Palmer Trinity was a post about zoning and a ballot measure and related campaign literature. The comments kept coming in about how Palmer Trinity was a great school. That doesn't matter. As I said, if Jesus was teaching the class it still would not make a difference to the matter at hand: Should an institutional entity expand in a residential neighborhood? That sums up the issue, it was not about how good the school is. If it were a mental hospital we wouldn't be having this argument. Because it is a school the rhetoric gets more intense and off the mark.
There is no way to appeal to the logic of a parent in tunnel vision mode. It is like trying to get the attention of student studying for the bar exam. You can't. So, in the interest of not being annoyed anymore, I deleted the additional Palmer Trinity Comments that said it was a boffo school. I left the comments that addressed the issue. And, as everyone knows that reads here often, there is a rule: "Don't annoy the blogger." (I made changes to reflect Lee Allen's comment).
19 comments:
A blogger that refuses to address a salient policy point, just because PT is used as an example, what a shitty blogger! IJR
There is no way to appeal to the logic of a NIMBY in tunnel vision mode! What a narrow-minded blogger! IJR
FYI This is who I have been deleting.
The residents have been unhappy with PT's disregard for neighbor's concerns for a decade. I have seen several versions of the plans at Village Hall. How would you like a parking garage across from your house? I don't live in the impacted area but I can sympathize. Three years of community volunteerism and raising money for lawyers hasn't kept PT expansion at bay even after they lost at the council and several times in appeals. Question #3 seems like their only recourse when fighting an opponent with unlimited resources. I'm voting yes on #3. I hope the mitigation question passes too. Maybe having an extra 1.7 million will help the council have some backbone and stand up for their own unanimous vote against the zoning change requested by PT.
A small but important point:
Technically a school is not a commercial use. Like churches, schools are "institutional" uses, which is why most regulations permit them in residential areas after a council approval.
Calling it a commercial use is technically incorrect and also implies that schools are not appropriate for residential neighborhoods, which is not consistent with the Palmetto Bay code.
Thank you Lee Allen. This is helpful feedback.
From EOM's point of view, no development is justified. Palmer Trinity is not just a school, it is also a religious school...a Christian school. Palmer is not a perfect institution, but it is an important alternative to the substandard education provided by MDCPS, including its "good" schools.
The reason the school is suing the village is because the village is being unreasonable in preventing the use of this property. They, just like EOM readers and the NIMBYs, have property rights that cannot be circumscribed by the village.
Calling it a commercial use is technically incorrect and also implies that schools are not appropriate for residential neighborhoods, which is not consistent with the Palmetto Bay code.
My point exactly refers to that: a school or a mega church IS the same as a business NO MATTER what the code says. The impacts on the quality of life is EXACTLY the same (or maybe even greater) for school/church use as it would be if the facility was a shopping center or a popular restaurant or a medical facility.
All those uses involve traffic, night lighting, nuisance noise, money, people, public safety and disrupted lives. Do you think a garbage dumpster pick-up at 5am sounds any different for a school than it does for a Publix? Or class bells ringing/PA/Belltower is any less annoying because it comes from a school instead of a car dealership? I don't think so. I think the laws need changing to encompass realistic impacts, not theory.
I suggest that Palmetto Bay terminate the services of its City Attorneys (Figueredo and Boutsis). Take it from the citizens who live in the City of South Miami, which also happens to retain the services of these attorneys. What is the story with them? Are they influence-peddling, something is up?
Special interest groups will always control Palmetto Bay unless they give their attorneys a closer look – take it from us!
I felt the attorneys were a problem when she ruled against a citizen who had brought handouts to a public hearing for the council to follow along with as she spoke. There was a connection between the law firm and side the citizen opposed.
This person was not an attorney, using her own time as a citizen and she was representing her own arguments using public documents as illustrations. The village's own law firm trampled a citizens right to petition their elected officials. That could resulted in a Federal Law suit if the citizen was a litigator.
In another hearing, the attorney was involved in a village hearing that involved their law firms landlord. Nice, no issue with the upping the rent after that hearing.
Palmer Trinity is not just a school, it is also a religious school...a Christian school.
So what? That does not make it any more special than any other organization.
You have a right to use your property as it is zoned. If you make a change to your home, you need a building permit. Same with the school. It is not a right, it is a request. Neighbors have a say in the issuance of permits.
It is a CHRISTIAN school.
Is that suppose to be a bad thing or a good thing?
The fact that Palmer is a Christian school makes its case for expansion more nuanced, that's all.
Don't forget: Palmer was there when the neighbors bought their homes not the other way around.
The bottom line is that the NIMBYs are missing a golden opportunity to keep an important school in the community while also fixing the current situation.
They just want to say no and don't care how many people are hurt in the process.
The 33 acres that Palmer is expanding on was a residential parcel with AG use. The homeowners who live there did not expect to find a school football stadium 25 feet from their sliding doors.
It is not a compatible use in a residential district.
It would not be any different if that parcel belonged to the village and was going to be an athletic park. The use is too intensive for a residential community.
Vote YES on Question #3
you deleted it because the truth hurts your fight and you also lack something....
They were going to build in the back of the school...AWAY from the neighborhoods. Yeah I'm pissed- I wanted a fricken gym and a pool. Is that to much to ask for? Now we dont get a gym, or a GOOD and BIG theatre, a pre-k, more tennis courts, and a bigger field thanks to the neighbors. :( It's SAD. I understand that they were concerend with the noies and whatever but they were VERY rude during the zoning meetings. They slammed the door in my face and to the rest of the palmer students that went!!!
I go to this school and I believe it is horrible. Palmer Trinity tries to be like those old famous North Eastern boarding schools that have been around for 100's of years. They are trying to be that good, but it just doesn't work for them. Their teachers are horrible and lazy, especially when it comes to harkness discussions. I can honestly say that I have learned more information from 45 minute lectures than from having continuos harkness for 4 days. There is more that I can rant on, but I know this comment won't make a difference so whatever.
lol if Jesus was teaching you'd do whatever he said.
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