I am the Planning Department staff person who presented the report to the
Planning Commission last night on the Karmel Plaza development, recommending
approval of all four development applications involved. Mr. Sabri was a
co-applicant with the Whittier Community Development Corporation. I have
enjoyed working with Mr. Sabri during my review of his project, but I am
floored by his report on what happened. Because of the surprisingly
inflammatory tone he takes in this very public venue, I feel some
responsibility to report that I saw none of the behavior described by Mr.
Sabri.
I understand that there have been issues between Mr. Sabri and Council
Member McDonald, but that is not evidence that CM McDonald acted
arbitrarily. Although I recommended approval of Mr. Sabri's development
applications, there were excellent grounds for taking a different point of
view, and I pointed them out both in my written report, and as part of my
presentation. The existing Karmel Square market is a dynamic and important
gathering place for the Somali Community, but its lack of parking has caused
a high level of disruption in the area. The market would be expanded in the
proposed new development, generating a lot of concern by nearby residents.
I happen to feel that enough parking is proposed in the new development to
adequately mitigate the problem, but a different viewpoint is valid and was
taken by four Planning Commissioners including CM McDonald. Lots of public
testimony was taken at the meeting, and a thoughtful conversation took place
among the Commissioners before a 5-4 vote was taken in favor of the project.
There is no evidence that CM McDonald was "manipulating the vote" during the
meeting, nor did she appear to me to "storm out of the meeting with an
attitude" when she left after the item.
There is good reason for close scrutiny of our elected officials, but public
sector employees including Council Members also deserve the respect of being
critiqued in a way that sticks reasonably close to the facts.
Tom Leighton
Planning Department
Seward
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