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| Richie McDonald: Not happy? |
Rather than bargaining with respect and in reasonably rational good faith with the Planning Commission, kind of the way Billy "Big House" Shields handled things with his rather immense Kensington lumber pile, the CETT boys and girls decided instead to engage in baseless insults and obvious provocations. And as fine examples in support of my contention, here are three completely idiotic and rude things that our apparently permanent house guest the litigious Richie McDonald flung at the Planning Commission:
1) Said the Planning Commission was just saying a lot of "self-serving BS."
2) You people don't think we have the right to build. This is personal.
3) "I can't believe the way you twist these things."
It seems pretty obvious to me that CETT's Attorney, the aforementioned Richie McDonald, is trying to create a case that he can take to Court. Statements will be cherry picked from everything said by the Planning Commission, and from all of these many meetings, boiled down, and then presented to a judge as proof that his client had been subjected to an incredibly unfair bias. To the point where he has now even tried to goad them with ridiculous provocations such as the ones I listed above.
Of course, it didn't work, and the Planning Commission deposed themselves with their usual professionalism and aplomb. They have a job to do, and despite these provocations still attempted to bring CETT into compliance with Sierra Madre's building ordinances and codes. Despite the kicking and screaming.
Great resident speakers were in the house, and they included Sara Harman, Barry Gold, Leslee Hinton, Matt Bryant, Marguerite Shuster, Debbie Sheridan and John Hutt. Here are a couple of the statements I managed to capture.
John Hutt: Don't confuse good progress with good design … When did we get to this point, that what is being decided is whether it meets the bare minimum or not?
Debbie Sheridan: Adele Chang does not hear what the Planning Commission is telling them. For her it is all about the money.
Marguerite Shuster: (Referring to a giant oak) No one in this room will live long enough to see another tree like the one they are about to take.
Barry Gold: If necessary let the Courts decide if we have the right to defend our laws and community.
There were some heated (and frankly entertaining) exchanges between members of the Planning Commission and Richie McDonald. In what was perhaps the best statement of the evening Commissioner Gina Frierman-Hunt said, "This was a project that if the applicant had done 100% of what we asked I could have held my nose and voted to approve. My hand is not near my nose right now."
Gina also had this response to Richie McDonald's unfair accusation that the Planning Commission was being personal. "Take your own advice."
Bob Spears declared the designs submitted by CETT's architect, the acclaimed Adele Chang, were "a Costco vision of architecture." He also pointed out what must be obvious to everyone in this town by now. "We are dealing with a reluctant applicant who won't embrace the community's values."
CETT's now endless attempt to build McMansions on a highly visible hillside in Sierra Madre was once again continued to yet another meeting. The Planning Commission pointed out very clearly four things that would have to change in order to get their approval.
This is hardly the first time they have told the applicant what they needed to do for approval. And if things go the way they have throughout all of the many previous meetings, CETT will come back with one or two slight adjustments, their weak and indifferent effort will once again be turned down, and the matter continued to yet another meeting.
That is, if the Planning Commission doesn't finally throw up their hands and pull the plug on this mess altogether. It does all have to end someday. They should only have to take so much of this.
Which is what I believe CETT wants. Like I said, I am fairly certain they don't want an approval, they would prefer a lawsuit instead. And IMO the provocations from CETT's attorney last night were designed to create responses that, taken out of context, might help to bolster his case in court.
In other words, for the applicant the real audience they were speaking to last night is some future judge. Done in the hope that Sierra Madre's development ordinances and codes will be swept aside and CETT will then be freely allowed to build as many highly profitable McMansions at One Carter as they may wish, and in any way they damn well please.
With no input whatsoever from the city and people that will have to endure this eternal insult.
This show will continue.
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