New Convenience Store

[Dan B]

Do you have any proof of a calling campaign being used against you?

I have lived here for 6+ years, 4+ of that as a member, and never been asked to call anything in by SPAR.

[ChriswUfGator]

Do you have any proof of a calling campaign being used against you?

I have lived here for 6+ years, 4+ of that as a member, and never been asked to call anything in by SPAR.

No proof other than anecdotal. But then you don't really need a rocket scientist to figure out what happened when a place would be fine for years and all of a sudden COJ would get an avalanche of code complaints out of the blue, when nothing changed at the property. I'm not sure what proof I could have, since the whole complaint system is designed so that you never know who's complaining about you. And I guess you should re-read some of J & G's evidence, where SPAR got busted red-handed doing this.

[Dan B]

Actually, you can you do a public records request for all of the care requests ever submitted for a property. I had to do it one time.

[cindi]

exactly how does spar's actions affect someone that does not live in or own a business in springfield?

1: Their actions negatively affect multiple people I know, who live their or have/had businesses there.

2: They've negatively affected my own businesses with their call-in campaigns. I guess apartments aren't what you'd call a traditional "business", but nevertheless the effect was real.

3: I dislike their gestapo tactics as a matter of principle (Wait, since I wasn't a member of the Nazi party, I must not be allowed to say that, according to you? Because if I'm not a Nazi, I can't dislike Nazis...that's your logic...

again, are you always so dramatic? you can not like nazi's or whatever, i simply asked you a question.  
yes, apartments are "businesses".
if you don't like something to the degree of dislike that you appear to have for SPAR, suck it up, pay the dues and sue them or overthrow them.  really, it is pretty much that simple - no rocket science required.

[Springfield Girl]

I posted this before, many properties sat for years without complaints because no one was there to complain except boarding house tenents, crack dealers/users, slumlords etc. and they couldn't care less if a property was a nuisance. As decent people started moving in they had concerns about properties surrounding them and started reporting issues. The lowlife investor behind me kept calling on my property because he was being hassled and wanted everyone to feel his pain. I had no problem inviting everyone and their boss onto and inside my property to see that everything was as it was supposed to be. The city people all apologized and commented on what a nice job we were doing. No harm, no foul. It doesn't matter who was reporting you. If you were doing what you were supposed to be doing you wouldn't have caught any grief.

[strider]

Lake, I wish it were structured community opposition. What really happened was, according to what someone told me, was the item was brought up at HPC, and it blindsided the SPAR representation. SPAR got up at the same meeting and spoke out against it, without ever speaking to the community, researching what he wanted to do, or speaking to the owner.

When I asked why, I was told "because its against the overlay". Not "its too loud" or "the neighbors contacted me and complained" any other possibly constructive reason. Just the overlay.

This is why I do not like some on the SPAR Council…..they do not know the codes, they do not know the overlay or worse, know them and chose to  ignore them anyway  and yet they claim to represent me as well as all others who live or own property or businesses in Historic Springfield.  Very, very sad….

Just because something has been labeled a use permissible only by exception does not automatically mean that it is bad.  It simply means that it could have a negative impact on the community so they want some knowledgeable input before they determine whether to grant the exemption or not.  The fact they (the writers of the overlay) decided that a  car wash is allowed by exemption does not mean that it is against the overlay but simply needs to be viewed and judged on it’s own merits.  

No one should be trying to evoke the automotive uses part of the overlay either.  For one, car washes are not specifically listed and two, …really read it sometime and see for yourself…it was not particularly well addressed…

This car wash and attached store will go a long way to getting Main Street active again.  It is a historic use (it first opened 54 years ago) and it is a use that everyone who owns a car could utilize.  It generates traffic that matters (spend-able dollars in hand), it promotes increased revenue for surrounding businesses and it puts to use an otherwise abandoned lot.  All pretty worthwhile things and all very needed if Springfield is to move forward

[ChriswUfGator]

Actually, you can you do a public records request for all of the care requests ever submitted for a property. I had to do it one time.

So demonstrate where it shows the name and contact information of the party submitting the complaints?

Oh yeah...that's right...it DOESN'T.

[Dan B]

Actually, most of them require names and addresses. Not saying someone couldnt fake it, but most of the people I know dont, unless they have reason to fear for their safety.

Also, last time I checked, you cant open more than one care request at an address, at a time.

But dont worry, I get it. Its much easier to be mad at someone else for your problems.

