2012-06-27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Bueler stated she received emails about the public meetings, but nothing specific about the parking lot issue. Ms. Carr stated that she attended LSBD meetings and has heard City officials give a briefing. She asked if at any time the City representatives stated they were considering repurposing the lot. Ms. Bueler confirmed that was correct. Ms. Felton stated that Mr. Wald mentioned there were two people who attended the public meetings, so the LSBD would have been aware this was being considered. Ms. Bueler stated they were aware of the meetings, but not about the parking lot or discussions about changes to the parking lot. Ms. Felton stated she thought they told the consultants they did not want anything done to the parking lot. Ms. Bueler stated the two people involved made it clear that the stakeholders did not want anything done to the parking lot and they were ignored Ms. Felton asked if they brought this back to the LSBD meetings. Ms. Bueler stated that during the early stages, they just answered questions as data was being collected. She stated that the Plan is over 1,500 pages and they were told they should have read the Plan; that makes us think they were trying to push this through. Mr. Jacobs stated that several years ago they were told they never would have to worry about the surface parking lot. Frank Ollendorff, former City Manager and University City resident, addressed the Plan Commission. Mr. Ollendorff stated that University City is a role model to many cities but that is not enough; progress must be accomplished with integrity and commitment to promises that have been made. He stated that the City convinced developers and merchants to spend millions of dollars to invest in University City and one of the major inducements was to promise free public surface parking, 290-plus spaces in this lot, to remain until such time that the City and all property owners and successors could mutually agree on any changes. He stated that we need to plan ahead to improve, but cannot do so by breaking promises, promises that were made to the entire community. Mr. Ollendorff stated that parking for each of these buildings was specifically noted on the site plans and that they are subject to redevelopment agreements and urban renewal plans. He stated that each of these plans was approved by City Council; City Council promised that they would not change what was negotiated until they could reach a mutual agreement to make changes. Regarding the issue about this coming up late and people not being notified, Mr. Ollendorff mentioned that it was stated at early workshops that the lot was committed as is and that before he retired, the next step was to expand the lot to the north. He stated that plans have come in over the years to change what was committed to and each time the City Council has said tm; E