky's, how come there are 16 conditions placed on the business.
The fact is, this spot needed to be developed. After 10 years no one else has come forward with a better idea of what to put there. Why? The spot has limited possibilities.
This guy has a workable concept for the spot with private money to to do it, so my taxes will not go up to help build it.
This development paves the way for others that may be thinking of developing here. Even though they know they will meet with protest and road blocks from the neighborhood.
We need an American type food place on Central.
Porky's will hopefully be a new destination place on Central that brings new people to the area, like classic car owners with money to spend.
Granting this development does help more than the owner. It should have passed, I'm glad it did.
I wish that the same amount of effort from the neighborhood would go to getting rid of the slumlords in our area. How come you all will put up with drug dealers? I can barely walk to the bus stop without fear. This is what negatively affects my life, and others around me.
No, if the project were truly in the best interest of the community, it wouldn't need 16 conditions! The conditions are a feeble attempt by Ostrow to be able to say that he was listening to us.
Here's the reality:
1. Most of the conditions are already required by the zoning code or other Minneapolis City statute.
2. Many of the conditions are only enforceable by neighbors calling and complaining. Many of us are already doing that with several businesses in the neighborhood - it's a lot of work. Many of us also pick up a lot of trash that some businesses agreed to pick up in an agreement like this.
3. As representatives from Windom Park Citizens in Action (WPCIA) has stated on record several times, this site has only been vacant for at most 7 years, and there have been 6 other proposals for the Porky's site.
4. Despite Ostrow's statements to the contrary, none of the conditions were discussed or agreed to by any members of WPCIA or NAP.
Finally, the accusation that neighbors aren't doing enough to get rid of slumlords and drug dealers really hurts. Have you heard of the NE Citizen's Patrol? Block Clubs? The Citizen's Inspection Program? Not to mention the efforts of individuals calling in suspicious activity and housing code violations. What more would you have us do? We are at the mercy of an overextended Housing Inspections Department and Police force.
Furthermore, I would contend that a drive-thru restaurant only encourages undesireable activity. Porky's is not a destination - it's a stop on the way. We need an anchor at this end of Central - something that draws people in and gets them out of their cars. Just having more pedestrians on Central Avenue will help us patrol our neighborhood.
Here is my opinion from a breaded pork tenderloin perspective...
http://www.porktenderloinsandwich.com
The click on "Pork Tenderloin Sandwich Blog"
Too bad you're gonna have to deal with Porky's as it will be opening soon. I'm excited. There is a police station a block away...get over yourselves!
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