What looked like a barnburner of a City Council meeting tonight in Council Chambers fizzled late Friday afternoon and evaporated.
In the face of strongly organized opposition, the developer Sal Gonzales has asked for a five-week delay in a public hearing to air an appeal of approval of the latest controversial development in a residential neighborhood.
As the only item on the agenda for a joint meeting of the Redevelopment agency and the Council, the two bodies are expected to quickly grant the request.
The recently formed Downtown Neighborhood Assn. has mounted at least a voluble campaign against the present plans for 4043 Irving Pl., barely a block south of Downtown.
The association reported that the developer sought to postponement to make design changes he believes will address the community’s concerns.
Last spring, the Planning Commission approved plans for what is described as a three- and four-story mixed use building, accommodating 26 residential condominium units, nearly 3400 square feet for office space and subterranean parking.
Revelation of the plans and the subsequent approval triggered a large outpouring of opposition from the immediate neighborhood on the grounds that the addition would bring too much traffic and too many new people into their already teeming area.
Typical of protests received was the following one:
“My name is Kim Drummond. I live one block from the proposed deelopment. I love living here. But I really suggest that we slow down. Traffic on our street has become very fast. And there is no parking Downtown.”
Appeals of the Planning Commission decision were filed by two couples, Michael and Judith Miller, and by Jim and Michelle Benke.
The Fulwood Matter
In a separate City Council related development, City Manager Jerry Fulwood’s private session with Council members, presumed to be a discussion of his future personal plans, still has not been rescheduled.
Originally agendized for last Monday night, the session was squeezed out. City Atty. Carol Schwab indicated she intended to rescheduled the meeting for later this month.
