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THE BIRMINGHAM BUZZ
"The cardinal sin, when we are looking for truth of fact
or wisdom of policy, is refusal to discuss, or action
which blocks discussion." -- Sidney Hook
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Buzz # 27 -- August 19, 2002

Promoting intelligence and reason in city government. Our mission: To inform and involve all Birmingham citizens.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE at http://www.bhambuzz.org for:
-- Up-to-date news items
-- Resources such as the 2016 Plan and the proposed Ethics ordinance.
-- A calendar of important city events
-- A lively and intelligent discussion group

We want to hear from you! Please send questions, suggestions and feedback to info@bhambuzz.org
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In this edition:

1) Editorial: Planning Board's latest attack on 2016 Plan would require parking for offices
2) Quarton Lake park plan scaled back
3) Who should foot the bill for virtual reality fees?
4) Editorial: Loft living should be considered
5) Class war? Quarton proposal is criticized
6) Editorial: Ask candidates about revenue sharing
7) Invitation: Celebrate Graziella's grand opening
8) Editorial: Jacobson's must be replaced soon
9) PS: DADA takes soap box derby to Rochester
10) Derby promoters trade letters with mayor
11) Open letter from First Baptist Church of B'ham
12) To be removed, send email to info@bhambuzz.org
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1) Editorial: Planning Board's latest attack on 2016 Plan would require parking for offices

From our Discussion Forum

Posted: Aug. 18, 2002, by Roger Gienapp

I just finished suffering through the latest episode of the Wednesday Night Comedy Show and was astounded to find that the Planning Board is proposing a revision to the Overlay District Ordinance which would effectively render it null and void.

What they have done is to propose an amendment to the ordinance which will REQUIRE on site parking for office use in the Overlay District in direct opposition the the 2016 Plan and the resulting Overlay District ordinance that Duany created for us.

They have done so with the justification that the Overlay Ordinance INTENDED to encourage retail and residential use and DIScourage office uses. This is blatantly false and, in my opinion, is another step in a plan to usurp the very concept behind the 2016 Plan.

The 2016 Plan and the resulting overlay ordinace DID NOT address use except for the first floor street level.

Duany said again and again that the marketplace would determine what uses would develop on the upper floors, and that these would probably change over time as conditions changed. Any and all uses were permitted on upper floors.

What the Overlay Ordinance sought to do was to REQUIRE architectural standards as a condition of electing to use the Overlay instead of the current, underlying, ordinance.

Duany said again and again that our parking system was "remarkable" in its comprehensiveness and was a model for other cities to use.

It is the very presence of this parking that is the basis of making the developers design buildings with minimum architectural standards as a condition of approval. He said, and proved it to all but the most anti-development deadheads, that we have sufficient public parking to handle current and future development possibilities.

Now our Planning Board is asking the City Commission to REQUIRE parking on site for office use, which is exactly opposite the intent of the Overlay Ordinace as Duany designed it! They quietly did the same for residential uses several months ago, and when they do the same for retail, the 2016 Plan and the Overlay District Ordinace will be dead.

There was NO ONE in the audience as they debated this revision, and no report of it here on the Buzz. Does anyone GET IT? Does anyone CARE? The 2016 Plan is being gutted piece by piece before our very eyes!

Don't let the antis fool you with the claim that they are only ENCOURAGING retail and residential. They are attacking the very concepts behind the Plan, and they're getting away with it. If you care about the plan, contact your Birmingham City Commissioners and let them know that they should vote this proposal down!


2) Quarton Lake park plan scaled back

August 18, 2002

From the Birmingham Eccentric

By Larry Ruehlen

The ambitious plan for a $1.5 million overhaul of the park at Quarton Lake has been scaled back in the face of public criticism.

"Would you believe I put in the covered bridge just to get everyone out here tonight," said David Anthony, an urban planner with Wade-Trim, consultant for the city. "We want the park to fit all the needs of the community, not just special interest groups."

Anthony was speaking to a standing-room only crowd at a city meeting Tuesday where he revealed the latest illustration of possible park improvements. Anthony said much of the criticism of the first plan came from people who didn't want man-made structures in the park.

The first thing to go in the new design was a covered bridge that had been in the plan. The picnic structures were the next to go. Both were replaced by humble designs that serve the same purpose. A simple bridge and prairie grasses would suffice, said Anthony.

"You are now going to have a more naturalistic design," he said.

