Appeal Filed Against Mellow Mushroom's Avondale Plans

[If_I_Loved_you]

What ever happened to mtrain? This MM bs get too much to defend?

mtraininjax last posted on September 27, 2012, 10:37:21 PM »
Riverside/Avondale / Re: Live Blogging Special Mellow Mushroom Planning Commission Meeting, Sept 27, 2012

It does seem weird that he hasn't posted in over a month I guess unlike a lot of us he has a life?

[ChriswUfGator]

Mtrain has a habit of quitting the site whenever we tell him something's not going to work, then to no one's surprise but his, it doesn't. He always comes back eventually, I wouldn't worry too much.

[thelakelander]

Planned Avondale restaurant heads for City Hall showdown because of parking

The neighborhood-based opposition to a Mellow Mushroom restaurant planned in the Shoppes of Avondale embodies half the restaurant’s name.

The objections are mushrooming â€" five neighborhood groups and homeowners appealed the Jacksonville Planning Commission’s approval of the restaurant, meaning the clash goes next to the City Council.

The fight is anything but mellow â€" those fighting the restaurant say it’s too big for the Shoppes of Avondale and will worsen a parking shortage that already forces patrons of other restaurants to cram onto nearby residential streets.

Beyond the battle over Mellow Mushroom, the showdown is highlighting the downside of the city’s push to attract commercial development into existing neighborhoods and curb suburban sprawl.

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-30/story/planned-avondale-restaurant-heads-city-hall-showdown-because-parking

The new member's only site is up and running now.  I just tried to read the TU comments in the article and got this:

http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-30/story/planned-avondale-restaurant-heads-city-hall-showdown-because-parking

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Lake,

I think it's time to do some Inbox cleaning...   

[thelakelander]

lol, I'm definitely overdue.

[jaxjags]

I sent the following email last week to James Love, and copied all city councilman:

Mr. Love,

I would like to express my opinion on the Mellow Mushroom Avondale zoning situation:

1.   First and foremost, this group has met all requirement for zoning, except parking although they have worked with all to provide more than originally proposed. This site is zoned for commercial and cannot be denied building a restaurant.
2.   They have modified the design several times to "meet the demands “ of RAP and WLA. Something they really did not need to do.
3.   All of the restaurants in Avondale have been given exemptions for parking and other requirements such as liquor sales and outdoor dining. MM SHOULD NOT BE SINGLED OUT.

One problem may be  that some of the members of these organizations own competing restaurants. How ironic that they have received exemptions, but do not believe MM should get them.

MM is not a bar. They have met zoning requirements. They are not asking for anything that has not been granted to others in the past. This should be approved.

Thanks,

I did get a personal response. He basically said:

1. He was aware of what I was saying

2. He has been working with both sides and the zoning committee in past

3. He is continuing to talk to both side for a successful resolution

4. The courts are the last alternative

I encourage others to send an email also supporting MM

[ChriswUfGator]

Well naturally he thinks the courts are the last alternative, since if it got to that he'd lose.

[MEGATRON]

Hopefully, those of you who support Mellow Mushroom will do what I do and refuse to dine any longer at Brick, Biscottis and Fox. 

Also, anyone who thinks Jim Love has not made up his mind already is delusional.  Make sure your emails are received by the other council members as well.

Finally, shame on RAP for not letting Mellow Mushroom representatives speak at RAP's regular meetings.  RAP has allowed Ian Chase, Tommy Donahoo, Alicia Grant, the Hollingsworths, Susan Frazier, and James Holt among others speak at its board meetings in opposition to Mellow Mushroom.  Its ridiculous that a group with such spineless leadership claims to speak for the neighborhood.

[Pinky]

Hopefully, those of you who support Mellow Mushroom will do what I do and refuse to dine any longer at Brick, Biscottis and Fox. 

Also, anyone who thinks Jim Love has not made up his mind already is delusional.  Make sure your emails are received by the other council members as well.

