Std-Ex: Ogden Taverns Stay Limited

No word on the Marshall White Center furnace system problem

Here's a quick followup on last night's council meeting, concerning Mr. Fischer's Star Noodle proposed zoning ordinance reinterpretation, which we most recently addressed in Monday's article.The Standard-Examiner reports this morning that Mr. Fischer's proposed amendment, which could have potentially doubled the number of bars in the Historic 25th Street District, was rejected by the council, by a 4-2 vote:

• Ogden taverns stay limited - Two to a block is plenty, council says

The status quo re bars is thus preserved on Two-five Drive... for the time being, at least.

Mr. Schwebke's article is silent about any discussion which might have occurred relative to Marshall White Center furnace system problem, which was also mentioned in Monday's article.

Perhaps one of our readers who attended last night's meeting can fill us in on this.

Don't let the cat get your tongues.

Two Important Items On Tuesday's City Council Agenda

More bars on 25th Street? A new furnace for the Marshall White Center?

News is a mite slow on this Emerald City Monday morning, but there are nevertheless a couple of important items coming up on tomorrow evening's city council meeting agenda, for which we'd like to provide our readers a heads-up. On Sunday evening, Councilwoman Dorrene Jeske lodged this comment in one of our lower comments sections, which we now incorporate in pertinent part:

For those of you who have not seen the agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting, there is a public hearing before the Council decides whether to adopt the petition and ordinance that would increase the number of bars/private clubs in the Historic District. Please attend and let us hear from you during the public hearing, at which time you will have five minutes for your presentation.
Also give us input on what should be done with the heating systems at Marshall White Center -- it is not operating properly affecting all the programs at the Center especially those that involve the swimming pool.
Thank you.

Notable is item 8 on tomorrow's City Council Agenda:

8. Reports from the Planning Commission:
a. Definition of a Lineal Block. Petition 2008-19 to amend Section 15-2-1 of the Municipal Code for the definition of lineal block and related language for business code 5-3A-1 and 5-3C-8. (Receive public input, deny petition/request ordinance be drawn – voice vote)

In plain English, item 8 involves an effort on the part of Thaine Fischer, owner of Historic 25th Street's now defunct Star Noodle Parlor, to persuade the council to enact a re-interpretation of the current 25th Street zoning ordinance, (which currently prohibits more than two private clubs or bars within a "lineal block,") to mean that the term "lineal block" would only apply to one side of the street (rather than both sides of the street under current interpretation.)

The net effect would be to allow Mr. Fischer to open a new 500-patron private club (bar) on the south side of the street.

Mr. Fischer's effort to double the potential number of bars on 25th Street through this proposed ordinance reinterpretation has of course been the subject of considerable discussion here on Weber County Forum in the past. For those readers who'd like to bone up on the facts, we refer you to our January 9, 2009 article on the subject, where you'll also find some good reader comments. Regular readers will also recall that Mr. Fischer's earlier petition to the planning commission, urging the adoption of the same ordinance reinterpretation, has already been rejected by the planning commission. So in truth, Mr. Fischer's agenda item #8 represents an attempt to urge the council to overrule the commission... to take a second "bite of the apple," so to speak.

While we do believe that it's unlikely that the Council would normally act to reverse a negative recommendation of the planning commission, we also recognise that Mr. Fischer is a Friend of Matt (FOM) (Fischer donated $2170 to Godfrey's mayoral campaign in 2007), so it's hard to predict what a couple of the more "wobbly" council members will do.

For those readers who are inclined to advocate the denial of Mr. Fischer's proposed ordinance reinterpretation motion, we urge you to take up Councilwoman Jeske's invitation, attend Tuesday night's council meeting, and let the council hear your opinions on the subject. You can bet your boots that Mr. Fischer will have his own vocal advocates showing up in force.

As for the second issue raised by Councilwoman Jeske, wherein Ms. Jeske seeks input on what should be done with the heating systems at Marshall White Center, we urge our readers to attend the Tuesday meeting and urge the council to do what's necessary to bring the Marshall White Center up to snuff. The MWC serves a great number of disadvantaged citizens of our community. Frankly, we believe the city administration's continuing neglect of this important inner city facility has been and remains a disgrace. "Urge the council to take the necessary funds out of Boss Godfrey's budget," one reader suggested in a comment downthread. Not a bad idea at all, in our opinion. First things first, we say.

For those readers who will be unable to attend attend tomorrow night's meeting for one reason or another, we of course once again provide our handy Ogden City Council Contact Information Link.

You know what to do. Do it NOW. Believe us; your Emerald City legislators are sitting on the edges of their seats, waiting to hear what you, their constuents think.

And what think our gentle readers about all this?

Planning Commission Denies Star Noodle Zoning Ordinance Re-interpretation

PC rejects 25th Street technical zoning rule change by an 8-1 vote

Here's a quick follow-up on the matter which we discussed here at Weber County Forum on 1/7/09, i.e., FOM Thaine Fischer's Planning Commission petition to re-interpret Ogden zoning ordinances to permit the opening of a new 500-seat private club in the Star Noodle building, on the south side of Historic 25th Street. We received a short email from a concerned gentle reader yesterday evening, reporting that the matter has been heard, deliberated and denied by the Commission:

The Planning Commission Voted 8-1 to deny Fischer 2 bars per linear block ordinance change. Ron Atencio was the only yea vote. On to the City Council. Hope it goes as well there.

We'll remark that while it's indeed possible that Mr. Fischer could have this matter added to the council calender on his own motion, notwithstanding Wednesday's PC vote, we also believe it's unlikely that the present council would override the PC's negative recommendation.

Reader comments are invited, as always.

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.