[PorchCats]

This car wash and attached store will go a long way to getting Main Street active again.  It is a historic use (it first opened 54 years ago) and it is a use that everyone who owns a car could utilize.  It generates traffic that matters (spend-able dollars in hand), it promotes increased revenue for surrounding businesses and it puts to use an otherwise abandoned lot.  All pretty worthwhile things and all very needed if Springfield is to move forward

I have to agree with this. And I would use the car wash, as long as it gets the dirt off the car.

[ChriswUfGator]

Actually, most of them require names and addresses. Not saying someone couldnt fake it, but most of the people I know dont, unless they have reason to fear for their safety.

Also, last time I checked, you cant open more than one care request at an address, at a time.

But dont worry, I get it. Its much easier to be mad at someone else for your problems.

Total B.S. as usual Dan.

The C.A.R.E. system doesn't even give you a place to put your name, let alone any verification that it's the correct one. In fact the entire process is literally titled "Anonymous Complaint".

Try it for yourself;

http://www.jaxremodelers.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=92

[cindi]

next time try the coj website instead.   www.ecare.coj.net

REQUEST SERVICE / REGISTER A COMPLAINT - Contact Information

First Name:
* Last Name:
*
Address: Same as Issue Location*

City:*
State:
AL AK AS AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FM FL GA GU HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MH MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND MP OH OK OR PW PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VI VA WA WV WI WY Zip:*

Telephone:**
( )   Ext.     Home Work Cell Pager  Email:
*
On Issue Completion, Notify By: Mail Phone Email
Do Not Notify 

it doesn't copy and paste real nice but i think the jest of it is there. it is not a mandatory field, but it is there.  "try it for yourself"

fyi Dan, i had to fill out a CARE request on something so hope you don't mind, you and the missus are now reported for not using the "approved" toilet paper. 

[Dan B]

Actually,in fairness, Historic District code enforcement doesn't require name or address (though, the fields are there), so there is a level of anonymity there if one wanted it, but most of the other CARE requests do require it.

Still, my point stands. A property with no problems, gets no care requests or complaints. I have been here since 2003, and have never gotten cited for property violations. I have owned rental property, and never been cited there either.

Thanks Cindi. We use two ply, which I hear is now the enemy of tree huggers everywhere, so we probably deserved it :-D

[ChriswUfGator]

next time try the coj website instead.   www.ecare.coj.net

REQUEST SERVICE / REGISTER A COMPLAINT - Contact Information

First Name:
* Last Name:
*
Address: Same as Issue Location*

City:*
State:
AL AK AS AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FM FL GA GU HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MH MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND MP OH OK OR PW PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VI VA WA WV WI WY Zip:*

Telephone:**
( )   Ext.     Home Work Cell Pager  Email:
*
On Issue Completion, Notify By: Mail Phone Email
Do Not Notify 

it doesn't copy and paste real nice but i think the jest of it is there. it is not a mandatory field, but it is there.  "try it for yourself"

fyi Dan, i had to fill out a CARE request on something so hope you don't mind, you and the missus are now reported for not using the "approved" toilet paper. 

Cindi, go to the COJ website and under the "Services" dropdown menu go to "Code Enforcement" and click the "Online Request" option. They direct you to that same form I posted for Dan, and there isn't even an option to put your name in, let alone any process to verify that the name is correct, etc. I think most people use the link I provided, since that's what COJ's Code Enforcement Division provides a link to on their own website.

As to jumping through hoops to put a name on it, let's be honest, 99.9% of these complaints are likely anonymous. Nobody wants to attach their name to a form dropping a dime on their neighbors.

[ChriswUfGator]

Actually,in fairness, Historic District code enforcement doesn't require name or address (though, the fields are there), so there is a level of anonymity there if one wanted it, but most of the other CARE requests do require it.

Still, my point stands. A property with no problems, gets no care requests or complaints. I have been here since 2003, and have never gotten cited for property violations. I have owned rental property, and never been cited there either.

Thanks Cindi. We use two ply, which I hear is now the enemy of tree huggers everywhere, so we probably deserved it :-D

Haha, Charmin Ultra 3-ply all the way here. Let's waste some trees...

As to the code thing, come on Dan, nobody puts their names on these things. Who's going to want their name attached to a form that's sent in to drop the dime on their neighbors? Nobody'll do that! I bet all of these things, or damned near all of them, are sent in anonymously. And the system is set up to make that possible.

[Dan B]

Well, thats where you and I differ. I always put my name on my care requests.