Finally, shame on RAP for not letting Mellow Mushroom representatives speak at RAP's regular meetings.  RAP has allowed Ian Chase, Tommy Donahoo, Alicia Grant, the Hollingsworths, Susan Frazier, and James Holt among others speak at its board meetings in opposition to Mellow Mushroom.  Its ridiculous that a group with such spineless leadership claims to speak for the neighborhood.

Look kids, lets face it.  RAP is backed into a corner here...  The organization is clearly in decline and has been for years, both in terms of membership and prestige.  They don't even have the juice to confront this thing head-on, which is why they've resorted to allowing shills and proxy groups like WLA to do their dirty work.  Quite frankly, Carmen and Co find themselves having to kowtow to their own loony board and an ever more militant rump of their original membership.  Pretty much everybody has left except the crazies, forcing RAP to take this bizarre anti-business, anti-fairness, anti-fix-the-actual-issue (Avondale needs to think about parking) stand.  Once the reasonable people abandon ship, the wing nuts voices seem much louder. 

So clearly, when loons like Alicia Grant take over speaking for your organization, things have gotten way out of hand.  And, clearly, they're not interested in what Mellow Mushroom has to say, besides "Adios".  No invitation to speak?  Wow, surprise.

It's sad to watch a once useful group like RAP lose relevance; in better days they would have welcomed Mellow with open arms; I mean, look, it's 100% within legal compliance, replacing an existing restaurant in a long-established commercial district.  Mellow has made HUGE concessions out of nothing more than a desire to be cooperative and a Good Neighbor, and have provided 100% more parking than any other Avondale restaurant had to.  They will bring vibrancy and jobs, and back when RAP had actual juice and swagger, they would have openly advocated for this obvious benefit to Avondale.  If they still had any juice or vision the parking issues wouldn't have ever come up because RAP would have been working for years already with the city to fix Avondale Parking somehow. 

But no, they just became the Wavy Bench Glass Window Replacement Police along the way.  And now they've been dragged into deep water by a pack of local NIMBYS and scared potential competitors, and they're flailing.  Their answer to parking problems is shuttered, abandoned buildings.  And they wonder why membership is declining? This is most assuredly not RAP's finest hour, and the more they allow themselves to be swept along by the crazies, the more they lose the respect of the greater community.  It's sad too, because they could have easily avoided taking either group head-on by just coming at both from a "Fix The Parking Angle".  But no, they flinched when the WLA dogs barked, and just fell into line.  Again, more proof that RAP is, and because of their misguided actions will continue to be, in decline.  They had an opportunity for a win/win, but chose to go to the mat in a match that they now literally cannot afford to lose. 

Build a parking deck where RAP's offices are located; it would benefit Avondale a hell of a lot more than it's current use.

[Spence]

I am guessing the northern most stretch of SR21 would be a place where many would jump at the chance to WELCOME a MELLOWMUSHROOM!
between Pomade & Tonic, Lakeshore Produce, Jazzercise, Pink Flamingo, Treasure Chest, Earth Gifts, Stars Caribbean, Puerto Plata, Discount Music at Saint Johns...

still close to home for Mr.Valentino, and his fine establishment would boost a neighborhood in need which has been served a cold shoulder in the past.

Lake Shore in the "Marina Mile" east AND west of Vista still needs more of those "THIRD PLACES" where neighbors and community stake holders become friends and allies for economic growth, cultural diversity and positive change

[thelakelander]

I believe he has already purchased the Avondale site.

[Intuition Ale Works]

The appeals will be heard on January 5th, a Saturday.

The LUZ committee is going to have fun that day!!

[MEGATRON]

[Captain Zissou]

The appeals will be heard on January 5th, a Saturday.

The LUZ committee is going to have fun that day!!

Saturday?  Are they going to have the meeting at the arena??  We're going to need a lot of room.  I hope the RPC shows up in force.

Ben, ever thought about making a Rowdy Red Ale to be the official beer of the RPC?

[Intuition Ale Works]

Avondale bitter...