UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN wrote:
in any event, we shall see how the press continues this story. the
zoning board hearing which had been scheduled for 28 feb is now march 21
(tomorrow).
from the front page of today's dp. http://tinyurl.com/27lfnx
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TEMPERS FLARE AT LIQUOR STORE ZONING HEARING
Zoning Board to decide fate of move in the next few weeks
Joe Vester and Sharon Udasin
At a Philadelphia Zoning Board meeting yesterday, it was the
prospect of alcohol that caused emotions to run high.
About 80 West Philadelphia residents, mainly local Muslims
affiliated with the Masjid Al-Jamia mosque, filled the
zoning hearing to capacity, standing in firm opposition to
the relocation of the liquor store on 41st and Market
streets to 4237 Walnut St.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and the owner of the
controversial proposed site, Daniel DeRitis, want to close
the current liquor store and open a new, expanded store at
42nd and Walnut streets, in what used to be a Rite-Aid.
But members of the local community, especially attendees of
the Masjid Al-Jamia, which is located across the street from
the proposed site, say it will harm their neighborhood and
offend their religion.
The city Zoning Board of Adjustment, after hearing evidence
from all parties, ended the session and will announce its
decision within the next few weeks.
Ronald Patterson, an attorney for DeRitis, argued for
re-zoning the new store's site, saying that the
establishment of a liquor store would be merely another
element in a commercial corridor consisting of the Makkah
Market, the Restaurant School and the beer distributor
University City Beverage.
He said that the objections of the mosque and its
congregation were purely religious and asked the Zoning
Board to vote according to the law rather than moral issues.
Patterson also claimed that most neighborhood residents are
in favor of the liquor store's relocation, saying that
"never has this area seen so many people vocally supporting"
a new development.
In fact, several community members testified in favor of the
new store, and Spruce Hill Community Zoning Committee head
Barry Grossbach wrote a letter to the Board advocating the move.
On the other side of the heated debate, Fred Schofield, an
attorney who represented Makkah Market at the hearing,
emphasized the "affront to [Muslims'] religious beliefs" and
the proximity of the new liquor store to the Masjid Al-Jamia.
However, the spokesman for the mosque itself, Rayaul
Muhammad, based his arguments not on religious differences
but instead on the threat to the nearby Penn-Alexander
school, the right of local residents to object to changes in
their neighborhood and the detrimental effect a liquor store
would have on the entire area.
Muhammad said that, under Pennsylvania state law, a liquor
store cannot be within 350 feet of a school, and that any
application for a liquor store within 300 feet of a place of
worship could be opposed.
And while the Penn-Alexander school, located at 42nd and
Spruce streets, stands outside the 350-ft. parameter,
Muhammad argued that it is close enough to the proposed site
that the area's students would still be negatively affected.
Moving the liquor store would bring "a liquor infestation...
in the midst of a family-oriented neighborhood," Muhammad said.
"We beseech you... to exercise your moral decency," he
implored the zoning board.
Henry Blocker of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board,
which authorizes alcohol sales in the state, countered that
the new store would actually bring increased safety to the
area, since the store would have a lit parking lot and extra
security.
Muhammad also presented a petition with 890 signatures
protesting the move, though Patterson argued that many of
the signatures came from outside the area.
Wednesday's hearing was the third for this case, with the
other two having been delayed to allow the two sides to
negiotiate.
Martin Cabry, director of zoning for Councilwoman Jannie
Blackwell, said the Liquor Control Board and representatives
for the mosque had met a number of times but had not been
able to resolve their differences.
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UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN
[aka laserbeam®]
[aka ray]
SERIAL LIAR. CALL FOR RATES.
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