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 PetitionHere'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 DepartmentWe'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.usSorry. That's the best that we could do on relatively short notice.
30 comments:
Well, now, have to tell you, I rather like the creative... and it is creative... interpretation Mr. Fischer is asking the PC to put on the restriction. Have to ask, though, is the current zoning restriction a local one, or one mandated by the state legislature? I know SLC has been trying for years to establish a nightclub "district" downtown, so that more clubs per block would be permitted. Unsuccessfully. If it is a state reg, then the "creative" interpretation would have to stand state challenge, wouldn't it?
But the two-clubs per block restriction for an urban downtown is not a good idea, and if Mr. Fischer can wiggle round it by creative interpretation, I say good on him. Go for it. [I trust the opposition to his creative interpretation of the zoning restriction does not spring solely, or even primarily, from the fact that he is an FOM. I trust the opposition to what he wants to do would be just as zealous on WCF if his name were Eustace Phenackertiban and he had no known connection to Hizzonah. Right?]
Rudi, you failed to mention that this guy is the one that all that hight restriction in the historic district was really all about. His intentions for the old Star Noodle building is why g-train and the who cares about historic Landmarks Commission want the restriction lifted for the whole district. They knew that the Windsor folks were about to crumble, so no need petitioning for a variance on their part. This Fisher guy was one of the most hostile advocates throughout the whole Windsor fiasco. Hell Rudi, he's your neighbor, just like lying little matty, no need to cut him slack.
They ought to drop the dumb assed law altogether. One club per block? Jeeze, it is two bit street after all. Historically bars and clubs are what the place has always been about.
Maybe that is why Angelo's was forced to close. Can we see a pattern where established businesses are sacrificed for more outdiders development. He should of leased where JASOH facility is then it wouldn't matter.
What happened to the motel on the river that couldn't get planning approval after they were told they could have a restaurant. The old owner of the Windsor that had fiancing coming but the city couldn't wait and forced the sale then offered grant money to the new owners. How many more years will be told Lesham has a plan just around the corner.
How many of these bought up speculator properties are vacant and not being taking care of. I can't wait until spring and the weed patrol is out in force.
ozboy said...
They ought to drop the dumb assed law altogether. One club per block? Jeeze, it is two bit street after all. Historically bars and clubs are what the place has always been about.
Actually it's 2 bars per block ..
Why then when we, bar and building owners on 25th street for decades, petitioned to purchase the upholstery shop building and turn it into a club we were turned down flat?
Why when we made an effort to purchase the bus station building to open a club we were turned down flat?
Instead, with the assurances this ordinance would never change we spent over a million on real estate and improvements ... besides that, there is zero parking available most of the time and as far as I can tell 500 more vehicles parking around 25th street is ludicrous ...
And now because some real estate flipper can't rent the cat food house, he wants us to change the law? Bullshit!
I didn't want to respond to this so quickly and wouldn't have had I not saw where Curm and Oz were going with their well intentioned observations ... rest assured I will be laying out the whole story in the next few days ...
This gentle readers is no shit. Fisher is attending the planning meeting while his Hummer sits outside with AZ plates. You'd think after a year or so OPD might have said something to him.
Than again.
The existing zoning limit is a bad idea, just as Oz states. For downtown, Ogden should, if it is permitted to, adopt the Verizon Plan: More Bars In More Places.
Separate from that issue is the one involving favoritism: things become possible for FOMs that are not possible for non-FOMs. And we have all seen too many examples of that to dismiss the charges out of hand. [Bootjack, various Lesham accommodations, permits for the Bikery of an FOM in the River Project area but not for an Indian restaurant by a non-FOM, and so on.] I wonder if those who were denied licenses to operate drinkeries on 25th Street have some recourse in law if suddenly another petitioner, who is an FOM, is granted the same. I don't know. Just asking.
Mayor Godfrey told us, in person, he was not the culprit behind the ordinance ... he told us Fischer recruited Blaine Johnson to "try to push this through" ...
The Mayor told us, in no uncertain terms, the ordinance change, and some other 25th Street rumors we were hearing, were totally false ...
I'm not, I guess what you guys call FOM ... I'm not Mormon, I own bars, and I inhale ... I know the Mayor gets bashed here a lot, but with God as my witness, the guy has never, ever lied to me.
Bill Parker
Downtown zoning is simply a way to keep people in line following the mayor and the bureaucrats' wishes.
What about the Helena building on 25th? Godfrey wouldn't let that guy do a bed and breakfast. But he lets the Star Noodle do a bar because the guy gives Godfrey money.
No wonder downtown struggles, and always will.
The Planning and Zoning department acts like an extortion racket for Godfrey.
Angry Anonymous-
Might want to be careful. Amy Wicks, Ms. Gouchnour, Ms. Jeske and Mr. Garcia were elected by the people. So too was Mayor Godfrey, but only by the hair on his chiny-chin-chin.
Angry Anonymous-
This is an initiatory site for Standard Examiner news. For some time, the information here is more timely and promt than that of the Standard Examiner.
The Standard Examiner has found much inspiration here, though they never acknowledge their source.
The legitimacy of this site has grown recently with the by name shout out offered by Mr. Charles Trentleman on the front page of the news paper.
This is the first specific mention of the Weber County forum.
Legitimacy comes bits at a time.
