City Newspaper Archives - 7/2007

DEVELOPMENT: Hospital's neighbors appeal the garage decision

Published by Tim Louis Macaluso on Jul 02, 2007
Highland Hospital's neighbors haven't given up in their opposition to a new garage for the hospital on South Avenue. Members of SAVE - South Avenue Visionary Efforts - have filed an appeal with the city's Zoning Board. "We filed it based on the interpretation the director of zoning has made with respect to R-1 zoning," says attorney Alan Knauf. "R-1 zoning does not allow commercial garages in that neighborhood. It's a residential neighborhood."

Neighborhood groups may also file a suit against the city with the State Supreme Court, Knauf says.

"What is the point of having R-1 zoning if it can be changed arbitrarily?" SAVE member John Smith said last week after the appeal was filed. "But the real issue here is the process and whether the city can be seen as an honest broker in its decision making."

The Planning Commission, SAVE members say, heard from the South Wedge Planning Committee, the South Wedge Business Association, the Landmark Society, and the Ellwanger Barry Neighborhood Association - all opposing the garage.

"When you have all of the major neighborhood and business groups in this area giving the city their thoughtful recommendations against something like this, you have to question the legitimacy of bodies like the Planning and Zoning boards," said SAVE member Chris Jones.

The Zoning Board's next meeting will on July 25.