Another point of contention in the first design was a parking lot near the lake.

Jared Rundell, a citizen who lives near the lake and serves on the citizen's advisory committee planning the park improvements, said parking would increase traffic in the area and detract from the natural setting. Rundell's critics claimed he was trying to protect his property values and keep people with less cash away from the lake, where houses often sell for $1 million. The classism issue didn't come up Tuesday, but parking was once again a major point of contention.

"I was part of the fight that closed the parking on Lakeside," said Robert Schreiner, who owns a house on the lake. "Back then, you could buy a nickel bag (drugs) any time you wanted. You don't want a parking lot on Lakeside. People don't want to go back to the '70s, but back then all you had was nickel bags and condoms all over the place."

Anthony said parking is a must if the city wants all people to use the park and not just those who live near it. He recommended two smaller parking lots with a total of 12 spaces. Some people said that was too much parking, while others said it wasn't enough.

Many in the audience liked the idea of better fishing opportunities in the warm months and solid ice for skating in the winter. Both features and a footpath are integral to the design as the park should provide recreational opportunities for everyone, said Anthony.

The city stopped removing snow from the lake for ice skating after a plow fell through the ice and a worker almost a died. The new design will have a shallow end that will lead to thicker ice for skating. The city would once again plow the snow and have an official rink if all goes according to planned, said Bob Fox, assistant director of public services.

The new estimate for the construction is $837,000 with another $210,000 set aside for such things as benches and educational displays.

The Birmingham City Commission is expected to consider the issue later this month. The lake will also be dredged starting in November. Park improvements are slated for next year.


3) Who should foot the bill for virtual reality fees?

August 18, 2002

From the Birmingham Eccentric

By Larry Ruehlen

At least one elected official doesn't believe residents should pay a cent to update Birmingham's virtual-reality urban planning software.

"This was ill-conceived from the start, and we were given bad information," said Birmingham City Commissioner Seth Chafetz. "Where is the benefit to the average taxpayer? I'm not going to ask my neighbors to pay for a virtual reality model for small businesses and developers of large buildings."

In April 2001, the commission adopted an ordinance that requires downtown property owners to pay fees related to building construction or alterations. The fees are passed on to Vantage Point Technologies, a company that spent $600,000 developing a computerized virtual reality model of the entire downtown area.

The model -- the first in the country -- is supposed to be a state-of-the-art planning tool that allows city officials to see the impact of proposed construction before it happens.

The idea is to have a computer rendering of every storefront, alley and parking meter in the city. When a new building is proposed, planners would be able to see how it fits in with surrounding structures.

But the ordinance goes further than that. It also establishes fees for small changes to existing buildings such as new signs or changing the color of a front door. Merchants supported the idea at first but began complaining when they had to open their checkbooks. Those complaints were aired at two meetings between the commission and merchants, and Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus said he would negotiate to try to bring costs down.

Current fees range from $150 for a new sign to $600 for facade improvements, to $6,000 to $50,000 for new buildings. Merchants complained that the fees often exceeded the cost of the improvements.

Mel Kaftan was the first person to start a major project under the new rules and was hit with a $8,600 fee. He complained and later worked out a better deal with the software company. The city is now trying to do the same.

Details of the possible deal were revealed Monday and Chafetz didn't like it. The basics of the deal call for the city to lease the software for a year and update the virtual reality model with city staff. Chafetz said the $15,000 lease agreement would shift the costs from merchants and developers to the city, which indirectly means taxpayers would be paying for something that doesn't benefit them.

While the majority of commission members said they were willing to let the city's legal staff draw up a lease contract for future consideration, Chafetz said doing so would be a waste of time because the commission had no business supporting the deal.

Markus said the city would explore other funding options such as having merchants pay part of the costs or requiring the city's Principal Shopping District to chip in.


4) Editorial: Loft living should be considered

August 15, 2002

From the Birmingham Eccentric

It's surprising that loft living should be an issue in Birmingham. Most cities encourage and promote lofts. Birmingham looks at them somewhat warily.

The city commission is looking into easing parking restrictions that have effectively blocked lofts by requiring two parking spaces for every downtown residential address.

There has not been a ban on lofts, but the parking requirements have made building them difficult because most folks like to park where they live and that isn't always possible with lofts.

Easing the requirements would allow for lofts to be built downtown, although the resident might have to park a distance from where they live.

