Paul Harden's Bad Week: Abandons Hendricks Rezoning After Trail Ridge Setback

[stjr]

Well, well, well.  Could Paul Harden have finally worn out his welcome with the City Council?  Citizens: 2 ; Harden: 0.  When did that ever happen?  Maybe he will finally retire and stop strong arming the fine communities of this City with his over zealous land (ab)use practice.  And, Art Shad remembers who he is supposed to represent!  A great day for Jax. 

Taxpayer group sues over deal City Council is expected to kill
Organization takes action after council heard only two of nine testify at hearing

    * By Tia Mitchell
    * Story updated at 12:45 AM on Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2009

Two controversial proposals with widespread community opposition are both expected to be taken off the table tonight by the Jacksonville City Council.

The council plans to withdraw Mayor John Peyton's Trail Ridge landfill plan, as well as a San Marco rezoning project that has drawn the ire of neighbors.

The council, acting as a committee-as-a-whole, voted last week to recommend to itself that it reject the mayor's proposal to give Waste Management a contract extension to operate the city's landfill. The final vote is scheduled for tonight.

Despite the council's anticipated actions, the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County filed a lawsuit Friday against the city, challenging the legality of Peyton's plan to waive procurement rules.

John Winkler, organization president, said the taxpayer group decided to sue after Thursday's meeting, where the council voted after hearing from only two of nine men scheduled to testify under oath.

"Seeing that occurring, we became very concerned that what would happen [tonight] might not just be a withdrawal," he said.

Deputy General Counsel John Germany wrote the opinion that said the council can waive the procurement rules. At this point, he said of the lawsuit, "It will be moot if the City Council agrees with the council committee."

The San Marco rezoning project fell apart Monday when Jacksonville lawyer Paul Harden asked council President Ronnie Fussell that it be withdrawn. Harden had wanted the council to rezone property on Hendricks Avenue owned by his brother.

Councilman Art Shad, who represents the area, initially supported Harden's application but said Monday he had a change of heart because of the passionate and vocal community opposition. He said recent media reports increased the public outcry and meetings he had with constituents in recent days were the final straw.

"I could just hear it in their voice and see it in their eyes how upset they were with this rezoning," Shad said.

Several council members had indicated they would only support the measure if Shad did, making it unlikely to pass tonight without his support. Now, the council is expected to vote to withdraw it.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-04-28/story/taxpayer_group_sues_over_deal_city_council_is_expected_to_kill

[Dog Walker]

Actually, citizens 3, Paul Harden 0.  He was also hired by Miller Electric Company to push through closing Rosselle St. in Riverside so they could take over the street for their expansion.  After putting up with this expanding industrial plant in a residential neighborhood for years, the residents, assisted by RAP, had finally had enough.  Warren Jones, the Councilman for the area and the members of the Transportation Committee were flooded with citizen complaints and alternative, better, plans to keep commercial traffic out of the neighborhood.

Facing defeat, Harden and Miller withdrew the street closure request.  This seems to be his tactic when faced with outright denial.

[JeffreyS]

So is the Jackson Square project dead or just the river oaks access.

[thelakelander]

They still have their website up.

http://www.jacksonsquareatsanmarco.com/

[RiversideLoki]

Jackson square is still a go. I saw a few guys moving around the piles of dirt yesterday.

The rezoning project they're talking about was for Harden's brother. He was trying to get his house (which is zone only residential and surrounded by other houses that are residential) rezone for commercial use.

The locals didn't like it one bit and tore Art Shad a new rear end. So that's how we are where we are today.

[ProjectMaximus]

They still have their website up.

http://www.jacksonsquareatsanmarco.com/

well the brooklyn park site is still up too.

http://www.brooklynparkjax.com/

[thelakelander]

I guess the difference would be that Brooklyn Park was supposed to break ground a couple of years ago.  Jackson Square is still in a conceptual stage.  Even with a good market, it would still be awhile before they can go vertical.  So current market conditions should not have the same effect on it that they had on Brooklyn Park.  Anyway, I'm suprised the Brooklyn Park site is still up since they have already pulled up their on-site sales trailer.

[Steve]

Trail Ridge proposal defeated without dissent
The Jacksonville City Council unanimously voted to kill the mayor’s Trail Ridge landfill deal Tuesday night, as well as a separate, controversial rezoning of property in San Marco.

There was no discussion before the council voted 18-0 to withdraw Mayor John Peyton’s plan to give Waste Management a contract extension to operate the landfill. Council members last week recommended the city pursue other options for settling its legal dispute with Waste Management and deciding who will operate future landfill expansion.

Peyton, in a statement released after the vote, said he was disappointed by the council’s actions but ready to follow their lead.

“Moving forward, the city must address the legal, permitting and operating issues related to the landfill,” Peyton said. “In the days ahead, we will be working on those issues.”

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/2009-04-28/story/trail_ridge_proposal_defeated_without_dissent

On another note, Peyton's team conveniently is trying to turn attention away from what may be his legacy project:


Jacksonville mayor says company eyes Cecil for jobs, investment
Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton said Monday a company could soon announce it plans to build a $200 million project with 400 jobs at Cecil Commerce Center.

Peyton made the disclosure during a speech to Leadership Jacksonville, an organization that grooms people for civic leadership.

He didn't identify the company or describe what it does. He told the group the opportunity came about through a connection with a high school friend.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-04-28/story/jacksonville_mayor_says_company_eyes_cecil_for_jobs_investment_0


While I certainly would love this to be true, this to me has the same ring as that unpopular kid in school who always talked about his girlfriend in Canada that no one has ever seen.

While I don't doubt they are talking to someone, isn't JEDC is ALWAYS talking to someone about a deal?  This is their job.  It's not news to me unless there is ink on paper.