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
- - - - - -
update:
from tuesday's dp, a long front-page story describing how the muslims at
the walnut st. mosque (the largest mosque in philadelphia) are not the
same as the muslims on campus:
http://tinyurl.com/2kcskz
"For West Phila. Muslims, two communities exist -- one
centered on 43rd Street, and one at Penn"
and yesterday's dp, with its staff editorial about the proposed liquor
store move's impact on the muslim community and the neighborhood:
http://tinyurl.com/37qn45
"Respect the Community. Placing a liquor store across the
street from the mosque will not improve the area"
- - - - - -
update:
now that the dp has framed the proposed liquor store move as
muslim vs business, and has further divided the muslims into
penn muslims vs neighborhood muslims, the story continues.
it's not about a mosque vs a neighborhood, we're told, it's
about a community 'overwelmingly in favor' awaiting a
decision from the zoning board:
http://tinyurl.com/26gxvd
RULING ON LIQUOR STORE MOVE EXPECTED SOON
Proposed liquor store's controversy is new for zoning
officials, but local councilwoman supports the move
Madeleine Kronovet
With no easy solution, a decision regarding the move of the
liquor store could go either way.
The looming controversy regarding the possible move of the
41st and Market streets liquor store to 4237 Walnut St. is
still unresolved, with a ruling from the city zoning board
expected to come sometime in the next week.
Local officials say the indecision comes in part from the
unique circumstances surrounding the case, in which a local
mosque is in vehement opposition to the move due to both
religious reasons and concerns about the impact on the
neighborhood.
"It's so big, and there is no easy solution," said Barry
Grossbach, Spruce Hill's Zoning Committee chairman. "We
hadn't dealt with this before and therefore have no track
record or history."
"There is absolutely no way to know," added Daniel DeRitis,
the owner of the of the proposed site. "We just lay out the
tracks, and they make the decision based on a whole set of
critiera."
According to Pennsylvania statute, the zoning board has
discretion to grant or refuse a liquor license if the
proposed location is within 300 feet of any place of
worship, hospital, charitable institution, school or public
playground. The board can also refuse a license if it is
within 500 feet of an area that would be "detrimental to the
welfare, health, peace and morals of the inhabitants of the
neighborhood."
Members of the Masjid Al-Jamia mosque, located across the
street from the proposed site, have argued that the move
would be just that - a danger to the surrounding community,
which includes families as well as the Penn-Alexander
School, located at 42nd and Locust streets.
It seems, however, that the backing of the local community -
and local Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell - could be enough to
override the mosque's objections.
Martin Cabry, director of zoning and community for
Blackwell, said the councilwoman has come out in support of
the move after receiving positive feedback from most of the
residents in the area.
"The Market [Street] store is inadequate to serve their
needs," he said. "Community members were overwhelmingly in
favor, so [Blackwell] wrote a letter of support."
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board spokeswoman Francesca
Chapman also said the PLCB has received positive response
from the surrounding neighborhood, since many residents have
requested a higher-end liquor store in the area.
Chapman cautioned, however, that the move has not been
finalized, and area reaction is always an important part of
the decision.
"We haven't made any decisions on Walnut Street," she said.
"The input of the community is always important to our
decision making process, which is why we participate in
public hearings."
That attitude seems to be a constant theme as local
officials continue to stress that community response is
essential in such a controversial decision.
"The board looks at the law, and that's what they're guided
by," Grossbach said. "The board listens to the community and
weighs community interests."
Still, Grossbach warned that this is not a battle between
the mosque and the neighborhood.
"We're looking at what is the best use for that site," he
said. "We tried to reason with the mosque and tried to
accomodate their concerns."
Representatives from the mosque did not return repeated
requests for comment.
..................
UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN
[aka laserbeam®]
[aka ray]
SERIAL LIAR. CALL FOR RATES.
no word about what alternative uses are meant when grossbach
says "we're looking at what is the best use of that site."
also, no mention that dan deritis, owner of the proposed
site, is on the interim advisory committee that will
incorporate the ucd's bid and manage its first election
(http://tinyurl.com/2gpmfk). also, no mention what process
was used to determine that "community members were
overwhelmingly in favor."
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