That was fun
You want an example of how not to make a closing statement (or articulate any sort of argument/viewpoint) at an Athens-Clarke County Commission meeting?
Just tune in for the late replay of Jon Williams's final remarks from Tuesday's meeting. In one fell swoop, he managed to completely ruin a strong effort to push toward a compromise concerning the special use request for the Oconee Street property of the Boys and Girls Club.
In it, he managed to threaten the commission, refuse a cordial request for withdrawal (proposed so as to grant him a fresh start and ample time to sort through the very things he was already trying to achieve), show an unwillingness to understand what compromise actually means, pretend to feign innocence when it comes to properly engaging the impacted neighborhoods for a special use and, quite frankly, completely lie. By the end of it, he had managed to fragment his feeble coalition of support and drew a sharp (and, might I add, very appropriate) rebuke from Mayor Heidi Davison.
The lying, however, was the one of the two most outrageous things that occured. Somehow, Williams had the audacity to stand before the commission and claim that the Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission expressed 'no opposition' to his original proposal. This, of course, flies in the face of the most basic logic seeing how the planning commission actually recommended denial of the project for the developer's inability to address any of the contradictions to the land use plan.
The other outrageous thing? The obvious contempt shown by some of those who backed the project - including some past board members of the Boys and Girls Club - for not only the entire Oconee Street neighborhood area, but the actual people they stressed they were trying to help. To hear one gentleman vehemently disparage Fourth Street Elementary in such an open forum was unsettling, as was another who lectured the commission about hordes of homeless citizens rampaging through Oconee Street.
Contrasted with the very positive and constructive comments offered by supporters such as Red Petrovs and Ed Benson, it was one of the more bizarre meetings I've seen in a quite a while.
Though I would have voted to deny - particularly in light of Williams's absolutely ridiculous final comments which suggest he must have temporarily removed himself from reality - I sincerely hope the developers build on the positive steps they took in their 11th-hour submission to the commission. They've got 40 days to build on that, and if not to consider to withdraw the request and use additional time to come with an adequate compromise that rewards both parties.
If I'm with the Boys and Girls Club, however, I'd politely request that Williams avoid the microphone at all costs.
Just tune in for the late replay of Jon Williams's final remarks from Tuesday's meeting. In one fell swoop, he managed to completely ruin a strong effort to push toward a compromise concerning the special use request for the Oconee Street property of the Boys and Girls Club.
In it, he managed to threaten the commission, refuse a cordial request for withdrawal (proposed so as to grant him a fresh start and ample time to sort through the very things he was already trying to achieve), show an unwillingness to understand what compromise actually means, pretend to feign innocence when it comes to properly engaging the impacted neighborhoods for a special use and, quite frankly, completely lie. By the end of it, he had managed to fragment his feeble coalition of support and drew a sharp (and, might I add, very appropriate) rebuke from Mayor Heidi Davison.
The lying, however, was the one of the two most outrageous things that occured. Somehow, Williams had the audacity to stand before the commission and claim that the Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission expressed 'no opposition' to his original proposal. This, of course, flies in the face of the most basic logic seeing how the planning commission actually recommended denial of the project for the developer's inability to address any of the contradictions to the land use plan.
The other outrageous thing? The obvious contempt shown by some of those who backed the project - including some past board members of the Boys and Girls Club - for not only the entire Oconee Street neighborhood area, but the actual people they stressed they were trying to help. To hear one gentleman vehemently disparage Fourth Street Elementary in such an open forum was unsettling, as was another who lectured the commission about hordes of homeless citizens rampaging through Oconee Street.
Contrasted with the very positive and constructive comments offered by supporters such as Red Petrovs and Ed Benson, it was one of the more bizarre meetings I've seen in a quite a while.
Though I would have voted to deny - particularly in light of Williams's absolutely ridiculous final comments which suggest he must have temporarily removed himself from reality - I sincerely hope the developers build on the positive steps they took in their 11th-hour submission to the commission. They've got 40 days to build on that, and if not to consider to withdraw the request and use additional time to come with an adequate compromise that rewards both parties.
If I'm with the Boys and Girls Club, however, I'd politely request that Williams avoid the microphone at all costs.
posted by Jmac at 12:47 AM
6 Comments:
Does Her Majesty the Queen Mayoress actually have the ability to express any opinion without acting like a total ass?
As for our hopes - I hope they build the most horrific looking structure imaginable there, so all those awful "ohhh our precious neighborhood!!" people will have to live with it day in and day out, and there won't be a thing Her Royal Majesty can do about it.
PS - Her Majesty apparently does not listen well either, as that was NOT what Williams said. Deliberately misquoting people who disagree with you seems to be a rather common feature of Little Miss Heidi's camp.
So Williams didn't say that the planning commission showed 'no opposition' to their project? I, as well as the entire commission, apparently blacked out during his final speech?
Listen, this isn't even about the neighborhood in my opinion. It's about sticking to a vision set by the entire community for land use. The planning commission, the commision, the neighborhood and even the direct representatives from the Boys and Girls Club have acted in good faith and expressed a strong desire to find some sort of workable compromise that suits the land use plan and existing zoning.
The developers, however, have failed to show any charitable spirit in the entire process, coming in with an 11th-hour 'compromise' that needs - for their own sake and fairness - the ability to go through the planning commission again. The offer for withdrawal was a smart one that would have benefitted all sides in this. Instead, the developers opted to play the bully, and they were rightly rebuked for it.
If the developers so wish to assist the Boys and Girls Club, then they'd sit down with the necessary parties and find a way to hammer out a compromise. Sit down in a room and don't leave until it's resolved. Instead they want to throw threats around, and that's not going to work for anyone.
That anyone would say "I hope they build the most horrible looking structure there" -- out of pure spite and obvious hatred of the mayor -- shows someone who doesn't care at all about this city. If "anonymous 4:30" lives in Athens, please move.
Having said that, I think the poster has one valid point. I listened to that exchange and I think Williams meant that no members of the public came forward to complain about the project at the planning commission. I don't think he was referring to the planning commission recommendation itself. I'll admit, I wasn't listening too closely by that point.
Finally, I am always annoyed when developers threaten "well, if you don't like this plan, I'll come in and put up something hideous." I certainly don't blame Davison for complaining about that. It reminds me of that landowner in Oconee County near Northwest Woods who started spreading copious amounts of manure on his property when his rezoning was denied. It sounds like they were ready to break out the shovels last night.
Finally, I agree with the blogger's comment on some of the disturbing discourse by people supporting the project. I was glad to hear commissioner Maxwell address it directly.
Sorry about the two "finally"s...
Interesting dialog. Williams and a few other local land planners are used to getting their way and don't like it when they don't. They're going to have to get more comfortable with compromise as citizens in all of our local communities become more aware of land use issues.
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