Live blog: Ability Housing Springfield meeting

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Huge crowd here. Ability housing will not be heard until 2:30. Line runs down the hall. We are sitting on the floor

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It's up

Jason Teal and Calvin Burney

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Ability housing lawyer up and Jason teal raised objections

AH Lawyer says they were not notified of planning dept. action.   They were not served.

Ability housing is not allowed to show power point.  Jason says it gives new info and this is appellate. Ability lawyer says they never had opportunity to give any info.

Ability Housing lawyer says ability housing is here as courtesy. Could have just gone to court

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Ability Housing lawyer says it is in city's best interest to deal with this now.

(This will not go to city council -- will go to court from here -- according to Jason Teal )

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Ability Housing lawyer says two points :  Interpretation here is "akin" is flawed, and the argument of the higher law -- the fair housing act.

The Fair Housing issue should have been considered by Burney while he was figuring out his position.

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Lawyer says is a multi family now will be multi use later

Leases. Well maintained. No different than other apts

The akin argument:  we are not short term like shelter. We do not provide food. We are not a rooming house. We are not residential treatment facility which needs to be licensed. We are not license. We offer no therapeutic services.

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Ability lawyer brings up group homes -- He states that a group care home of less than six residents is allowed by right

Not a special use.

And yet was used in the argument of special use against Ability Housing.   

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Ability lawyer:  "What is the same as a special use?  The people served are the same."

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You must make reasonable accommodation   Brings in New Orleans   

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Ability's lawyer asks commissioners to determine that Burney's ruling was clearly erroneous

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Burney up. With Jason teal.

Brings up "clearly erroneous -- "

References a handout.  Teal talks about multi family and the request for written interpretation.  Teal says they have no right to have a notice from the planning dept and that any interested person can ask for the interpretation.

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Brings up grant application. Jason says the grant application is proof
Of their intent

"You are being asked if burneys interpretation is erroneous ". We will cross the fair housing bridge when we get there.

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"As the expert, Burney's opinion is accorded great deference "

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Ability housing did not bring up why Birney was erroneous.  That's the only question.

Burney asked simple question. "Here is a list of specific activities. Is it multi family or is it something else?"

This is the total basis of your decision

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Jason says the questions will be answered when ability housing applies for the certificate of use