Another Godfrey Pal Silently Submits a Sub Rosa Zoning Change Petition

Arizona Carpetbagger Thaine Fischer proposes to found a new bar on Two-bit Street

Fascinating new development in the ever-fascinating BossGodfreyWorld today.

Suddenly the Lovable Little Lumpkin, the same Morman Mini-Mayor and Harrisville Bullshit Bishop who shut down the wildly profitable 25th Street Fest Celebration, thereby depriving Ogden City of much Beers, Ales & Arm-wrestling revenue, is now actively promoting the addition of... get this... another bar on 25th Street.

Here's the the strange skinny:

At a time which remains uncertain, Friend of Matt Godfrey (FOM) Thaine Fischer, the Arizona carpetbagging real estate developer and Godfrey Butt-Buddy par excellence, filed this petition with the Ogden Planning Commission, seeking to open up a new Private Club on Ogden's 25th Street:

• Thaine Fischer Petition

Here's the petition in a nutshell. What Mr Fischer is asking is that the Planning Commission re-interpret the current zoning ordinance, which prohibits more than two private clubs or bars within a "lineal block," and to re-define it to mean that the term "lineal block" would only apply to one side of the street.

This is another example, we think, of an instance where Boss Godfrey is applying his administrative power to a subtle zoning matter which would affect all of 25th Street. The only reason he's sticking out his neck, of course, is because this change in zoning law interpretation would help a "special friend."

What we're talking about here is a new bar which would cater to who knows, in a climate where even established clubs in Ogden are having their economic troubles. Unable to rent his vacant space to anyone else, FOM Fischer proposes establishing another drinking establishment on 25th Street.

We urge all readers who are concerned about preserving the status quo on 25th street, until we've all had a chance to consider the "long view," to contact the Ogden City Planning Department right now. While you're at it, ask the Planning Commission where, exactly, Fischer's projected new 500 drinking patrons will be expected to park their cars. Be sure to tell 'em to put it all on the back burner, unless and until the Boss Godfrey's Arizona Carpetbagger proponent provides proper explanatory information.

We link here the Ogden City Planning Department online page, which does supply minimal contact information:

• Ogden City Planning Department

We've been dialing in to Uncle Greg's Planning Department all day, BTW, in order to get an email address where our readers could send messages to the planning commission for distribution prior to tonight's meeting. So far all we've gotten is a recorded message, telling us the bureaucrats in the Planning Department "might call us back."

So it is in Emerald City right now. If we continue to put these Godfrey bureaucrats' necks in the ringer, however, we can definitely control how it all works in Ogden.

Don't let the cat get your tongues, gentle readers.

Update 1/7/09 4:36 p.m. MT: We just connected by phone to "Sharon" of the City Planning Department. She advises that emails to the Planning Commission will be collected at this email address, and passed on to commission members prior to tonight's 5:00 p.m. meeting:

• sharons@ci.ogden.ut.us

Sorry. That's the best that we could do on relatively short notice.