Old Town residents dispute parking lot plans
5:50 p.m. Thursday, August 9, 2007
"We're baffled and concerned about why they have to put a parking lot on a historically significant piece of property," Anne Speiss said.
Spiess with Friends of Bethany place is upset about the Episcopal Diocese's plans to put a parking lot on a 60 ft. by 200 ft. lot of green space. The plan will soon head before the City Council. Those opposed say the parking lot will take out historical trees and valuable green space.
"Our job is to save souls, not save the trees," Diocese spokeswoman Melodie Woerman said.
Woerman says the trees are not historically significant and the parking lot will not harm the integrity of the remaining green space.
"It will be about four percent of that total area. It will still leave in excess of four acres of green space," Woerman said.
Doug Jones believes the problem has larger implications.
Doug
"It may seem like a small issue, but it's a larger issue of quality of life," Jones said.
He and Spiess fear the parking lot is just part of a master plan to bring additional construction.
"To the best of my knowledge there is no master plan," Woerman said.
"Well, the Diocesan minutes would indicate otherwise," Speiss said.
Spiess found several mentions of the master plan throughout the council of trustees minutes, including a paragraph dated April 18th mentioning the prospect of a master plan for the Grace Cathedral and Diocesan facilities.
Woerman says those plans don't physically exist.
"There are no plans to build anything, just needs," Woerman said.
The Diocese hopes to get Council approval for the lot during the August 28th meeting.
It will include 42 parking spaces for Grace Cathedral.
Comments
Note: ktka.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor vouch for the factual claims made therein. Nor do we review every post.
Aug. 10, 2007 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)jrherrick (anonymous)
Old town is way to overrated, and has had way to much tax payer money thrown at it! Enough of the Typical “Old town” historical BS. That place is nothing but a cesspool, and a parking lot would be a welcomed addition to the neighborhood
Aug. 10, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)jrherrick (anonymous)
Old town is way to overrated, and has had way to much tax payer money thrown at it! Enough of the Typical “Old town” historical BS. That place is nothing but a cesspool, and a parking lot would be a welcomed addition to the neighborhood.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)