But lofts would bring more residential living right into the heart of downtown Birmingham, even more so than the upscale condominiums, like The Willits.

Bringing people into downtown infuses a new dimension of life into a community and anchors the town. Stores serve their purpose of pulling people into the town during the day, as entertainment venues do in the evening. A permanent residential population would complete the cycle.

Lofts in Birmingham would not be cheap, but they certainly would be more affordable than the expensive condos.

Lofts have become a popular alternative to apartment and condo living in many cities. They're stylish and trendy yet not overbearing - in short, a reflection of Birmingham itself.

Several sites, such as the Briggs and the Wabeek buildings, have been singled out as potential loft sites. They are prime locations right in the downtown district and no doubt would be highly desirable living spaces.

It's too soon to say the city should plunge ahead with a program to bring lofts to downtown Birmingham. The full ramifications, such as the parking issue, have to be weighed carefully.

But this is an idea that is worth investigating.


5) Class war? Quarton proposal is criticized

August 11, 2002

From the Birmingham Eccentric

By Larry Ruehlen

A class war may be brewing over what becomes of the park near Birmingham's Quarton Lake.

The city is planning a major renovation of the park in conjunction with the dredging of the lake. Design firm Wade-Trim, the city's consultant for the project, recently unveiled a preliminary sketch that raised eyebrows all over town.

Jared Rundell, a resident serving on the Quarton Lake Ad Hoc Committee formed by the city, voiced concerns that the initial design included elements that none of the residents said they wanted.

A covered bridge, wooden boardwalks, picnic shelters and a small parking lot would likely draw outsiders to the park, said Rundell, and the serene setting would be lost.

"We are trying to figure out where the plan came from," said Rundell, "because it doesn't reflect the opinions of the residents at the meetings. So my question is: Is there an outside force other than the committee directing Wade-Trim for this project?"

Critics of Rundell, however, have said he is trying to make sure a parking lot isn't built near his home. They also say he wants to keep interlopers away from his upscale neighborhood. The plan has been a hot topic on The Buzz Web site -- which includes a chat room where city issues are discussed by often anonymous persons who aren't shy about expressing opinions:

"Let's face it. There is no community called Birmingham anymore. You've driven us to become just a collection of angry neighborhoods. If it's class war you want to start. Fine. In the end it's scum like me that have always won. You see there are more of us than of you. It may take a while, but it's your $1 million house and $10,000 a month mortgage that will go down the toilet. We'll just keep plugging away in our '50's houses, paying our bills and living our lives."

The comments came from an unregistered user.

Rundell responded to the criticism on the Buzz by saying the neighborhood likes it when people from the city use the park, but they are concerned about rows of parked cars, noise and other disturbances.

"We don't want to make the park a tourist attraction for the state of Michigan," said Rundell.

On the issue of bias, Rundell said all residents of the city have a stake in what happens with the parks. He said the only way to seat an unbiased committee would be to get them from Toledo.

City Commissioner Donald Carney, who also sits on the Quarton Lake committee, defended the planning process by saying the design is a first step that will be altered with input from residents. City Manager Tom Markus said he wasn't aware of a force trying to turn the park into a regional destination.

"Consultants have a tendency to look at our town as having the resources so they say, 'let's think out of the box,'" said Markus.

This is not the first time a plan turned out a bit more grand than some intended. Another consultant's plan for expanding Shain became so big that it was scrapped altogether at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Birmingham Parks & Recreation Board will consider the plans at a 6:30 p.m., Aug. 13, meeting at the department of public services building at 851 S. Eton. The ad hoc committee will then take public comments at 6:30 p.m., Aug. 15 meeting that will also be held at the DPS building.

The Birmingham City Commission is expected to consider the issue later this month. Dredging is scheduled to begin in November and park improvements are slated for next year.


6) Editorial: Ask candidates about revenue sharing

August 11, 2002

From the Birmingham Eccentric

By Chuck Moss

Just hold on a minute, Governor! Take your hands off the revenue sharing money and step away from the till.

Here's the deal, folks. Gov. Engler has vetoed state revenue sharing money to Michigan's cities, villages and townships. Why? He says that three ballot proposals will bust the state's budget . . . and if we peasants vote "yes" on these proposals, then Big Daddy will have to spank us. Now the state legislature says it's voting to override the governor on Aug. 13. The Guv won't back down. We'll see.

What are these ballot proposals?

