Is Springfield Ready for a Car Wash?

[ChriswUfGator]

think i'll leave the asylum for the inmates to run for a time.

all the smart people sit back and read all the non-sense, and don't respond but when the BS level hits critical mass. think i'll be smart for a while.

perhaps undisputed and reason-free, their propaganda campaign can really get going now.

Yes, clearly, 'propaganda'.

So I take it then, that all these interconnected people just out of the blue decided to call COJ all on their own, and that all these calls occurred within an hour of each other is just purely random coincidence?

[Dan B]

You  know, never mind. Its clear that Joe, Gloria, Chris, and CS have a better handle on Springfield than I do. I mean, hell, I have only lived here for 7 years, and have worked with just about every organization here at one point or another, but hey, what the hell to do I know.

[thelakelander]

"An organization that represents a minority population of an area should not have ultimate control in final decisions made about the entire neighborhood's businesses and future."

- correct me if i'm wrong, but they don't.

as the largest neighborhood organization in the area, they have a large voice.

but they certainly don't have "ultimate control"......you know this. there's is one of the loud opinions heard, not the only.

Not that I have the time right now to really respond to this, but I don't think you really want me to jump into this and open the can of worms that leads me to this conclusion.  Its probably best to talk about in person.

[ChriswUfGator]

You  know, never mind. Its clear that Joe, Gloria, Chris, and CS have a better handle on Springfield than I do. I mean, hell, I have only lived here for 7 years, and have worked with just about every organization here at one point or another, but hey, what the hell to do know.

So Dan, I have buried our past spats, and will say I appreciate your contributions to the discussion. With that said, and without trying to start any new feud, I just have to ask you then, what exactly do you think is happening, when these things go down?

What do you think would cause a bunch of different people to call in a pile of COJ complaints on the same property all within an hour of each other? Of course, FSU says I'm just running around with my tinfoil hat on on babbling conspiracy theories.

But, honestly, doesn't this type of thing just not pass your smell test? It's so obvious what's going on...

[Dan B]

Im done Chris. I am not a water holder for anyone but myself. If there is an action I took while serving as a member of the SPAR board, please feel free to bring it up. Otherwise, continue to melt down among yourselves. My continued involvement in these muck-fests is adding nothing.

[CS Foltz]

fsu381...........not sure how you come up with your figures of 22% but if you say so..........proves even more that 22% representation is not even close to be considered a mandate or a majority! So I have to ask ......what about the remaining 78% by your figures and 68% by my figures? After reading the letter that Ms Louise sent to the President of the United States no less, I think I would be pushing for a physc evaluation! Does she display signs of dementia or are you even aware of what those signs could be? My mother in law is in an assisted living Facility and she suffers from that affliction which is why she is in there.

[thelakelander]

I'm not a fan of everything SPAR does (although I do believe the organization can become a stronger asset for the community) but I do think its unfair to single out Louise.  I'm not a member, but from my understanding doesn't the board make all official decisions?

Other than that, we're starting to get off track.  Let's keep this thread focused on the car wash.

[ChriswUfGator]

fsu381...........not sure how you come up with your figures of 22% but if you say so..........proves even more that 22% representation is not even close to be considered a mandate or a mojority! So I have to ask ......what about the remaining 78% by your figures and 68% by my figures? After reading the letter that Ms Louise sent to the President of the United States no less, I think I would be pushing for a physc evaluation! Does she display signs of dementia or are you even aware of what those signs could be? My mother in law is in an assisted living Facility and she suffers from that affliction which is why she is in there.

I think SPAR is highly dysfunctional, but I doubt any of them have dementia.

There's just NO WAY they'd be able to remember such a long enemies list...

[ChriswUfGator]

I'm not a fan of everything SPAR does (although I do believe the organization can become a stronger asset for the community) but I do think its unfair to single out Louise.  I'm not a member, but from my understanding doesn't the board make all official decisions?

Other than that, we're starting to get off track.  Let's keep this thread focused on the car wash.

Well in fairness, it really does all tie in together.

Mr. Jones and his car wash unfortunately became a victim of the same pre-orchestrated group call-in campaigns that rely on a large volume of bogus complaints to force COJ to take action against anything and anyone that a certain small group of people doesn't like.

The point I'm making is how out of touch with reality the group behind this behavior really are. If they don't feel like having a car wash, then by god there won't be a car wash, and the other 80% of the neighborhood that they don't represent can just go to hell. It's ridiculous, and these petty wars waged by the very same people charged with encouraging revitalization, are actually inhibiting the area's economic rebirth.

