esrosedotblog

CURB APPEAL

We went to the City Council last night to oppose the appeal of the McMansion guy. The one who wants to build a 2 story monster across from our back yard.

He had been turned down in five or more hearings before the Architectural Review guys and the Planning Commission.

Last night was his last best shot. He asked the Council to over ride the Planning Commission.

Which they fucking did!

Well not all the way.

I search for a metaphor.

They tried to play Solomon and decided to cut the baby in half. Only the developer got most of the mutilated baby.

That doesn't quite do it.

They bent over backward (as they are wont to do) to please a developer and stuck their head up their asses.

No.

Maybe this. Half a loaf means breadcrumbs.

We lost the argument about whether the lot qualifies to be two story. Flat out.

It does technically—well it does not technically—but it is close enough to say it does. So they decided to say that it does.

On the other hand they did see how the neighbors were unhappy with the immense size and mostly the way the house will 'look' into other people's yards. Us.

So they didn't deny the appeal. They didn't approve his plans.

They sent him back to the Planning Commission and architectural review with a second chance 'so he wouldn't have to pay his fees over again'.

Very disappointing.

A lot of the neighbors were more, way pissed than me.

I just take it philosophically.

It isn't the first time that I discovered others who did not share my world view.

I can see where they were not impressed with our opposition.

First the height issue. A technical KO.

Then the argument that this disrupts the character of the neighborhood. That it would make our nice neighborhood like other 'lost' sections of the City.

Well, you can't expect them to be sympathetic with that. They have presided over the overbuilding of the City and obviously can't agree that is a bad thing.

We obviously were seen as crybabies.

No account taken of our negative view of the house design either. It is an ugly mother. But they let people build whatever they want to. Property rights.

The Mayor asked if the McMansion guy had discussed any of this with the neighbors. He said 'no'. The Mayor thought it would be good if he did and try to make some changes. Come, let's reason together. Why can't we all get along?

Well, forget that. We already did all that through the design review process and he didn't change a thing.

And he probably will not this time either.

He will traipse it back through the same boards with the sympathetic comments of the City Council around his neck and get what he wants.

In the meantime, for me, it is another lesson in how 'the Man' isn't going to pay much attention to the needs of the people.

Yeh, I know that's exaggerated but I am in the middle of watching Reds.

For me, I am done with the process. It is on to Plan B.

I will get busy on the new trees that we will put in along the wall so they will grow nice and tall by the time the house looms over our us.

Time to move on. This has had us on near-fume for nine months. Time to let go of it.

I'm going for my bike ride then go get a hair cut.

Labels: macmansion