1) A plan to divert the tobacco settlement money from one set of programs to another set.

2) A requirement that state union employees get binding arbitration.

3) Changing drug laws so that "low-level" offenders get "treatment" instead of jail . . . an expensive, camel's nose, stealth decriminalization measure.

Personally, I think these are all butt-head ideas. The tobacco diversion is just the hospitals cutting themselves in on the swag. "Binding arbitration" means in practicality, that unionized government employee labor costs go through the roof. And the drug bill is opposed by law enforcement across Michigan. I'd vote "no" on all three.

But hands off our revenue sharing! What is "revenue sharing" anyhow?

Revenue sharing is a scheme by which our tax money taken by the state is guaranteed to come back to us. The scheme is divided into two parts:

"Constitutional" revenue sharing, which is graven in stone. "Statutory" comes from a complicated formula re-negotiated every year. It's this statutory part that the state is now calling "discretionary" and playing with.

But keep in mind that the statutory piece was always meant to go to local government. It was never Christmas candy, given by generous Daddy. At the time revenue sharing was set up, Lansing's role was simply to act as fiduciary, like a trustee at the bank disbursing dividends. It's our money and the state is merely an agent.

But since the state got into budget troubles, Lansing has been diverting our money to cover its own budget crunch. That's like the bank saying, "I'm keeping your dividends to cover my shortfall." Even worse if your banker said, "If the wrong guy wins, you don't get your check." He'd go straight to jail, because that money isn't his -- it's yours.

How much money are we talking about? Answer: lots and lots. For instance, Hazel Park would lose $1.7 million out of a $13 million budget.

Cash-strapped Pontiac loses a whopping $10.3 million. Ferndale loses almost $2.3 Million. Now remember that the total amount is down anyway, because sales tax collections are down due to the economic slump. Engler has kicked us in the . . . well, the teeth.

So what do we do? Well, we yell -- loud. Next, our current lame-duck, term-limited, running-for-the-next-job legislators will attempt to override the Guv's veto on Aug. 13, when the legislature returns to session. From top to bottom, even (especially?) the Republicans are talking tough about bucking the Governor on this one. But here's something else: we must demand our candidates for state office answer the questions: "What will you do to protect our revenue sharing money?"

All these birds, from the Guv's race on down, are busy as beavers. Some are promising to give us more free stuff, others are promising to "cut your taxes." Still others are promising to do both. Folks, this is total baloney.

There is no money in Lansing to give anyone anything -- they're going to be deciding what to cut. And it won't be taxes, because they're desperately figuring out how to live within the tax income they already get. So when candidates knock on your door, just shake your head at the promises. Ask about revenue sharing - and demand an answer.

Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham) is a member of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners representing the Birmingham area. He is a former Birmingham City Commissioner.


7) Invitation: Celebrate Graziella's grand opening

August 9, 2002

Please Join Us for a Festive Grand Opening

GRAZIELLA LIMITED
203 Pierce St.
Birmingham, MI 48009
(248) 723-5650
Thursday, September 26, 2002, from 4 to 8 p.m.

Refreshments and door prizes

10% of all sales for the week of 9/26/02 to 10/3/02
will be donated to Oakland Family Services.

See our lines of fine linens, china, crystal, baby & gifts.
Friends and family welcome.


8) Editorial: Jacobson's must be replaced soon

August 8, 2002

From the Birmingham Eccentric

The demise of Jacobson's is no surprise. The company has been floundering for months, having little success in trying to reorganize its finances.

Within a month or so, the two Jacobson's stores in Birmingham likely will be closed. It will be a loss for the community and a serious blow to the downtown Birmingham shopping district.

But both will survive. The sites eventually will be redeveloped. The key is when. There are already nibbles for at least one of the buildings, although nothing has been decided definitely.

What's critical is that the city do whatever it can to aggressively market the buildings and get them filled as soon as possible. Birmingham needs a major anchor store, although the shopping district certainly would survive without one.

If you remember, the death knell for downtown Birmingham was sounded several years ago when the Somerset Collection opened up just a few miles away.

That hardly proved to be the case as Birmingham has shown itself to be a remarkably resilient town. There are several factors that keep Birmingham's shopping district viable. It is well-located, right off of Woodward. It boasts a wide variety of fine quality stores, and it is the hub of the community, pulling in people from surrounding areas.

