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Session 1725, Minutes June 8, 1998 17 Douglas Baron, #10 South Broadway, gave Council an overview of the conditional use permit application for the Gatesworth expansion. Ms. Lana Weinbach, 8720 W. Kingsbury, thanked Councilmembers Wagner and Sharpe for their visit to their neighborhood. Ms. Weinbach described the negative impact that the Gatesworth expansion will have on her neighborhood. She said that several people were moving from the neighborhood, which should be important to the Council. There are many aspects of the conditional use application that has not been seen yet, most important being the buffering landscaping. She can not understand how the conditional use could be approved, when the structure will cross over land that is currently owned by University City. It seems inappropriate and premature to approve this when it is not owned entirely by the Gatesworth. Ms. Loretta Collins, 8639 Barby Lane, is concerned because she and her parents are being told that when they open their front door, they will be looking at a parking lot. They have invested and continue to invest in their home and do not plan to go anywhere. They are concerned that they make the parking lot attractive by putting in a small botanical garden. She does not think that the costs should be that great. They are concerned with security and asks for twenty-four hour security guards on duty. Noise is also a concern, since employees often end up socializing on the parking lot. She would like to see a retainer wall and be part of the landscaping plans. White pines are not satisfactory cover, need a different tree. The Gatesworth has been very cooperative. Mr. Lieberman asked Mr. Ollendorff about the vacation of West Kingsbury. Mr. Ollendorff said that the Council would have to order a hearing. Mr. Lieberman said that the vacation did not pertain to the conditional use permit, because it is something that the City has to do. Mr. Ollendorff said that he was correct, and that the Council would have to act and a public hearing would be held. The building can not be built until the public hearing is held and the property is vacated, which is the usual order of proceeding. Mr. Wagner said, for the record, that he has the highest regard for Mr. Deutsch's and Mr. Smith's projects and that they have followed all the City's procedures. They should be commended for going the extra mile to meet with the neighbors to address their concerns. From the first neighborhood meeting that he attended from last January, he believes most of the concerns, from that meeting, have been addressed, including parking, traffic, lighting, construction vehicles, security, commercial activity at the Gatesworth, etc. Each of these concerns have been addressed and clearly all the neighbors have not been pleased. A good faith effort has been made. Mr. Wagner feels, however, that the City side of the process is lacking. He is displeased and dismayed with the developments that are being allowed into residential neighborhoods.