Before any application for a zoning exception can be considered impartially, as is Mr. Jones' right, this behavior absolutely needs to stop. However, it's still going on. To him, and to other forum members here, and to probably many we don't know about. And apparently to some random guy with 2 foster kids, LOL.

Anyway, I just find this behavior, demonstrated and documented here time and time again, to be absolutely reprehensible, and Silas Jones was one in a long line of victims. If someone had a problem with his car wash, then they should honor Mr. Jones' right to due process, and appear to state their opinion at the planning meeting, so that he can respond accordingly. But instead, they sneak around behind the scenes, filing bogus complaints en masse, claiming to represent people they don't represent, and privately exerting influence to affect the outcome of the zoning decision.

Unlike if the situation were properly handled through regular channels, Mr. Jones then has no means by which he is able to respond to such behavior, which of course is why it's effective, and is why they engage in it. There is a larger problem than just the car wash here, that also happens to be affecting the car wash.

[Karl_Pilkington]

So Dan, I have buried our past spats, and will say I appreciate your contributions to the discussion. With that said..

I had to laugh when I read this, reminded me of a funny bit from Curb Your Enthusiasm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhyGlGgXMxY

[CS Foltz]

I am still confused! Mr Jones got an exemption several years ago, now that exemption is not any good because SPAR now takes exception to the exemption which the COJ had allready granted..........something smells badly!

[Dan B]

I am still confused! Mr Jones got an exemption several years ago, now that exemption is not any good because SPAR now takes exception to the exemption which the COJ had allready granted..........something smells badly!

I try to take you seriously, really I do, but when you post stuff like this, it makes me wonder why you are so wound up, and even posting on this topic.

[AlexS]

I am still confused! Mr Jones got an exemption several years ago, now that exemption is not any good because SPAR now takes exception to the exemption which the COJ had allready granted..........something smells badly!

No SPAR conspiracy. It's plainly stated in the law.

Sec. 656.136.  Procedures for decisions on exceptions, variances, waivers, and appeals.
(c)   A zoning exception, variance or waiver shall be transferable and run with the land, except as hereinafter specifically provided, unless the decision-making body specifically makes the exception personal to the applicant or another individual, and the use shall be commenced within a period of one year from the effective date of the final order granting it. When the use requires licensure or other approvals by the State or any other governmental entity, such as a liquor license approval or approval for day care facilities, the zoning exception, variance or waiver granted in connection with such use shall not be transferable and shall be granted to the applicant or the State license holder.
(d)   The time within which the zoning exception, variance or waiver shall be commenced may be extended by the decision-making body for a period of time longer than one year. Failure to exercise the zoning exception, variance or waiver by commencement of the use or action approved within one year or such longer time as adopted by the decision-making body, as the case may be, shall render the exception, variance or waiver invalid and all rights arising thereunder shall terminate. Transfer of the property by the applicant where the zoning exception, variance or waiver is made nontransferable, shall terminate the exception, variance or waiver.

[thelakelander]

All of this is explained in the letter in the original article.

[nvrenuf]

As to the 2007 'we hate the car wash SPAR conspiracy'. At the time I was a SPAR member and I can tell that I never received a phone call, email, telepathic emission, smoke signal or even organized flatulence that informed me as a SPAR member that I should be contacting ANYONE about the car wash. At the time there were far more than 5 SPAR members, so if only 5 called in then it was a pretty crappily executed conspiracy.

Susan Noonan knows Louise DeSpain who is a member of the SIAWC who had members Pat LaMountain and Sharlene Dano who was once in the realty game as is Amanda Searle who now is a major advocate for Operation New Hope who encourages job training and placement for ex-convicts who may or may not have actually stolen from Historic Springfield residents who frequent Fusion which is run by a charming Bosnian named Miro who owns a few kick-ass classic cars that may or may not have been used in Batman movies. So what I'm saying is that it is all Christian Bale's fault. To create the tenuous conclusions that you do by the relationships you tie together in a very close-knit community is absurd. Most of us know each other, I know hundreds of people in this small community but I don't presume to act, vote or think as they do. All lawyers, court reporters, bailiffs, judges and criminals think and act the same as each other, right? NO??? Well they're all connected!

So the conspiracy conversation is more of the same shite, different day. It really does NOT apply to every discussion about Springfield. But please do continue to carry on with the ubiquitous tripe.

BTW, I look forward to the car wash opening.