People still like downtowns, and with Detroit's virtually abandoned, Birmingham offers an excellent alternative. People enjoy the downtown atmosphere and intimacy of side-by-side shops in the open that isn't evident in shopping malls.

The merchants have done a pretty good job of marketing that appeal, and now they must do that more than ever. A downtown is like a garden. It must be tended carefully. To allow one patch to go bare is to invite weeds, or blight.

And that is why every effort needs to be made quickly to replace the Jacobson's stores or fill the existing buildings.


9) PS: DADA takes soap box derby to Rochester

August 8, 2002

From the Birmingham Eccentric

By Judy Berne

In "Arrogant officials aren't serving the community" (June 6), I abhorred the Birmingham City Commission's rude treatment of some people and organizations that come before it, including the Detroit Auto Dealers' Association (DADA). The dealers' group was attempting to launch the First Detroit Soap Box Derby on Old North Woodward.

I had no problem with the close vote that denied holding the race on the weekend before the Woodward Dream Cruise. Merchants were worried about a loss of business two Saturdays in a row. But the adversarial tone of some commission members was demeaning.

In a recent letter to each member of the Birmingham City Commission the dealers' association formally withdrew its application, stating they hadn't been treated in a congenial and business-like manner. The city was advised to re-evaluate a "confusing" application process.

"We were misled," said Colleen Rivera, DADA project coordinator. "It would be disheartening for others to experience the same problem."

It was recently announced that the derby will be held Sept. 14-15 in downtown Rochester.

"We were looking for a host city that would embrace this event and partner up with us and Rochester did," Rivera said. "The Rochester mayor told us 'Welcome to our city.' "


10) Derby promoters trade letters with mayor

"Dismayed and disappointed" promoters of the proposed soap box derby have sent a letter to Mayor Dianne McKeon, and she has responded. Visit http://www.bhambuzz.org/pdfs/DADA.pdf to read the letters.


11) Open letter from First Baptist Church of B'ham

31 July 2002
Memo: Friends of FBCB
Jude V. Nixon, Moderator
The Church Council, FBCB

It has been brought to the attention of the leadership of FBCB by several individuals from the Birmingham community that a malicious "rumor" is by design being circulated that the substantial gift the Church received for the elevator project was given by the builders of the Willits project adjacent to our Church. The gift, it has been alleged (and even the allegation is not clear), is said to have been a "payoff" for our approval of the liquor license the Willits is/was seeking. We have neither given our approval nor, as far as we know, has a public hearing been held on the licensing.

We on the Church Council have been duly informed by the elected members of the Church finance team that the allegation is unequivocally false; no such transaction has occurred between us and anyone connected to the Willits. Gifts for the elevator project came from past and present members of the Church as well as friends of family connected to the Church. We want to state publicly that gifts given to the Church for the elevator are documented, although we are compelled, ethically and perhaps even legally, to protect the identity of donors who wish to remain anonymous. Indeed, there was, as was made public at the outset, a large gift of approximately $140,000 as foundation money for the elevator from a donor who wanted to remain anonymous. And while we cannot disclose the names of anonymous donors as a matter of confidentiality, the donor of the gift in question is willing to go public should we decide to undertake any legal action on defamation.

We requested and were granted a meeting with the Birmingham City Manager, the Chief of Police, and the City Attorney to inform them of the maliciousness of the rumor and to inquire whether a criminal act has been perpetrated on our Church. We also wanted to go on record should we in the future choose or are forced to enter into litigation to clear our name. That meeting was held on Tuesday. And today, the Church Council met in an emergency session to discuss the matter and ready itself for future action.

We on the Church Council want to assure you that the First Baptist Church, Birmingham, will not bargain away its reputation for anything. And we have not, nor ever will, compromise our ability to freely make decisions or take stances based upon the values and convictions we as a faith community embrace. Thus, we enjoin you as friends of First Baptist Church to dispel all such malicious rumors, which hurt not only those they are aimed at but even those who perpetrate them. Sticks and stones do break bones, and words do harm. But words can also heal. "A good name," says the writer of the Proverbs, "is more desirable than great riches." And while the Shakespearan character Iago is a most discredited fellow, not so his otherwise and equally profound observation: "Good name in man and woman ... Is the immediate jewel of their souls; Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; / 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; / But he that filches from me my good name / Robs me of that which not enriches him, / And makes me poor indeed."


12) To be removed, send email to info@bhambuzz.org.