Make no mistake about it. You are reading "Ogden" when you read here.
The viewpoints here are everywhere. The newspaper, the local commissions, the local committees, the elected leadership, the city employees.
You are wished a great deal of luck as person who seeks to change Ogden.
Because we like it the way that it is, you are in an uphill battle.
Please just go away and leave us be.
citizen
the last statement in your comment above says it all. couldnt agree more.
its amazing how godfrey will turn on a dime for a fom where as anyone else is stonewalled.
im not necessarily opposed to more bars on 25th strret but i do have a problem with who gets to develop in this city. i have a problem with the political and financial gains that godfrey gets from being able to control who can and cant develop in this town.
it should be an level playing field and as long as the planning commission or the city council continues to let godfrey play god over who get to develop in this town then the more they will help him to continue to pump more money into his war chest for the next election. by letting godfrey perpetuate this action or other similar actions the planning commission and the city council basically insure that more of this type of action will continue.
the only way this is going to change is when those that have any say start saying no to fom.
rather than doing the right thing for the wrong reason do the wrong thing for the right reason. i.e. start seeing the bigger picture.
ya getting elected to 3 terms by the hair of your fucking chinny chin chin. Dumbass.
Angry Citizen-
You've made a fundamental error. You actually believed that all you had to do is provide a clear plan that made sense.
As "Disgusted" said. It's not whether or not the plan makes sense if we want more bars, less bars, a hotel, etc.
The issue is who controls the power.
Sorry buddy, but the power is in the hands of the people we elect as evidenced by the fate of your FOM pals who had the audacity to propose a less risque endeavour....A hotel with a 4th floor.
It's not about the Hotel. Its that the Hotel project was an FOM project.
Stop, drop and roll good sir. You are on fire because you are an FOM.
Wicks and Gochnour will see to it that you do not advance.
Good day.
Disgusted - Good stuff, and well said.
ive lived all over the world and all over the united states. i came here some years ago for what it is not what i thought i could turn it into. i like the small town feel i like the lifestyle i like the open spaces the parks and the golf course. i like the people and i dont want to see this place become a southern california look-alike town or a park city. if i wanted that i would have moved to one of those places.
ogden is a place where you can raise your kids to appreciate the out of doors be across town in 15 minutes and get a tee off time on the same day you try to get one and at a price you can afford. now what is wrong with that. i see nothing wrong with this picture so stop trying to change it.
acclimate yourself to the life style if you want to live here and enjoy rather than trying to game the system or make a quick buck at the expense of a life style that others value. enjoy ogden for what it is because it’s a very special place in the world. its a place where both young and old can co-exist. its a place where people for the most part respect one another and have strong family values. its a place where neighbors look out for one another. its a place where you can still buy a meal or shop at an establishment that isnt some national chain. it has a lot more going for it than the current local adminisrtation gives it credit for.
and as for godfrey he wont be here for ever and when hes gone we will get back to being just good old ogden plus well gain back some sanity in our local government.
I believe it's time for a change. How about honest full disclosure. I suggest some sort of ordinance, or Neil, maybe state law that says if you're seeking public money, grants RDA and such you must disclose all principals and beneficiaries. The rumor for years has been that Scott Brown is personally involved in this Star Noodle llc, and in his capacity with the City has discouraged and refused others from purchasing the building. We know he was one of the few that reaped a benefit from the Windsor, despite what the outcome may be, and he's still a representative of Ogden City Gov.
Lying little matty nor any of his administrative lapdogs have filed the required conflict of interest disclosures, after more than eight years. I say it's about time for a change.
Comment promoted to main article
So... anyone know what the Planning Commission did about the Fischer proposal at yesterday's 5 p.m. meeting?
Moroni ... tabled until meeting next month ...
Thanks for the update, Bill. Tabling of the matter was exactly the right approach. This will give the PC ample time to receive citizen input, and will shield the PC from the accusation that it ran the matter through under the public radar screen.
Interesting to note when questioned by PC if affected merchants in the 24th and 25th Street areas had been briefed or invited to the meeting, Greg Montgomery responded, "No, not when it's just a text change".
I still don't know what the hell that means ...
One more time ...
Ron Atencio asked Fischer last night about how his "Star Noodle Bar / Club" tenants would compete against the bar / club tenants the PC had just approved for him at 25th and Ogden Ave ...
His non-response should have been, "Because I bit off more than I can chew and I'm financially buried in these buildings, I don't really give a shit".
It's no wonder people are leery of this guy ... sells you the benefits of a Ford in the morning and that afternoon he selling Chevy's ...
Bill,
I concur with you about the Mayor.
The bashing on here is most often not based in any fact.
Sounds like you might want to be careful of not falling into that trap yourself wit your last post.
Also begins to indicate you are afraid of the competition and are pissed off that you didn't think of that when you were trying to get it changed. I say let a new business flourish if it can, and if it can’t, it will go the way of the dodo. Heck, move the Lighthouse to 25th Street. We need have a little fun. Just cause you are main fun provider now, don't be afraid. We'll still drop in.
You just might have to step up your game. Just have your boy book better bands. You can do it.
Hey Bob Keeper of the Lighthouse ...
Opine to your heart's content ...
You may want to introduce yourself to the owners of the Lighthouse ... they have no clue who you are ...
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